The Washington times., 1903-04-14
Good Civil War Opera at the
NationaI-Alice Fischer's
Success at the Columbia.
Other Good Bills.


Other Good Bills.
General Allen, was a typical army Of
iceT- Robert P. Carter played the only
real comedy role in the opera with such
finish and repression that he did not
give & discordant note to scenes which
might easily have been ruined by less
judgment. VIII H Bray, the old Of
fceseekeT Of The Texas Steer" played
the role OF Uncle Tom, and led an
excellent negro chorus in the singing
Of My HoneysuckIe Girl" and several
other songs, which were introduced in
a pretty plantation scene.
Colum5ia-Alice Fischer in MRS. Jack"
The audience which attended the
Columbia Theater last night, when
Alice Fischer made her local debut as
star, had treat such as has been
rarely afforded this season. Miss Ffsch-
er appeared in play called Mrs.
Jack," from the pen of Grace Livingston
Furniss.
Feminine comedians are not scarce
The stage has any number of them, as
the name goes. but the good ones may
be counted on one hand, and 4Iiss
Fischer is near the thumb There is
no ingenue on the stage who can 90
through a love scene with more grace.
True, Miss Fischer does not make love.
OF have love made to her in the in
genue way. She has a method all her
own and is of herself a thing apart from
other players. Her breeziness, health
full personality, and absolute freedom
from anything that is coarse, unwoman-
", or in the slightest degree suggestive
is balm to the soul OF the theater-
goers.
A New Type OF Star.
The public has had so much Of
Ianguishiug classic players, leading wo-
men who believe their forte lies in
holding up to public scrutiny the fail
ings of weak natures The variety of
feminine stars seems almost fnexhaus-
tible, but Of Miss FisCher's type one
never tires. It cannot be said that
she is the greatest actress on the stage,
for that is not true. She is not even
playing a great part. She Is Just Alice
Fischer, and as Alice Fischer is good TO
look at, good to hear, and good to be
with. At the conclusion of the per-
formance everybody felt as If they had
been away on a delightful vacation,
breathing fresh air and doing every
thing that made life worth living. Such
is the influence her personality has upon
one. Il is helpful, joyous. and uplift-
ing
The fact that Mrs. jack ran for so
many nights in New York does not war
rant local theatergoeTs to indorse the
play Mrs. Jack" is not worthy We
hicle for such an actress, but. were it
not for her, the piece would be of lit
tie value. Only when Miss Fischer is
on the stage are things interesting.
When she IS not the action falls. the
tempo is lost. She comes on. picks Up
the scene and holds it in the hollow
Of her hand
Mrs FuTniss' greatest fault is her ten
dency TO clear the stage at least twice
in each act It is a fault that threatens
heart failure TO the audience, for one
detriment TO a plays interest. The
story itself, is commonplace. though in
teresting of its kind It tells OF the
entry into her late husband 8 family of
Mrs Jack" to whom a fortune is left.
Her action in fostering several human
'Iegacies" of her husband disgusts the
Iatter's brother and sister, and, inciden-
tally, loses them part of the fortune
provided in a codiciI-
One Scene and Many Actors.
By far the best scene in the play is
an account OF a buffalo hunt. in the third
act Some uItra-e exclusive People have
come to Mrs. Jacks" home for the
purpose of seeing and criticisfng her. and
on learning this, Mrs. Jack determines o
carry out the illusion that she is in
disposition a real Comanche She re
counts a buffalo hunt in the streets Of
Cincinnati when the stock exchange sus
pended business and the trolley lines
were blocked that the buffalo hunt might
proceed The recital is equal TO Lady
Gay Spanker's celebrated race speech in
London Assurance" and adds material
" to Miss Fischer s IaureIs.
The supporting company includes
Frank Mayne. whose impersonation Of
the ex-pugilist and painter of black
eyes" won him instant favor Mr..
Mayne's quiet. forcely conception Of the
character easily placed him at the head
OF the list Of supporting players. Frank
Matthew. a former stock favorite with
the FTaWley company al the Columbia,
plays the role of Charley BaDnister,
Jacks brother and a gentleman scoun-
drel. satisfactorily, and James Carew
enacts the part Of Dick Fedris, Mrs.
Jacks "chum," On conventional lines.
The play is picturesquely staged. and
Miss Fischer's gowns and those = other
women in The company occasioned much
comment from the fair sex in attend
ance.
Chase's-Polite and Entertaining Vau-