Evening star., 1901-04-23
Names the Panel VIII Rear
AMUSE

LAFAYETTE SQUARE THEATER-
Last night the Lafayette Square Theater
CANNED the distinction of putting on the
only prand-neW theatrical production that
the week has to offer in this city. Under
Two Flags has been much talked Of from
aIar' ana ranking as it does among the
successful plays of the season, there was
an unusual first night interest in the enter
prise. an interest which was probably en-
hanced by the fact that this Is the last
week for many who have contributed to
the success of the stock company season
including Stage Director Bellows. The
enterprise of the evening was a daring one.
and the faith manifested in it by the as.
semblage of so large a house was a sub
stantial tribute to the ability of the Iafav-
ette organization to surmount difticuIties
The play is dramatization of Ouida's
novel by Paul NJ. Potter. 1t has been
mounted with remarkable attention to
scenic detail and with excellent Judgment
as to ensemble effects.
The little errors which beset first night
performance We're numerouSly In evidence
and effectually bar candid discussion of
the presentation on it's merits Eupene
Ormonde was less haunted by the demon
of miSchance than other prominent mem
bers of the cast, and played the romantic
seif-sacrlhcing corporal in a manly and
picturesque fashion. The chief figure in
the cast is the vivandiere. Cigarette, play
ed by Percy Haswell. There is a certain
amount Of ''swagger' essential to the role,
to which the innate delicacy of Miss Has
wells methods does not at all times adapt
itself. In the finer displays of sentiment
she was graceful and charming The epi-
sodes upon which the play depends for in
terest are such familiar old bits of pathos-
provoking machinery, from the brother's g
sacrifice II conceal a forgery to sweet
hearts sacrifice in meeting the death
which villain had planned for the lover,
that it is impossible, to become very seri-
ously interested in them unless the produc-
tion moves with the utmost ease and ac-
curacy. John T.. Sullivan was the most
brutal and irredeemable of Villains 1t was
something of disappointment to see him
escape in the last act without a heavy dose
of poetic justice.
1t is many years since the fierce bar
barian made the auditorium thrill by his
command bring forth the fiery untamed
steed!' and since breathless auditors
watched the dauntless Mazeppa, dashed to
the back of the animal thus described,
making his zig-zag way past canvas
precipices to the mountain peak just above
the sky borders. The wild ride which II
was evidently intended Miss Haswell
| should take awakened pleasant Juvenile
eminiscences. 1t cannot be said that the
present picture is an Improvement of the
| old melodramatic classic after which 1t is
! modelled. 1t must be confessed that Miss
| Haswell was handicapped in any display
of equestrian skill by getting a bad mount
| at the hands of clumsy Arab. The equip
| ment of an Arab steed with yellow sad
| die which looked if 1t had just come
| out of a harness store was one of several
| small points which detracted from the illu.
| sion.
| Most of the deficiencies will, with the
I exception of several minor roles which suf.
| fer through sheer bad acting, no doubt be
| effaced when nervousness has been allayed
| The performance ran until a very late
| hour, but the interest in the heroism and
| devotion of Cigarette was maintained unit
| the very close.
| NEW NATIONAL THEATER-It 1.
quite novel and interesting at the Nationa
this week to see lot Of youngsters, en-
| t1rely new to the state, rubbing elbow:
| and cutting up with the more venerabl,
and deeply esteemed members of the Boa
| tonians. Last evening the performance wa
| especially one for the younger element a
| only two of the stanch favorites of othe
days appeared in the cast-the PERENNIAL,
| welcome Barnabee head of the house .
Boston, and the vastly pleasing Frothing
| ham of delightful Friar Tuck remembrance
| Mr.. Macdonald was unable to sing on ac
count Of a bad cold, and the barytone rol