Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-07
PAINS Fireworks.

The artillery of a threatening storm help
ed out the illusion last night when the fes-
tivities and final destruction of the historic
city Of Pompeii were portrayed in the open
air by enterprise which enlisted not only
the talents of the scene painter, stage man.
ager and ballet master, but the extensive
resources Of Pain, the pyrotechnist. AS the
summer warmth sets in the popular fancy
turns naturally to outdoor amusements.
The thought necessary to follow complex
dramatic plot represents more labor than
the average person cares to apply as the
temperature goes up toward the neighbOr-
hood of the nineties. Comedies are wei
come, provided they do not require us to
grasp intricate situations. The song and
dance performer is restful and seasonable.
The circus with Its multitudinous but stu
diously untntellectual attractions is CRATE
full and comforting, but a fireworks en-
tertanment Is in some respects the ideal
amusement for a mind that seeks only d.
version 1t Is true that the management
utilizes history and the art of the novelist
Bulwer LyttOn as reason for the existence
of the Olympian games, classic coryphees
and spangled luminosities which stirred
the sky OF Northeast Washington to I'M
wonted splendors last night. But the story
Is remote and inconsequential considera-
ton.
long stretch of scenery represents Pom
pelham buildings, with the threatening cone
of Vesuvius looming in the background.
lied and Nydia, the blind girl, is seen CROP
Ing through throng that includes soldiers,
priests and the common populace of the
city whose luxury and splendor have be-
come proverbial. But the respect either to
historic facs or the traditions of fiction Is
not pedantic and slavish. A hand-to- hand
fight between the gallant Glaueus and the
in2quitous Arbaces Is introduced, while
trapeze performances and laughable clowns
distinctly suggest the modern.
fire dance, programmed as a rite in
honor of Isis. was highly picturesque in
cident in che diversions preliminary to the
grand explosion which laid the mimic city
low In tragic ruin. Mr.. Pain modestly con-
fessed to having embellished the original
dance, and there is reason to doubt his
claim that electric and stereoptic effects
are introduced in this entertainment of
which the sybarite Arbaces ever dreamed
But something of historic accuracy must
be sacrificed in the interests of the pic
turesque, and the audience last night ac-
cepted with entire approval even the inno-
walton which introduced a trio of grotesuue
dancers wearing black silk hats such as the
| fashion plate of A. d. 10 could not possibly
have sanctioned.
| The speciality program was long and
varied. one of the best features being a
series of classic poses which were not only
beautiful. but appropriate. The eruption of
Mount Vesuvius was led up to and attained
with considerable dramatic effect A tiny
ribbon of smoke curled constantly from
the crater a reminder of the menace I'M
der which these gay and luxurious people
existed Just before the eruption great
luminous patches showed on the sides of
the mountain. representing the flow of
lava, and the fiery shower which hurst
forth was accompanied by a series OF in
donations so loud that the very ground
seemed to shake. The display of fireworks
which followed, although representing the
highest development of modern pyrotechnic
skill, seemed tranquil In comparison. In