The Washington herald., 1908-05-24

Capt. Fish, precipitates a row with her
son-in-law. and Eugene, by accident,
lands a box on Marie's blooming cheek
Hes fiery indignation at this insult leads
10 the discovery Of the trick which the
impulsive Frenchman has been playing
upon Maude. The first curtain descends
upon a grand opera finale. with Eugene
in the position OF the man who has
brick house tumble about his ears.
This brings us 20 the second act, the
hall of the palatlal home Of Maude Gran
vile, an indefinite period after the events
Of the first act. Maude has been per-
suaded by the resourceful Eugene that
he boxed his wifes ears designedly that
she might get a divorce. and make him
free to marry the prima donna. His opera
has been successfully produced, Marie
has got divorce from him, and Eugene
is now to become the husband of Maude
Granville. In fact. the wedding day Is
at hand.
At this Juncture a letter comes from
Maude's father, a retired wine merchant
whose spontaneous nature is indicated
by his name, A Corker. congratulating
her on her prospective marriage TO the
man whom she has only referred to in
her communications as her darling"
and announcing that he is Joining her
with a lady whom be met abroad who
is TO become his wife at the same altar
that MTude becomes the wife OF her
anonymous darling"
There is huge delight in the prima
donnas household until pa appears upon
the scene with HIS bridal encourage. and
the prospective Mrs. A Corker turns out
to be Marie. fresh from her musical
triumphs on the stage in Paris and Vi
emma Then the general delight turns
into CONSERVATION.
But the sight OF Marie awakens IN
Eugene's tickle breast a longing. only
smothered, for the wife OF his bosom.
Under the spell OF her magnetic radia-
tions he forgets his vows 20 Maude, and
as Marie beholds a golden opportunity to
triumph over her rival, she, woman-like,
throws A. Corker overheard and instead
OF becoming her husbands mother-ln-law.
consents 70 become his wife for the sec
ond time.
This is the happy consummation Of the
story. brought about not without inter
vening scenes and incidents OF lively op-
position and hair-pulling on the part OF
the two women. But in the end Maude
Is persuaded TO accept her manager.
Capt Fish gets his Matilda, the dOwsger
ex-ciroCs rider: Hilda, the sprightly SOU
brette OF the Novelty. accepts her English
admirer. and the only one who draws a
cipher in this matrimonial lottery is A.
Corker
The opera had the advantage OF an ex-
cellent cast. which. besides Sophie Brandt.
included Amelia Stone. as Maude: Walter
Percival. as Eugene; Joseph G. MirOn, as
Capt. Fish; Martha George. late OF the
German theater. as the mother-in-law,
and Olga Won Hatfield, as Hllda. the SOU
brette.
Julian Edwards. the composer, directed
the opera the first night. and his charm
ing music won perfect ovation for him
after the first act. when he was compelled
10 leave his desk and 10 appear re-
peatedly on the stage. bringing out his
literary collaborators to share in the tri-
umph.
The only other novelty was the first
production on any stage OF a new Offering
by Eugene Walter, the author OF Paid in
Full and The Wolf" This was a one
act playlet, entitled In the Circle,
offered as a special feature OF the varied
programme for the benefit OF the Friars'
clubhouse. at the New York Theater. The
piece showed dramatic power on the part
Of the author. who has an efficient way
Of making his points. but lacked intrinsic
interest and can hardly be called a
success.
The title is a geographic conception. re-
fer-ing 10 the arctic region. and the scene
is the interior OF a loghouse, tenanted by
two men. an elderly Irisbman. played by
Frank Sheridan. the Capt. Williams OF
Paid in Full" and a young Creole from
New Orleans. played by William Courte-
nay. the Jules Baubien OF The Wolf
Both men have committed a murder in
the States. and are fugitives from jus
tice. The younger man is OF good family:
the other was a roustabout on the levees