Evening star., 1902-03-04

told them to come again and make it SO.
The auspices Of the beginning were Of the
Of the attraction sets last night Is main-
tanned 1t would seem that the enthusiastic
predictions made on every hand last night
are well founded. The new conditions
house through the change Of name and
policy proved most interesting Mr.. Wege-
farth's declaration Of the week before to
the eHect that no one would know the in
terror or the theater when 1t became the
Empire proved correct. When the audi
ence filed in last night they were con-
!ronted by a wealth ofodecorations such as
the house has never known before. 1t
slowed embellishments at every conceiv-
abie point. Everywhere the eye rested
there was a gracefully. draped American
nag. Iney were arranged singly and IN
hanging pendant fashion, with more lam
terms fixed in graceful loops here and
there, formed another feature Of the dec
orations. In each lantern an electric bulb
scenium arch, directly above the stage,
was a large star, outlined in incandescent
lights and bearing the words Empire.
Welcome The boxes were fairly laden
with cut flowers. The audience did its
share toward making the house look pret
tier than ever. Everyone had put on his
best clothes for the christening, while the
ladies, of whom there was plentiful num-
per on the hoor and in the boxes, lent
further attractions to the scene The pro-
gram devised for the opening Of the En-
p1re Is unquestionably one of the best that
could be obtained in vaudeville. The Great
LaIayette snow, not a stranger to WASH
lnSton, formed the foundation, while the
Empire Stock Company, composed of all
the BlJou favorites and number Of new
people, accomplished its share in the en-
tertainment with new laurels won. Just
to show that everything is different under
the new order of things. the stock company
opened the evening: Bert Leslie at the
head is accompanied by Sophie Leslie, who
has Joined the stock and proved to be a
valuable acquisition. There were other
new ones. too. including Gus Singer, while
Reata Winfield, the pretty violinist Of the
previous weeks BILL remains to play solo
during the time allotted to the stock organ
ization.
Just before the curtain fell on the first
part General Manager Wegefarth came
upon the stage and made a little spec ch,
thanking the audience for its support and
promising many things for the future. He
introduced Lafayette, who also made a
little speech and said he was glad to open
the new theater. Then with wave Of his
hand Lafayette said. II now have the
honor to christen this theater The En-
pre- There was pistol shot in the
wings, and from many places In the cell
ing there showered on the astonished au-
d1ence below thousands and thousands of
Slips OF Varted-colored tissue paper. Each
bit OF paper contained the words: THE
ladies Of Washington
LAFAYETTE SQUARE - The stock
company at the Lafayette Square last
night presented Henry Arthur Jones' we'll
known drama, 1.-The Masqueraders." The
play has been seen here on several differ
ent occasions and has been invariably
well received. Although generally regard
ed as improbable In motive and i'm
possible in development, the play has
basis Of strong dramatic interest, and
when in the hands of an intelligent cast
excites the most tense sympathy. In quail
ty it is fairly representative Of the latest
phase OF theatrical art-an admiXture of
supernciality, insincerity. extravagant ex-
preston and the Seventh Commandment
with occasional touches of homely virtue
in relieve.
Last nights presentation was decidedly
meritorious. The production was uniform
ly smooth and as intense as even modern
theatergOers could desire Moreover the
members of the stock company seem to
have been cast with remarkable success
Mr.. WhlttleSey assumes with credit Henry
Mlllers old role of David Remon, an as
tronomer in whom idealism and cynicism
are strangely intermingled. Mr. Sullivan Is
back in his old school in part as deeply
dyed with vlllafny as any similar role in
mediaeval drama. Miss Lawrence plays
the heroine, Dulci Lerondie and conceiyes
1t along very different lines from her pred
ecessors in the role. Miss Lawrence is
l!ght-hearted, vivacious, VOLATILE tempera-
iiiSiiIrii, "ilSIc lIe originator OF the role
was deeply serious and restrained Which,
ever character Mr.. Jones may have intend
ed to draw, the play goes fully as we'll
with Dulcie light-hearted as ever it could
with Dulcie depressed. All the subsidiary
parts are agreeably DONE particularly
those intrusted to Miss Clinton, Miss
Walker, Mr.. Conley, Mr.. Redmund and
Mr.. Wyngate.
CHASE 'S-"Rattiing good farce Did YOU
ever see anything cute as little Miranda?
Pretty air. that 'Howdo. My Pretty Zulu
I.u' Good company all through. 1t ought
tc- Yes. full Of fun; no wonder Willie
Collier did so well with Don't believe
that was Mary Marble who danced with
Little Chip. Ha! ha that Dutch comedian
Is the best thing Chip does. Wasn't the
Mexico song sweet! That's right that bunch
Of thoroughbreds in the knickers were as
pretty lot" but by this time one had
passed from the lobby out into the street
Every one seemed to be singing the praises
of The Man From MeXico' as portrayed
by Chases Musical Comedy Company. The
theater-going public Is familiar with the
reputation of MIR. du Louchet's play. and il
accordingly needs no praise at this late day.