Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-20

cult task of acquiring the prestige of the
parsonage Of first importance in the cast
of an unknown, untried drama. Yet, based
upon such a classic as Schillers "Kabale
und Liebe." Miss Hollands new play,
Aria" might be expected to prove a wor-
thy medium for her debut. The difficulties
under which the enterprise labored last
night were such as to make any definite
conclusions to the merits of the drama
tization impossible. Last nights production
was scarcely a fair test. 1t was married by
a series of accidents. over which the per-
formers had no control. In his first en-
trance Mr.. Lipman, who assumed the try
ing role of Roland Won Hohenlohe. the
lover of Aria, trippcd on the steps and tore
the heel off his shoe thus distracting atten-
ton from one of the prettiest scenes in
the play. Various other unforseeab BILE Inter
ruptions occurred. The scenery, tasteful
and elaborate, required prolonged handling.
and the waits were enlivened by the shouts
OF the stage hands, which provoked enthu-
siastic applause in the audience. In the
third act, the best of the play, sword hilt
flew from its proper place and thudded
into one of the orchestra chairs, fortunate
ly empty, in a manner to suggest that stage
flights are not always harmless. These and
other contretemps disconnected the actors
in measurable degree, and at the same
time distracted the attention of the house.
Under more favorable circumstances the
performance would doubtless impress itself
more satisfactorily. In spite of the difficult
ties. the audience last night was respon-
sive and even enthusiastic. AT the close
of the third act Miss Holland was recalled
seven times. The tragic finale to the play,
however. did not seem to be heartily APP
preciated. Miss Holland was nervous at
times. She has dramatic power which
would be enhanced by more repose and
naturalness. When one or two absurd
cGnventionalities have given way in the
play to more acceptable devices her work
will appear more finished and convincing.
The supporting company is doubtless capa-
Bile of making the pf he MI
faVoring circumstances. Mr.. Lipman was
an attractive lover. but somewhat forced
az times. Robert McWade, as Johann VIM
ter, the aged musician, met the trying de-
mands upon him admirably. as was to be
expected from so experienced and capable
an actor. Newton Chsnell, as Kellar, pre-
sented the clearest-cut character sketch of
the performance and won a round of Kisses
for his diabolism. Bertha Creighton pre-
scented the malevolent Duchess Won Wald-
helm smoothly and artistically, with two
gowns, which excited keen feminine admit
ration. One of the most satisfactory bits
OF the evening was the Dclphine of Fran
ces Brooke whose French-maid accent and
style were unmiStakable and excellent The
house was filled. the boxes holding score
or more of distinguished officials and citi-
Zens.
LAFAYETTE SQUARE OPERA HOUSE
There is great improvement to be noted
In the work of the Strakosch Opera Com
rany as seen in Wallace's tuneful and in
teresting Mauritania at the Lafayette
Square Opera House last night. The work
was given with a snap and finish that was
lacking in some of Its former efforts both
principals and chorus combining to make
the production a meritorious one in many
ways. The chorus, which has always been
q strong one, shows evidences of much hard
work, and its efforts in the tuneful en-
sembes with which Mariana abounds
were worthy of and received hearty APP
llAuSe Plvna Clarke no ,art IF
Don Caesar de Bazan and acted and sang
the role in a forceful and pleasing manner.
He was in excellent voice and was repeat
edly recalled. All of the principals in fact
received hearty Acknowledgements of their
efforts and nearly all the gems of the piece
mad to be sung second time. j. X. Muir
ray as Charles II was effective, and his one
solo was given in splendid style. His duet
for tenor and baritone with Mr.. Clarke also
received instant and hearty applause. Geo.
Chapman sang the part of Don Jose. the III
triguing prime minister. adequately, and
Edward Webb, Harry Williams and Albert
W llder filled small parts acceptably. Miss
Clara Lane made a pleasing Gitana, and
sang the role in good voice. Miss Amelia
Fields, the contralto of the company, made
a success of Lazarllo. The duet by Miss
Fields and Miss Lane in the last act was
exceptionally well done. Miss Marian Lang
don made quite a little out of the small part
of the Warehouses de Montefori. The
opera was well staged although the cos
congruous. The orchestra added not little
to the effectiveness of the whole production
by its good work. 'Maritana'' will be sung
tomorrow and Friday evenings and Satur-
night, Thursday and Saturday evenings and
at tomorrows matinee performance.
ACADEMY OF MUSIC.-'Man's Enemy"
which opened in a most promising manner
at the Academy last night, is an English
which hears of the char
acteristics of its class; strong contrasts and
a wealth of incident, vice and villainy of
the lowest and most dcspicable order and
virtue unhappily beyond earthly expert
ence. The rich and the poor have there
meeting place. and the blight of in
temperance is over them all. The scenic
features Of Mans Enemy" are as varied
and colOrful as it's incidents and range from
the terraces of Monte Carlo. with a dis
tant view of the Illuminated Casino and the
moonlit water beyond to the purlieus of
the public houses in Oldham Road and the
noisome garnet in White Chapel. where
the villain and his miserable female ac-
complete meet the inevitable melodramatic
end, and where the triumph of the hero is
shown in a vision of his marriage to the
girl Of his early love. which appears in a
burst of light at the back before the final
curtain. Mr.. Theodore Babcock, in the
role of Harry Stanton, the hero, who is
the victim of inherited taInt of in
ebr!ety, the ceaseless schemes of the VIII
lain and the wiles of the adventures whom
he unfortunately marries, proves himself
an actor of much promise: his methods are
intelligent and he reserves his emotion in
a commendable manner. Miss Dorothy
Rossmore is typical cigarette-smoking adj
ventures, daring and heartless; Mr.. Dun
can Prestons villain slumbers not in his
efforts to make a moral wreck of the hero.
Had he turned his talents to some useful
pursuit with equal persistency he might
have been a success in life. The comedy
Hebrew in the hands of Mr.. Maurice Lin
der was an excellent piece of character
work. Mr.. Thad Shine, as a Russian count
and later a London Bobby" does well,
and the rest of the cast fill their places in
a manner to give the proper force to the
thrills and starts and to impel to smiles
and tears, which is the chief end of the
of the world of melodrama.
THE NEW GRAND.-The management
of the New Grand this week feature the
name of Cissie Lotus, who will not appear
until next week; present Mr.. Ezra Kendall,
who, of course, makes good, and introduce
number of others. Even eliminating Mr..
Kendall the bill, as a whole, may be said
to be entertaining. 1t is not excellent, and,
with one exception, is not poor. The usual
large audience was in attendance last even
ing and seemed to realize full value for
money expended from Mr.. Kendalrs efforts
alone. The latter Is in a class all by him
self. For years an actor star he suddenly
blossomed forth as a monologue artist in
connection with negro minstrelsy. Object