Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-29

play. There is sufficient plot to the piece
to tumble matters up pretty lively, with
May as the central lumber. A large
part Of the community would be left con-
tinually in doubt as to what coon" songs
It should sing were it not for the visits OF
May Irwin. She has a way OF Injecting
responsibility into the ballads that they
might not otherwise contain: Last night
she was particularly gracious In the matter
of songs. In the first act she sang I've
Got Troubles of Ny Own and Il Amt
dered as only May Irwin does such things.
In the second act she sang in succession
When I'm By Her Side" Jungle Queen"
Laid Him on the Shelf and Give Me
Back My Liza" All sounded clever COM
ing from May Irwin. AS all Irwin sec
ond acts have way of doing, this par
ticular one last night concluded with a cake
walk, in which the steps cut" by the star
elected roars of laughter. The company
includes Ignaco Martinetti once more. lie
is as bubbling as ever, and sings two ex
ceptionally clever songs. His why Don't
the Band Play?" opened the musical fea-
ture of the performance, and went with
rattle and a bang. There will be matinee
Saturday.
LAFAYETTE SQUARE THEATER-The
stock company at the Lafayette last night
presented I'm Mizzoura, one Of Augustus
Thomas best dramatic efforts, which was
made great stage success by Nat Goodwin
a few years ago. The play is one abound
ing n strong dramatic situations and unique
character sketches. Mr.. Thomas laid
the scene Of his play in Pike county.
Mo. and essayed to portray the types or
citizens who live, move and have their
being in that remote backwoods communi-
ty. He introduces many Of the lazy, shift
less, tobacco-chewing loungers, in whom
bad whisky and the ague are ever contend
ing for the mastery-that class for whom,
after tobacco and whisky, politics only has
an attraction.
Eugene Ormonde as Jim Radburn, the
no Narf in Of Two
style. He combines very artistically the
SLOW. easy-going countryman with the
character who in his official capacity has
come in contact with the outside world and
has had his wits, manners and nerve sharp
ened, polished and braced up thereby. Your
Mssourian Is never lacking in nerve what
ever else may be his failings, but 1t some
times requires official responsibility to get
Il in just the proper shape. Percy Haswell
has the somewhat difficult role of Kate
Vernon, the backwoods girl who has been
educated in city and who naturally chafes
under the rough surroundings Of her Pike
county home, to which she has recently re-
turned in the play. Except in one or two
scenes 1t is a part which requires more
looking than acting, but Miss Haswell
succeeds in both requirements. Grayce
Scott has infused good deal of rather diff
ficult individuality into her part of 'Lizbeth,
but succeeds in carrying out her conception
of the character with artistic consistency.
'Lizbeth is made to appear about the most
awkward, aforementioned, helpless dowdy
In all Pike county, If not in the whole wide
world.
John T. Sullivan does the Villains part
In effective style. He presents one decid-
edly strong scene where as the detected
stage robber, hunted by the mob. he seeks
refuge In his sweetheart's home Here he
is called out by the sheriff. who is also his
rival for Kate vernon's love, and the
scene in which all three take part, and
ends with the sheriff's giving the bandit
his horse to escape on, is one of the strong
est in the play. Robert Rogers does the
part Of Joe Vernon. the village black
smith. father of the heroine. very accept
ably. Charles Wyngate as Dave, who Is
too busy to find "stiddy job is very
a "coon." and finds opportunity to sing
some popular songs and please the au-
dience with his inimitable dancing. There
are some very good scenic effects. the
particularly realistic. This act also intro
duces an Interpolation in the shape Of a
negro quartet, who sing some old planta-
ton melodies. Perhaps the only thing
really open to criticism in the play is Mr..
Ormonde's tobacco chewing. He "cuts his
quid'' more like a man who was masticat-
Ing chewing gum than Pike county
sheriff with a roll of long green in his
cheek"
The audience was large enough to fill
the theater comfortably.
cHAsE's NEW GRAND.-The Empire
NduuSNlllidHs, liOiu Tic LiHpiIS 1HSdlCi'
Cleveland, constitute the attraction at
Chase's this week, and, judging from the
attendance last evening and the evident
pleasure OF the audience. the house viii
be we'll filled, to say the least, at every
performance during the engagement OF the
company in this city. The bill is an I'M
usually well-balanced one, every number
being up to the average, with many soaring
higher toward the top Of the scale Of excel
lence. The feature Of the program was the
appearance of Miss tombstone Bennett. we'll
remembered as Jane" The Female Drum
mer' and in other roles. By inquiring
''Wouldn't that jar your" she forthwith re-
newed acquaintance with many old friends
Miss Bennett. with the assistance OF Tony
Williams, presents, in vaudeville, come
delta entitled "A Quiet Evening at Home.
In connection with it's presentation she as
sumes five different characters In nimitable
style and changes costume with surprising
rapidity. Ivan Tschernoff's dogs constitute
q real novelty. The animals display marked
sagacty and perform many feats never be-
fore witnessed. The thoroughly refined
musical specially Of the Tobins has been
seen and heard here before: 1t should be
always welcome. no matter how frequent
visitor. George Felix and Lydia Barry pre-
sent a truly odd conceit which they style
The Vaudeville Craze" Its component
elements are good comedy and superior
acrobatic work. Kittie Mitchell scored we'll
with several old songs. Although the name
Of George W. Stewart does not appear on
the program, he earned welcome by ms
sIssippi river. The Kosure trio Of juvenile
testers, singers and dancers are without
question cute and talented. Very funny and
at the same time entirely pleasing from a
musical standpoint proved the Bison City
Quartet, consisting of Messrs. Cook. Glrard.
Pike and Humphrey. They were recalled
time and again. The concluding number
was contributed and most satisfactorily. by
Paulinetti and Piquo, novel comedy gym
nasts.
ACADEMY OF MUSICAL. H. Wilson.
who is described as 1.-The celebra ted German
dialect comedian and golden-voiced singer"
supported by a well-trained company, Is
presenting 1.-The Watch on the Rhine at
the Academy of Music this week. THE
Watch on the Rhine" while characterized
as a romantic comedy, approaches near the
thrillingly melodramatic at times, but It
gives Mr. Wilson ample opportunity for the
display Of his voice, very sweet and SYM
pathetic tenor. as well as mis- ability to ex-
hIbit a quiet vein Of humor that takes well
and lessons the strain at critical periods.
Some of his songs were remarkably pretty.
The house that was present to greet Mr..
Wilson and his company was large one,
and enthusiastic to the last degree. The
action of the play Is laid on the banks OF
the Rhine, and deals with the sufferings OF
hos haop uod ,f hQr N