Evening star., 1901-04-02

probable manner. Pinero the eminent
builder of plays, must have been possessed
with this idea when he wrote The ANA
zons," which is being presented at the La
fayette Square Opera House this week.
Certainly as improbable situation as can
be imagined is that of three girls being
brought up by their widowed mamma as
boys-dressed as boys, taught boys sports
and pastimes and trained to regard with
dfsdafn skirts and side saddles. In the
natural course of events they must fall In
love, and the knickerbockers will have to
give place to the skirts. These three ANA
zons are attractively portrayed by Percy
Haswell, Grayce Scott and Katherine Field
Their brave attempts at mannishness are
deliciously comic. They entered into the
fun with heartiness that assured success
for the evenings performance. Their
mother, the Marchioness Of Castlejordan
was becomingly represented by Louise
Macintosh, while Agnes Maynard was the
stalwart Sergeant Shutter, who regulated
the athletic exercises of the pseudo youths.
The masculine trio, who found their way
into Overcote Park and subsequently into
the hearts of the maidens three, were per-
sonated by Eugene Ormonde, Charles Wyn-
gate and John Daily Murphy in manner
that appeared to give general satisfaction
Minor roles were assumed by Robert Rog-
ers Walter Craven, Frederick Sullivan and
Francis Ball. The performance was given
with a snap and SmoothnesS that could
hardly be expected of an initial presenta-
tion after weeks preparation. In fact,
stranger strolling into the theater ana
without a program would never have known
but he was listening to metropolitan COM
pany that had just finished a long run In
New York The scenery was adequate and
was properly appreciated, the woodland
scene in Overcote Park receiving hearty
applause on the rising of the curtain. The
principal players were repeatedly forced to
respond to enthusiastic curtain calls.
COLUMBIA THEATER.-When 1.-The Sign
of the Cross was first offered by Wilson
To 10
impossible; that the public would not be
interested in a religious play. But the
public was interested and went to see it,
and continues to turn out in greater or
less force whenever the play makes it's ap
pearance. 1.-The Sign of the Cross has
been on the road for five years. and Is
standing monument to the falllbillty OF
managerial prescience. Five years is a
long life for a play, and the Sign
shows signs OF age. Not that It's dra-
matte powers are dimmed or that its
noble theme is less worthy. Its decay Is
material. Scenery that has for any length
of time received the attentions Of energetic
stage hands suffers greatly and costumes
wear out after the manner of ordinary ap-
parel. Nero In frazGled robe is not inn
pressive. Charles Dalton as Marcus Superbus
has been seen here before, and at the CO.
lumbia last night he repeated his former
good work. He is an actor Of force rather
than of finish, and carries the part Of the
prefect Of Rome in dashing and COM
the Christian maiden Is quiet and effective.
The Berenis of Agnes Scott and Miss
Shattingers Dacia are decided good, while
Miss Brice's Poppea is scarcely the i'm
perious empress of history. Maud Warri-
low as the boy Stephanus, T. A. Shannon
as Tigellinus and Henry w. Wenman as
Glabrio were thoroughly effective, espe-
cially the latter as the Sybarte patrlcan.
The Jemander Of the cast is in the main
fairly satisfactory.
CHAsE'S NEW GRAND-some old ac-
Quaintances with familiar repertory, some
new faces and new songs, dances and
turns serve to MAKE up bill at Chase's
this week that is worth seeing. Novelty
is not everything, as was evidenced last
night by the cordial welcome given those
of Mr.. Chase's company of the week who
have appeared on his stage heretofore, and
the friends of Ezra Kendall. the Fishers
and the others manifested their presence
in the audience and their appreciation of
the performers presence behind the foot
lights.
A "Trip to Maglcana." personally con-
Quoted by Frederick Hurd, comprised one
o. the Interesting features of the program.
MIR. Hurd has several new tricks to aston
ish the natives, and he does astonsh them
very artistically as well as completely. The
four Otis, In a fifteen-minute Skit, furnish
series Of complications hugely enjoyed
by the galleries and evolved with bolster
Gus hilarity. Ethel Robinson sang several
character songs and scored success. Mr..
and Mrs. Perkins Fisher in their well-re-
membered Halfway House." are as de-
lghtful as ever. Ezra Kendall is the same
old "Ezry," from whom the audience hates
to part. Nellie Burt g. Co., in a ragtime
fantasie; Max Waldon iTnperSonator of fe-
male character and a biograph display
complete the program. The biograph ex-
hibitS some moving pictures, collected from
all parts of the world
ACADEMY OF MUSIC-With situations
which cause continual laughter, Hoyt's "A
Texas Steer was presented to an audience
OF large proportions. This play, in which
Tim Murphy made himself famous, gives
Washington a visit every year. On all
hearty welcome. and will continue to do
so judging from the interest manifested by
the patrons of the Academy. AS many
know, the story Of the play deals with a
gress against his will. During the course
of events he is tanned down from
cowboy to a refined gentleman. Tim Muir
phys part-Maverick Brander, the cattle
king-was portrayed by James r. McCann
who was exceptionally good. The role Of
Bessie, Brander's pet, was interpreted with
much vim by Pearl Hight. w. F. Walcott,
as Captain Bright. U. s. A. proved to be
colored politician, who wished to be minis
ter to Dahomey, won more favor with the
audience than any other member of the
cast. A feature of the play was the Texas
Steer Quartet, composed Of Messrs Johns
Lewis Granville and Boas, whose rendi-
tion Of southern melodies received numer-
Gus encOreS.
KERNAN'S LYCEUM THEATER.-The
RentZ-Santley Company, under the manage
ment of Abe Leavitt, played at Kernan's
Lyceum yesterday afternoon and last night
and will continue to entertain patrons of
burlesque daily and nightly during the re-
mainder Of this week. The audiences yes-
terday were large and approved, more or
less tumultuously, the work, songs, dances.
jokes and appearance of the players. The
burletta, Hotel Matrimony," with which
the show begins, furnishes an opportunity
for the matrimonial maidens to sing in
chorus, while Annie Strehl, Katryn Leslie,
Lizzie Smith, Edna Beard, Blanch Latell,
Mildred Adams, Gwen Coate and Char
lotte Coate as the Whitegown girls sing
vigorously. Sadie Leonard sings Strike
Up the Band" and Charles Robinson pre-
sents that musical antique. 1.-The Mick
That Threw the Brick" A satire on
"Sapho" is produced by Lottie Elliott,
Charles Robinson James Leonard Kittie
Bingham and Harry Stewart. In the olio
there are Kittie Bingham, soubrette; Mar
key and Stewart comedians; James and
Sadie Leonard, in a bag punching and high
kicking feature; Charles Robinson, in &C.
centricities; Polk and West. acrobats, and
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