Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-11
ADJUSTMENTS.

NEW NATIONAL THEATER -"Of
course, you can never be like us, but be as
like as you're able to be- chants Ed
ward j. Connolly, the chief comedian of
1.-The Belle of New York company, which
opened the New National Theater for a
weeks engagement last night. The Jingle
sounded like gentle allusion to the effort
then in progress to duplicate the success of
Dan Daily, Edna May and the rest of the
gleesome galaxy who first made 1.-The Belle
of New York. a favorite. 1t would be gross
nattery to assure Mr.. Connolly that he is
as satisfying in the part of '1chabod Bron-
son. president of the purity league, as Dan
lassie, who Is perhaps the quaintest Of all
which, once acquired. cannot be eradcated.
And Buelah Dodge cannot cause the audi
tor to forget that Edna May first reused
his admiration for the little Salvation Army
lassit, who is perhaps the quaintest of all
comic opera heroines. Yet Mr.. Connolly Is
f1rst-rate comedian and Miss Dodge is
very wtnsome and natural.
If there was any disappointment In con-
nection with THE Belle Of New York. 1t
was Of strictly agreeable character. There
was none of the letting down SO often to
be noted when an attraction is out to CLEAN
the profits of success scored several sea-
sons before. There was nothing to betray
the fact that 1t was a commercial venture
purely. adapting itself to the various tenn
peraments and customs of various COM
munities, instead of q spick and span crea-
tiOn fresh with the ardor OF young ambi-
ton. The costumes were pretty and aroused
the doubts as to their propriety which some
how beset a Casino production. The dane
ing specialtfes were good and the chorus
tuneful and well populated The bits of
character Interpolation were happily intro
duced and were effective without being OBJ
trusive. Arthur Deagan made splendid
tough and Joseph Kane made hit in
his crazy speciality. In distributing compli-
ments the phrase "others too numerous to
mention must be resorted to. and this
time with more sincerity than 1t ordinarily
suggests. The only drawback to the even
tng's entertainment was the difficulty to
decide when to stop applauding In order to
fan and when to stop tanning in order to
applaud. Stage and the auditorium cOmbin-
ed to offer the assurance to the dainty
Belle that "age cannot wither nor GUS
tom stale.
CHASE'S NEW GRAND-Manager P. B.
Chase inaugurated the season Of 19OO-19o1
last night at his Grand Opera House, which
now sure enough deserves It's appellation
Of New" The occasion called forth an
audience which all but filled the mammoth
playhouse and which was most brilliant,
considering the youth of the season. Old
patrons expressed enthusiastic appreciation
Of the handsome improvements that were
made during the summer and OF the many
little comfort conveniences that have been
added by a thoughtful management. Stran-
gers to the Grand in the audience last night
ent arrangement. All admired the bril-
1iantly Illuminated entrance arch the hand
somely furnished lobby, with its dainty
chairs and settees, and lined on either side
with potted plants and vases of cut flow
ers. as well as the newly decorated interior,
the effect of which is enhanced by excep-
tionally pretty draperies. Mr.. Chase's idea
Of entertainment is one of polite vaudeville
"a widely diversified bill, acceptable and
amusing to all classes of theater-goers.
This his policy last winter and 1t
proved unqualifedly successful. In present
ing polite vaudeville he states a desire to
have his patrons supplied with every con-
venience. In addition to the numerous
comfort arrangements of last season. one
finds this year public writing desk, with
the free use of house stationery, telegraph
blanks, New York and Washington daily
papers, current magazines. free telephone.
and messenger and carriage calls. The
floral decorations last night were particu-
larly effective A bill of eight acts Is pro-
vided for the first weeks entertainment.
The resulting performance Is something of
poser when 1t comes to analysis. Hot
weather and humidity undoubtedly played
stellar part, acting alike on players and
the played to. The two final acts of the
eight however. were of themselves suffi-
Client to send the folks in front home in
merry mood. The first Of these two life
savers" as they might be called, was a
musical act by five members Of the Willis
family, European artists 1t was away
and above most musical acts, the renditions
being artistic in every sense and not de-
pendent upon freak instruments for their
success One of the boys proved himself
violinist of rare merit. 1t was legiti-
mate musical turn, almost attaining to
brflliancy, and was in contradistinction to
most OF those seen on the modern vaude-
vile stage. The second saver was an aero
battle act by three Lukens Brothers. 1t
was made up almost entirely of new acts
the more daring features bringing out in
voluntary exclamations of fear from all
parts Of the house The Morello Troupe
starts the ball with a short and pleasing
act. In which somersault and bag -punching
dogs play important parts. Milton Aborn
assisted by Hattie Arnold and an awfully
bad super" show George Cohans sktt,
THE Vaudeville King" which is neither
witty nor dull; Little Elsie gave her YER
played during her act very bad temper
for little girl. VIII Greasy and Blanche
Dayne get the best out of Mr. Cressy's
sketch, THE Key Of c. which goes well
up to the climax and then falls down In
excusably. Ella Chapman has a monologue
with some clever bits to It, while Tom Lew
Is and Sam Ryan do an old turn on two
'bum' actors in an inexpressably funny
manner Their horse play brought out
huge laughs.
ACADEMY OF MusIc-Twelve excel
were presented at the Academy Of Music
yesterday afternoon and evening to fair
sized audiences The theater-going peo-
PIC nave cSiOcntiS not yet returned TO the
city, but the good bills being put forward
at this house will undoubtedly be appre-
ciated later on by big attendance The top
liners for the week are: Edna Aug Marie
Dressler and Clifford and HUH. The spec
tators were evidently not familiar with the
characters fmpersonated by Miss Aug and
Miss Dressler. Clifford and Huth consti-
tute one Of the c.everest teams in vaude-
vile. but their same old act Is used as a
vehicle for the comedy abilities OF the pair
Miss Aug has made gigantic strides toward
success within the past year, and should
the bright little lady choose more familiar
characters still greater favor awaits her.
Miss Dressler made the greatest hit in pre-
senting a type of woman that is better
read about than seen and her endless abili-
ties could be applied to better advantage
with an assurance of bigger reward. Sew
eral of the minor acts pleased the audi
ence immensely. White and Harris with
their dancing and rough comedy work, were
received with great favor. the recitation of
Casey at the Bat" by Kittie Harris and the
impersonation OF the immortel Casey" by
Pat White was one Of the funniest little
bits imaginable. Spaulding opened the bill
with clever equilibrist work Vernon, the
ventriloQuist, was exceptionally good, and
gathered In great applause. Pitrot has
been seen here before in his well known
act, but several additions made 1t novel as
we'll as entertaining. The juggling of Nom
treli was Of the careless order. but his as
giSfa MT was funny and covnrod nm he d.