Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-21
MUSIC

week winch closes tonight, When the cur
tain rings down on THE Three Little
Lambs at the Lafayette Square, Mr.
James Young at the Columbia and Faust"
at the New National Theater. The grand
opera season was brief, but resplendent.
So Intimately associated with social life
is this form of entertainment that much
comment arose from the thoughtlessness
of no less patron of the arts than Senator
Chauncey NJ. Depew in giving an immense
reception on the first night of the opera
season here. So devout patron of his
tr:onic art has Mr.. Depew been considered
that when the good people of Cortlandt
township, Westminster county, state of New
York, decided to have an opera house
at Peekskill. they named it THE De-
pew Opera House" The theater burned
down a short time ago, but Senator
Depew is stakeholder in the organi-
cation which inaugurated this season
of grand opera, and there were muir
nlurings that he lacked consideration when
he tempted society from the theater to par
take of his personal hospitality. 1t was no
but the effect on the auditorium when
Aida was SO brilliantly presented was
decidedly refrigerative. The music-lovers
We're well repaid for attending this per-
Torrance, even if they sacrificed social
pleasures in order to hear the biggest OPP
cratic performances that Washington has
known in years.
Addison wrote for The Spectator con-
corning Italian opera
I'VE no longer understand the language
of our own stage, insomuch that 1 have
often been afraid when 1 have seen our
Italian performers chattering in the vehe-
mence of action that they have been call
ing US names and abusing US among them
selves; but hope, since We do put such an
entire confidence In them, they will not
talk against US before our faces, though
they may do 1t with the same safety If
it were behind our backs. In the meantime
l cannot forbear thinking how naturally
historian who writes two or three hundred
years hence and does not know the taste
of his wise forefathers will make the fol-
lowing reflection: In the beginning of the
eighteenth century the Italian tongue was
SO well understood in England that operas
were acted on the public stage in that
language The flight of time has brought
no prospect Of realization for this sarcastic
prophecy
The performance of James Young re-
vived a very favorable impression which
that actor left some years ago. and makes
Washington ready for his better acquain-
lance. The Three Little Lambs repeated
their former success. and the New Grand
had some capital features in It's bill. Ker-
mans revived traditions of that prince of
comic litterateurs, John Brougham. with a
burlesque of 'Pocahontas." Broughams
Pocahontas was masterpiece OF that kind
of humor which encourages the puma
source of amusement to the reader even at
the present day. To what base uses may
We come at last.
The return of THE Christian revives
memories of one Of the most extraordinary
first productions that Washington ever
saw. The play will have the advantage of
fine interpreting company. led by Miss
Viola Allen, but there will be no Hall Game
no delicious, ingenious, contented Hall
Caine-to come before the curtain and make
a speech Mr. Game has been strangely lax
about following up so conspicuous a sue
cess as THE Christian proved to be with
another effort.
IF Congress takes the New Grand site
for hall Of records, contemplated by
the bill already introduced, what will you
do for a theater?' was asked Manager p
B. Chase of the New Grand yesterday
When leave here he replied very de-
liberately. lit will be to enter my own thea
ter. and one, too, that will not be more
than long stone throw from here Still it
is almost Idle to talk until Congress acts
There is no trouble about sites in Washing
ton for a theater. l never before saw CITY
so full of desirable locations as are here for
an enterprise of that kind. And they are
cheap, too, when you come to consider that
1t Is the nations capital and most willing to
support any meritoriouS amusement enter
prise. l do not believe in leaving Pennsyl-
vania avenue, however for to NV mind II
Will continue for years to be the main
thorouShfare of the city Then, too II it
ever should come about that the south side
of the avenue is turned into great park
with public buildings on it, who can i'm
ag1ne more beautiful or desirable site
than one on the north side of the avenue
haglItV
hand.
For some time past have busted myself
considerably studying the architecture of
American theaters with a view to a selec-
ton for myself some day. Two | have
seen. the Empire, at Cleveland, and the Co.
lumbia, at Cincinnati, have struck me as
ideal houses in point of comfort, of seating
arrangements. unobstructed view and ele-
gance Of interior. When the moment ar
rives for me to build for myself my friends
here may rely upon me to erect a theater
that VIII be one OF the largest. handsomest
ana most pleasing In the country, contain
ing every known Improvement that will
conduce to the comfort of my patrons"
one OF the most amusing of the many
hilarious features of the combined Adam
Forepaugh-Sells Brothers shows is the
clown band. 1t is such palpable burlesque
on the famous bandmaster, John Philip
Sousa. and his striking mannerisms, that
1t never fails to convulse the audience And
no one enjoys this farcical performance
better than Mr.. Sousa himself. He wit
| messed an exhibition of the show during its
engagement at the Madison Square Garden,
In New York city. and he laughed with
great heartiness over the funny antics of
| the merry sons of Momus. The man who
| initiated the great bandmaster Is a par
| ticularly fine cornet player especially in
| the manner of triple-tonguing and he
| was comDlimented by Mr.. Sousa for his
| skill. When the clown band makes its en-
| trance the burlesque on Mr.. Sousa is in
| stantly recognized. The band opens with
| one of Mr.. Sousas famous marches, but is
| played with such series of stridept dis
| cords that II evokes roars of laughter The
| clown who mimics Sousa is perfect in his
| makeup as far as wigs, beard and cos
| tune can bring about that result He
| wears cap, blue military coat and white
duck trousers, just as Mr.. Sousa does. His
| walk. however. is an exaggerated swagger
| and his manner when playing solo parts,
| extremely ridiculous.
| At the first shrill, tremulous blast from
| his cornet the band assumes all kinds of
| grotesque attitudes, after having spread
| themselves In a circle on the stage At
| the second blast. more ear-splttting than
| the first, the band collapses; 1t revives in
| stantly and follows him through a mock
| rapid time march.
Il