Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-25
ADJUSTMENTS.


| formed before well pleased audience at
| the New National Theater last night. The
| cast numbers only seven people, and does
| not represent the concentration OF tai
ent which might be expected when SO
small corps of players are presented by
Charles Frohman for evenings enter
tainment. The play Is a fine specimen of
comedy, coherent in structure, and with a
sufficient background of serious interest to
afford contrast for the brilliancy of the
wit. The most amusing situations are at
tanned by series of events which are far
more rational than the average producer
or farce consents TO employ, and there are
whimsical people whose moods are suffi-
Gently grotesque to excite unlimited mirth,
ana at the same time within the bounds of
probability. 1t is one of the models of
comedy for writers in all languages, and
the adapter has refrained from destroying
us original qualities through misguided eff
forts to bring It up to date"
Edward Abeles had the role of the young
man whose terrors afford most of the fun
ana Jessie Milward portrayed the lady
whose resourcefulness is more than a match
Tor the shrewd dipuomat with whom she
wages a war Of wits. George Irving as
the nero of the episode gave a satisfactory
performance. Scenically the play is not
pretentiouS, but it has an abundance of in
trlnsic cleverness which cannot but prove
entertaining.
IT,
vaudeville numbers and the particular i'm
presentations of 'sThe Great I,afayette
Which comprise the weeks Offering at the
LAFAYETTE Square Theater, last night scored
considerable success. The entertainment
is evidently designed for popular amuse-
ment rather than for any purposes of high
art: and Is distinctly good within such Iimi-
tations. The auditors and spectators of
last night applauded frequently and laugh
ed heartily.
The theater-going world Is familiar with
Lalayettes impersonation of John Philip
Sousa and Ching Ling Foo and with his
special performance, called THE Lions
BRIDE, a pantomime, in which a young
woman Is thrust into cage with live lion,
"hen the lion and Lafayette exchange
places, to the mystification of the whole
audience. This year he presents several
new limitations with marked success-Crea-
tore, Ofenbach and List, leading an or
chestra IN turn; Strauss a barber shaw
ing customer to music and both King
Edward and Queen Alexandra at the recent
coronation.
The supporting company is adequate, and
introduces as vaudeville numbers musical
act by the five Noses, a monologue by
Lynn Welscher, the two Pucks in songs
and dances, Sallie Stembler in songs and
burke Moller and Teller in a sketch, which
included much conversation, some singing
and a little dancing.
CHASES THEATER.-The bill at Chase's
this week presents several acts which NAV
justly be called novelties. Fanny Rice's
performance is different from any other in
vaudeville. The funny little puppets With
Fanny Rice faces made friends fast when
they began their comic performances The
expressions of the midget folk and their
coy ways were delightful to watch while
the efforts of the operate soprano to reach
nigh G and her final success, through a rare
DIT OF neck stretching, were most 1udicrous
Another dIstlnct novelty was the aerial
work of Clara Ballerini. Perched on a
chair supported by its rear standards on q
trapeze bar, this young woman played the
mandolin and sang an Italian ditty. The
trapeze act IN vaudeville has come to be
looked forward to by the patrons with resig-
nation. This one, however proved genu-
Inc surprise. Miss Ballerini is decidedly
handsome and graceful, and her work diff
fers from the usual run of aerial tricks in
that it is picturesque we'll as skillful The
banjo playing Of Franco Piper is another
novelty, although something Of a nerve
racking one. While juggling three banjos
ne plays tune upon them. Then he spins
two of the instruments while the "Suwanee
River energies somehow from the strings
The novelty Of his playing makes the act
Another feature out of the ordinary was
that Of Delareens dogs. There are only a
few of them, but they are not the common
ly termed trick dogs. They are athletes
and work with their master in performing
all sorts of feats Charles Ernest the phil
osophical tramp; Hayes and Healy. the
ringmaster and the circus rider Hines and
Remington, in a rather f1ashy talking act,
and comical trip to the moon, via the
vitagraph, are other features.
ACADEMY-'The Volunteer Organist'
was performed at the Academy last night
where a large audience was entertained.
The play must be numbered among the
distinct hits in the field Of rural comedy
and pathos. The four scenes alternate be-
tween two villages and the action hinges
around young clergyman's love for a
tavernkeeper's daughter, which starts the
inc Of 70 TOLL n{o11r
some members of the minister's congrega-
ton, whose insincerity is later brought to
light. The story teaches a strong tenn
perance lesson. The several characters in
the cast gave highly creditable perform
ances. There is humor in the piece, but
none of the horse play that so often proves
tiresome Is brought in to cause a laugh.
There is also an absence of the customary
deep-dyed villain, who, with the assist
ance of an adventures, seeks to harm the
innocent. One scene shows the exterior
and interior of the village church, with
the worshipers In their pews, and conster-
nation is caused among them when the
minister announces that the organist will
not be able to attend the service. A tramp,
who proves to be the clergyman's long-lost
brother, hears the announcement and vol
unteers his services. AS an added attrac-
ton Master Willie Nelson boy soprano,
sings THE Palms." and Master Floyd Hunt,
another soprano sang THE Pilgrim Band
John Milton, who essayed the role of the
clergyman, gave a good Interpretation Of
the character. Miss Justina Wayne made
her first appearance with the copany last
night, enacting the character of the tav-
ernkeepers daughter in a manner which
met with entire approval.
EMPIRE THEATER. - THE Devils
Daughter" presented at the Empire
Theater this week, is production Of
more elaborate type than has hitherto been
attempted at this playhouse. The scenery
is entirely new and some of the effects, par
ticularly the closing scene, are extremely
good. The show has been revised and
brought up to date, the costumes are new
and pretty. The only objection to the show
is the fact that 1t employs too much sug-
gestiveness at times. Clarence Wilbur Is
humorous in the part of Patsy Bolivar. Ed
die Mack is good in the part of the German
professor and Nat Jerome and e. D. How
ard prove themselves capable as come
dams. besides contributing a speciality that
was above the average in talking turns.
Flossy Coy, Hattie Fox and Lillian Hatha-
way added their efforts toward making the
show acceptable in a way that was dis
tinctly pleasing. One of the cleverest spe-
cialties is that of Flo Jansen whose sing
ing act is embellished with remarkably
good light effects, the stage being hung en-
nm