Evening star., 1901-02-05

two numbers, which pleased the audience
nightly. Julius Stegef was very accept
able as PaganiO, the Corsican, with ven
delta on his HANDS.
The 15Oth performance Of Foxy Quiller'
will be celebrated at the National Ihurs-
day night, upon which occasion the cor,
ductor's chair will be occupied by Reglnalo
De Koven.
LAFAYETTE SQUARE OPERA HOUSE.
One of the largest audiences of the season
witnessed the performance of "A Sociai
Highwayman' at the Lafayette last night.
The company has done nothing better so
far 1t was rems rkably free from those
minor faults which so often interrupt the
continuity OF first night. The play is ad-
mirably cast and the players, with one or
two exceptions, exhibited that surety and Ia
miliarity with their work which is usually
born only of many performances. The play
is a drama tization by Mary P. Stone Of the
novel by Elizabeth Phipps Train. 1t was
presented few seasons ago in washington
dience last night followed with the closest
attention the trials of the gentlemanly
highwayman, who confines his pilfering OPP
erations to the circle of his friends and ac-
quantances. He is an anomalous character,
and well nigh impossible. In real life his
career would be very brief, but behind the
footlights he successfully abstracts dia-
mond brooches from the gowns of his fair
partners in the dance. and removes costly
strands from the necks of guests at his
own house while he helps them don their
wraps. 1t is all done in so gentlemanly
way, and with such delcacy of feeling.
that the act itself is robbed of the stigma
which usually attaches to the work of the
low. Sinking fOotpad of reality. He is the
hero and villain combined. and keeps the
audience blowing hot and cold. One minute
he steals a locket from a lady. which is
surely wrong. and the next upbraids him
self for his baseness and beats his forehead.
which is certainly highminded action and
worthy Of admiration The hghwayman Is
aided in his schemes by his valet. another
rogue of less prominence. but more prin-
ciple. He is a thief from an exalted sense
of duty. an ethical blackleg. who sins be-
cause he owes it to his master, to whom he
is devoted and whom he would shield at
any cost. and deem it most worthy sacri-
flee.
That such characters can hold the inter-
est and compel the sympathy of the reader
of the book the beholder of the play Is
evidence of superior literary workmanship
and dramatic ability. Eugene Ormonde and
John T. Sullivan play the precious pair OF
rogues, master and man, respectively. In
way to beautify crime and raise the second
story man TO the sanity calendar.
The Social Highwayman" is society
play, and the highwayman, with all his
faults and virtues, is a relief from the
average caddish hero, who until the very
last act refuses to marry the leading lady
because she has money. He is also more
with the French dialect or the French count
with German impedment of speech, who
wears a crimson sash across his breast and
is continually being foiled in lis attempts to
elope with the elderly bankers wife
Miss Percy Haswell as Eleanor Burnham.
by whom the highwayman would probably
have been reclaimed had he been permitted
to live, makes much of part Offering few
possibilities. 1t is really second In interest
to that of the adventures, Leonora Ca
prices, which Is admirably portrayed by
Eleanor Morette. Scenically the produc-
ton is complate to the smallest detail, and
in the main the stage management shows
the result of much intelligent study. But
that man could meet his death as the
highwayman finally does. beneath falling
walls and heavy beams without scratching
his patent feathers or mussing his shirt
front is almost beyond even stage posi-
bilities.
CHASE'S NEW GRAND.-The' vaudeville
syndicate has been good to Chases New
Grand this week, as bill Is put forward
there that will rank with the best in the
of the season" class. Jessie Bartlett Davis
is the bright particular star of the aggre-
CATION but the smaller satellites twinkled
brilliantly. She still retains that remark
ably pleasing personality which made her
such favorite while with the Bostonians.
and her voice shows little sign of wear-in
fact. 1t would require the ear of an expert
to discover flaw. The four songs present.
ed by Miss Davis served as vehicles for all
those pleasing little mannerisms if such
they can be called. which have endeared her
to the theater patrons the country over
OF course she had to sing "Oh Promise
Me-" and It's reception amounted almost to
an ovation. 1t was simply for old times
sake and must have been very gratifying to
the artist. John c. Rice and Sally Cohen
presented a new laugh producer entitled
THE Kleptomanacs." which was greeted
with much favor. the applause being almost
continuous. Lew Sully gained marked rec
ognition through an original monologue
which contained much that was new, and as
it was cleverly presented his reception was
of the nattering kind A dainty comedy
trihe entitled Her Sisters Beau" was the
Offering of James f. Mcdonald and Annie
Martell and another hit had to be recorded.
Mr. Mcdonald has a pleasing voice and in
addition is dancer OF unusual merit, while
Miss Martell gives him able assistance.
The weIl-known Gardner Brothers had the
opening number and made good impress
sion Anna hitney followed in character
songs and dances and also scored we'll The
Young American Quintet sang and danced
their way into favor, the solo singing being
especially enjoyable. The Brothers MARITIME
closed the show, presenting an athletic act
well worth remaining to see. The tumbling
of the two brothers is really remarkable,
and when they bring into use the rebound
ing table tricks of sensational order are
bound to follow. The house was crowded in
every part.
ACADEMY OF MUSIC-Many an actor
writer has constructed a pay in which he
might draw tears and applause from his
audience in a passioned execution of the
hero's part. 1t has remained for w. ].
Thorold to take just the opposite lead and
make a stage production in which lie is
painted a villain of lamp black hue. he
heroic honors going to his leading man.
This exceptional overthrow of all stage GUS
toms is witnessed this week at the Acad-
emy, where Near the Throne was played
last night to an audience that filed audi
torium. balcony and gallery again exempi-
flying the claim that popular-priced me!o-
drama is Just now enjoying something of
heyday in theatricals. Near the Throne
has been brought to the stage in the sweep
of Napoleonic plays through the theatrical
armament. and In its action the little cor
poral' has quite part. The audience owes
a debt of gratitude to the management for
billing Napoleon Bonaparte general of
the French army" for character so OBJ
scure might have been accredited to any
cid nation. Seriously speaking, "Near the
Throne is right clever melodrama.
There is excitement a-plenty, but not
surfeit of slaughter. The lack of blood
spillng was not, however. the fault of the
villain, for had his plans not been thwarted
the campaign of Napoleon in Egypt would
never have been written; his army would
lcw-dip beneath a blanket. The play has
an Egyptian atmosphere and its career. In
four acts, is charted by the synopsis lines: