The New York Clipper (April 1905)

190 THE ISTEW YORK CLIPPER. April 15. Mi$5 (Tipper^ Anecdotes. Personalities and Comments, CONCXRNINQ STAGE FOLK and Sometimes OTHERS BX J OSEPHINE GEO. Ella Wheeler Wilcox shines not only Id bcr own chosen field of poesy and poetic prose, hut the Is becoming also popular In clramat<c work, "Mlzpab," the romantic Bible story of Esther, fans proved nn Im- mense success In Ban Francisco, where It recently played at the Majestic Theatre, for several weeks. This play Is the Joint work of the poetess and Luscombo Searelle, who bad previously distinguished himself In piny writing. The musical setting of this romnntlc drama was made by Searelle, who 'a also well known as a composer and poet Mattle Kccno has been starring for more than two years In Mrs. Wilcox's playlet, "Her First Divorce Case." The length of time which this sketch was played proves Its worth as a popular attraction for vaudeville audi- ences and as a "money getter" for Miss Kcene, for it also drew the regular theatre- going public. Now a third effort of Mrs. Wilcox Is being given along vaudeville circuits by Miss Kcene. "Wife or Country" Is the title of a splendid little costume sketch, In which Miss Kcene, as nn emotional young wife, Is given grent opportunity of displaying her gifts In that line of work. After years of comedienne roles, she returns In this playlet to her former sphere of dramatic work, In which sho starred for several seasons at the head of her own company. The theme of Mrs. Wilcox's playlet has been taken from the stormy days of the late Civil War, which has given many a valuable motive to playwrights ever since that time. Instead of the laughs and hilarity accom- panying the usual vaudeville sketch, we have hero scenes that move the opposite emotions In the audience. Not that the playlet Is all "tenry," for It has a score of light touches that provoke smiles. At one of the performances recently, one of Miss Kecno'B emotional scenes met with an interruption tbat delayed her flow of emotion for a moment. Bhe, however, quick- ly got hold of- her audience, and, with her clever power over them, brought them lack from laughter and amusement to a condi- tion necessarily receptive for a very serious eccne. The Interruption which provoked mirth on the part of the audience was during an affecting scene where MIbb Keene, as Ann tlic wife, graphically portrayB the emotion of terrible grief over the departure for the wnr, of her soldier husband. In an rgony of tears, accompanying the heart rend- ing love lines of Mrs. Wilcox, the clever nrtrcss draws sympathy from the audi- ence, by way of tears also. At this exciting Juncture) an elderly female In the upper gil- lcry enured n break In the thread of her dis- cern ye. The woman's dress and appearance proclaimed her belonging to the lower walks In life, and at this time perhaps under the Influence of n couple of "beers," that bad rut her In n tar} mood. " 'TIs more than I can bear I" ejaculated i Miss Keene, torn by her emotion, "never ngnin sun'll I behold my beloved t" "Don't cry, lady," siud the sympathetic, tlough husky, volco from the gallery, "he'll romo bock all light—he did last night, tor I was here an' saw him." It was a mlnuto before Miss Keene got Iter audience back to the emotional point, but she did so successfully, as before stated. * Ijoona Dlnnd, of Howard and Bland, re- ntes nn instance of the woodeness of a bell boy In a Los Angeles hotel. A costume which had been promised nt n certain hour, fulled to be delivered. It was to figure In the skclch to be put on that evening at one of the Orphcums. Its non-nppenronce caused Miss Illnnd to hastily put together a neces- sary garment that required pressing with a hot flatlron. Summoning u hell boy, she said : "I'll glvo you nn extra quarter If you'll get mo a hot iron." The request being qulto out of tho orders y usually Issued to the itenus bell boy, ho cvl- ' deiitly misunderstood tho article to be some sort of hot drink, for, returning quickly, he exclaimed : "Very sorry, Miss, but the bartender says he don't know how to mnkc It." t Harry Pull, manngcr for the Four Hunt- ings, lu "The Fool House," next Beason, Is nt present piloting "A Itulncd Life" Co. on Us tour. One night, not long ngo, while Btiuiditig In [In- wlni:s of n theatre where a repertory company wcro wndlng through lliclr lines, Dull noticed Hint the diameter man's whiskers on the left side wcro coming looso from Ids check. Tho accident was nt the siime moment noted by u Btngc hand, who, In the back stage vernacular, apprised II in actor of the fact, In n voice loud enough pr half the hone to hear him. "Hey there, HUH" he exclaimed, "pull on your long line of your 0. I\ side—your grass mat Is tnklng a fall I" * D. II. Lain), manager of one of the Mc- Dannhl shows, semis n hrnnd new word to ndd to the already long list of the theatrical vcrnnculnr. It was not coined hy a show- man either. I.ano'8 company struck a town along tho turpentine belt In Georgia, where business was far worse than bad. A communicative Ceorgln Cracker wns sympathizing with Lnno because of poor business. "Your ndvcrtlsln' don't rench fur enough," argued the innn. "You bcc, down here towns Is sinnll and folks live fur npnrt, and so they don't hour very much of you actor folks an' your adorations." simply laughing himself, than any other vaudeville performer, tells a good story on himself. Daring the first night of an engage- ment at an open air place of entertainment, Lew Bully, who produces more laughs by the weather was oppressively hot, and the audience seemed too weary ■ and warm to exert themselves much In applauding the successive turns, What little breeze there had been died down about the time Sally was to go on, and the manager, who stood In the wings, said: "It's mighty few hands you'll get tonight. People oat there are not In a pleasant mood. Weather's too trying." "Oh, I don't know 1" exclaimed Sally, who had never known a failure to receive this mark of encouragement from hla audiences. "I don't know—I guess I'll get a hand or two all right." And daring his fun provoking monologue, '.