Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-27
ANU SEMESTS.

COLUMBIA TIL EATER.-'.Ladies and
gentlemen said Frank Daniels last night
in response TO the demand for a speech, II
am aware that it is customary for emf
nent artists TO come before the curtain and
say q few words to the audience And
would gladly comply with this custom were
il not for one fact of which you are prob
ably not aware. l belong to the comic OBJ
era comedians union number two. and the
union does not permit any comedian to
make speeches, except in certain territory
Unfortunately for me. this territory hap
pers to belong to Mr.. De Wolf Homer
Otherwise l should be only too happy 10
reclte The Absent-minded Beggar.'"
1t was the best thing in the show
Next to this In entertaining quality comes
the cakewalk in the last act. This occurs
at about five minutes to IL o'clock. 1t is
q long time to wait
All the mechanism of comic opera is
lavishiy offered The scenery is piled up
With the oriental profusion which the title
me Auleer, suggests and the abbreviated
character of the costumes has absolutely
nothing TO do with considerations of econ
omy- There are marches and q few dances
ard all the other features of a comic opera
production, excepting novel ideas The
story is dull and the humor consists main
Iy In Mr.. Daniels ruthless persecution of a
patient court jester, who is trying to put
something funny into the ibretto Mr.
Daniels has gleesome and pervasive Der-
SonaliUy and manages to throw a great deaI
of Eghtness into the occasion. He hasa GER
tain repertoire of tricks which never fail to
win a smile He carries a bell at his belt
which he rings on slight provocatiou:
makes loose-jointed gestures with the fin
gers of one hand partially closed wfrcIcs
his eyebrows and hangs his tongue pug
E!shly from one corner Of his mouth. He
has. however, abandoned some Of the best
things in his repertoire. A battered silk
hat and a cigar used to be in.cparable ac-
hos,
ped the battered silk hat, and his dalliance
with the cigar is all too slight. In this
opera Mr.. Daniels ought to do every
thing he knows. He cannot afford to rest
a minute. The big attendance was a per
s"nal compliment in recognition of past
iaNors- The stage pictures were highly
appreciated. and some of Victor Herbert $
music was We'll interpreted.
About the best role in the opera is that
OF the brigand chief, who takes the greatest
professional pride in his expertness in
scientific assassination. There is actual
humor in the conceit and VIII Il ham
forth played the part well. The COMPANY
included Helen Redmond. Norma Kopp.
Kate Tart and other ladies too numerous
TO mention The song, In Old Ben Frank
Inns Days, was one of the enjoyable spe-
| clalties.. The opera is consistently inco-
herent from beginning to end, and some of
the rhymes and witticisms are cruelty to
| Daniels however, atones for all As soon
| as Frank Daniels name is shown on the
posters the public says cit is now time to
laugh and assemblies for that purpose.
| The reception accorded him last night was
one OF which he may justly feel proud The
prospects for an exceptional business this
week are unmistakable. The pretty stage
pictures and bright music are in themselves
| a treat.
NEW NATIONAL THEATER.-Wi,hin
| the rotund personality of May Irwin lies
\ most of the responsibihty-shouid it be
| called blame for the introduction of the
| coon song into polite society 1t was her
singing of The New Bully some wears
| ago that famed into flame the newly kim
died fire of darkt0wn ditties She set her
| fashionable following in the metropolis
| fairly wild with enthusiasm with the mu-
| latto melodies, and the cakewalk imne-
diately became popular. Despite her evil
| dent answerabeness for the epidemic Miss
| Irwin has. peculiarly, retained her hold
| upon the people, and her songs are lust
| as convulsingly funny and adroitly inter-
preted as ever. She has come TO be looked
upon as the only and original heightened
| singer of negro compositions. She has the
Eaack OF singing directly into the hest
| graces of her audiences, and she gives nm
atmosphere and expression TO her vocal
work in this line that is remarkably clever,
| ard incidentally. most profitable. Miss Ir-
| win comes along with each recurring year
singing new songs and looking just as jolly
| and young as ever. Worry she said last
| night, makes You grow Old early" Evil
| IDENTIFY the buxom Miss Irwin has never let
| n cloud OF bother enter into her life Ger
| talnly she seems to enjoy herself while
| appearing In her performances. Rehear-
| sails must be very easy for the members of
| the May Irwin company. The whole show
| whirls around and depends upon the blithe-
| some May herself, and there is a pleasing
absence of staGiness about her work thai
| indicates not too strict following of the
set lines of production. Miss Irwin an
peared last night at the New National in
| d farce known as Sister Mary" although
any other name in Christendom would have
! lifted just as well. The "pIGy' is the work