Evening star., 1900-05-01

kers, congressman with cavalierly mus
taches and congressman with faces una
dorned. 1t is feared that these gentlemen
are largely responsible for any impressions
which may exist that Washington Is not
Puritanical city. When 1t was all over no
one displayed the slightest resentment be-
cause. by adopting a disguise OF utter
viciousness. Mrs. Langtry had lured him to
see really clever literary comedy.
COLUMBIA ATHEATER-Frederick W arde
presented Espey Williams romantic COM
edy. The Dukes Jester" at the Columbia
Theater last night. The play is new to
Washington and was received with much
favor. Mr.. Williams has selected the ro-
mantle period at the close of the fifteenth
century as the time of his play. and the
picturesque court of the Duke of Milan as
its locale. From literary standpoint 1t Is
dignified and bears much Of the poetic feel
ing of the velvet and lace existence that
marked the renaissance in Italy. Cold nine
teenth century criticism in an atmosphere
of love making and clandestine meetings Is,
in the main as anachronous as snow ball
in July. The pains of prose have no place
when Romeo, even though he be in motley,
goes forth with a rose in his ear to mix
with the mad reve1ers Of the carnival in
order that he may rescue his Juliet from
the paid braves of a dissolute noble. The
story of the play has more to do with cpl
sodes than with the evolution Of sus-
tained plot, and the situations unfold In
graceful sequence. Mr.. Warde as Gecco
the Jester. who must hide his love for the
cry, displayed an intelligent appreciation Of
judcious comedy that will doubtless prove
an agreeable surprise to those who nave
seen him only in tragic parts: The Dukes
Jester is in four acts. 1t deals with four
tricks Of the fool, wherein he saves the
faint-hearted Florio from a monastery,
where his rascible father seeks to confine
him in order that he may escape the cor
rupting influences Of the dukes court. and
secures his marriage to the Lady Bonnetta.
In the end he wins for himself the fair
ward of De Borgio by chance. While Gecco
is masqueradiug as the duke she tells him
of her love for the Jester and urges 1t as
the reason for annulling her distasteful
marriage with Count Maletesto, which had
taken place at the real dukes order. The
situation is a pretty one. and in 1t Minnie
Tittell Bruno, the leading lady, displays
an amount of dramatic force which at the
outset one would scarcely have expected.
The cast Is a large one and lends even and
generally satisfactory support to the star.
Charles D. Herman as the Duke of Milan,
whose likeness to the jester occasions
many of the most taking situations of the
play, gave an easy and graceful tnterpre-
taton of the part. Frank Hennig Lu-
dorico, the dissoute brother of the duke
and Alex. Mckenzie as the governor Of the
palace, John Sturgeon as the Count Ma
letesto and Charles l.. Clark as Florio, the
young lover gave intelligent consideration |
to their efforts. Miss May Warde. a daugh-
ter of the star. was pleasing and vivacous.
Miss Louise Meredith as Dona Lisa, Eliza |
Purcell as Countess de Polenta and Doro- |
thy Wilson as Adalina, a maid. filled the |
remaining female roles acceptably.
ACADEMY OF MUSIC.-John Kernell, in |
THE Hustler" was the attraction at the |
Academy of Music last night, and large |
audience was laughing continuously through |
the three acts of the farce. The play was |
constructed for laughing purposes only, and |
Its reception emphatically indorsed the ideas |
Of the playwright. The story tells of Mrs. |
Bluffs marriage to THE Hustler" beliey- |
ing her first husband to have been killed in |
the Philippines, and the latter marrying a |
dusky maiden of those islands to keep from
being massacred. The first husband returns |
In the second act followed by the Philip |
pine lady, and of course the fun Is fast and /
furious. In the third act everything Is |
out satisfactorily. Specialties |
are introduced during the three acts. and all |
were clever and pleasing. John Kernel was |
not heard IN his weH-known monologue un-
til the last act, but his efforts were so hui
norous that everybody went home pleased.
and Misses Hamlin Gilmore, Mayanrd and
Hart were of the popular order, and were
well received.
THE NEW GRAND.-The entertainers
this week at the local headquarters of Do
lite vaudeville constitute a bill that is rer-
haps the most evenly balanced Of the sea-
SON. There Is not number that for any
,eason should be eliminated; none drags-
none Is dull. True there is not number
hat towers to any apprecable height of ex-
cellence above the others, with the possible
exception of The Littlest Girl" which is in
matte offering. artistically presented. THE
Littlest Girl" dramatzed from Richard
Harding Davis story, Her First Appear
ince' was Interpreted by Mr.. Robert Hlliard
and Mr.. Edwin Holland, with Mr.. John
Wolfe and Little Alice to assist them 1t
gives Mr.. Hiliard and Mr. Holland an op-
portunity to display ability far above the
average. The entertainment opened with an
by highly Intelligent fox terrier
1ankee, who seems bountifully supplied |
with the progressive qualities that charac-
,erize the class of American citizens after
whom he is named. Violet Dale, singing
and dancing comedenne, pleased Raw L. |
Royce gave monoogue of character
tT,, sketches; mimicry. etc, That was artistic
Two Girls and One Man." presented by
one girl and one man, Lizzie Evans and
Harry Mills, although rather of A. rouph- |
and-tumble nature funny. The Raw
mona musical trio did good work especially
n the way of original ragtime Press Ell
1ridge, heralded as commander-in-ch,ef of
he army of fun. jumped into favor the mo- |
ment he saluted the assemblage with his
good. old Hello, audience" To remain
5trlctly within the bounds OF polite yaude- |
'liie however, Eldridge should dispense
with Just two of his utterances. The enter
,alnment closed with exhibition by Leo
Dervalto, a spiral ascensonist whose act |
g claimed to be the most daring and sensas
lonal ever presented. For a moment. at |
east. 1t was so thrilling that a lady in the |
KERNAN'S LYCEUM THEATFR Al.
,hough the season is fast drawing to q |
close, Manager Herman has secured for the
present week one of the strongest burIesnue |
and specially shows on the road In Dfnkin.s |
Utopians The Lyceum was crowded |
both afternoon and night yesterday and |
peter pleased audiences have not coma |
rom the play house this season. The omen.
ng and closing burlesques LIE Chat Nnir',
md Hotel Razzle Dazzle" were unusually |
bright and funny, the chorus being Young
md pretty. while the work of the princi
pals was OF the best. The olio is praise |
worthy throughout, and Flo Jansen is given |
he honor Of leading off with taking songs
Vhlch were well received. The three Card |
lers followed with their well-known turn |
IND made their usual hit, the sketch being |
'rowded with graceful dancing and funny
ranks, ranks Her Other Husband" was the
lever sketch presented by James FIynn |
lnd Ida Dexter. and as 1t is one OF the |
pest on the variety stage, the audience was |
continually laughing. Wrothe and Wake |
leid We're pleasing in an original Irish turn |
ma the Lane sisters in acrobattc dances |
we're in the same class. The closing oIIo |
urn was the choir invisible. presentine |
Master Nelson DeBold.
B1JOU THEATER.-Straight variety 10 |
ne Dill at the Bitou Theater this week
Manager wellington had to do some toll |