-lapping of many hands seemed to show an appreciation of his efforts to please. "What did I tell you?" he said to the manager at the entrance as be made his exit I got bands galore on my act I knew I would." "They weren't for yon at all!" wither- tngly exclaimed the manager. The breeze has gone down, the place Is clouded with mosquttos. They were getting the hand spatting." OCR LONDON LETTER, FI10M OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. Clipper Dnrean, 48 Cranbourne Street, Leicester Square, London, W. C. April 1. Mr. and Mrs, Kendal produced, for the first time In London, last week, a little one act comedy, which Is somewhat oddly named "The Bird at the Neck." The title Is based on a sentence from the Koran of a fatalistic meaning, and the story, which has to do with the lives of three people—a man and bis wife and the wife's lover—Is carried to Its close by the expiation of the woman, the man being left to such an existence as the consciousness of his guilt and Its conse- quences can afford. The three people al- ready mentioned are In the hands of some Greek brigands, near Athens, and have been given a fortnight for the securing of their ransom, the arrival of which, through some inexplicable cause, has been delayed. The fortnight has expired when the scene opens, and the prisoners are confronted by the grim prospect of death for the men, although the woman Is to be set free. But this Is not the only tragedy of the situation. Ullck and Wrexford are close friends and cronies, but, unhappily, both love the same woman, and between Nora, Ullck's wife, and Wrexford, there Is a guilty secret of treachery and sin, which, If revealed, will be far more fatal than all the threats of the brigands. Both the men condemned to die are Roman Catho- lics, and, falling the presence of a priest, the husband offers to perform the duties which, In the extremltyof their situation, their re- ligion allows. The lover discloses to the PETI3 BAKER. l'ctcr F. Baker, better known ns 1'cte Baker, was born In Buffalo. N. v., and entered the profession as a German comedian and warbler, lie wrote the synopsis of "Chris and Lena," and formed a partnership with Tom Farron. Their hit as co-stars was made while tbey were In their teens. Tbey toured tho United States and Canada, and played fifty nights In London, ling., after which they appeared In Ireland, Scotlnnd and Wales, and spent three and a half years In Australia. After a partnership of seventeen years, tbey separated. Mr. Baker continued to star alone, nppearlng In "Tho Emigrant," "Bismarck," "Max Muller" and n revival of "Chrla and Lena. He was Induced to enter the vaudeville ranks, In which branch he has been very successful, not only In this country, but In every other country, on his second tour of the world. He has been a great tourist, and has experienced the novelty of traveling by rail and stage, donkeys. In Arabia, and camels, In Egypt, and has mado twenty- five sea voyages, all of which has helped blm to retain voice, vigor and youthful appearance. Next season Mr. Baker returns to the legitimate stage In a now lyric comedy drama, "The Legend of the Old Catskllle," a new modern, up to date version of "l'ctcr Klaus," tho story which Washington Irving used for his great creation of "Rip Van Winkle." The new version was written for Mr. Baker by Pierce Klngsley, and the tour will be under the management of Manchester & Klngsley, opening next August The company will play over the Klaw & Erlanger Southern circuit, with tho Greenwall circuit to follow. last week, -where she went lust for a short while to play her original part In "Tho Duchess of Dantzlc." Miss AugaTde Is to Elay one of the principal parts In "The Two ■ittlc Girls," which Is now in rehearsal at Daly's. She Is a busy young lady. She originated the name part In "Lady Madcap on Dec. 17, then went to America to play her special part, in "The Duchess of Dant- zlc," and Is back again, studying the lines and music for another character In another new production. . In consequence of the return of Charles Wyndbam to the New Theatre, and the In- ability of Julia Nellson and Fred Terry to secure another suitable theatre, the man- agement announces that the present run of "The Scarlet Pimpernel" must terminate April 22. The company will not be dis- banded, bb a short road tour has been booked, commencing on Easter Monday. A powerful new Italian drama was put on at the Manzonl Theatre, Milan, last Monday night. It Is by Oubvlele d'Annanzlo. and Is called "The Light Under the Bushel." The play Is the third part of a cycle of four plavs depleting the traditions and evolution of the people of the picturesque district of Abruzzl. r 'Jurlo'a Daughter," the second part of tbe series, showed the blending of the Pagan element -with the Christian re- ligion. The first and fourth parts, entitled "The Sacred Spring" and "The Divinity Ex- pelled," have yet to be written. "The Light Under the Bushel" represents life In the Abruzzl districts In the early part of the nineteenth centnry, and the scene of the play Is laid at Anversa. Btory: The ancient De Sangro family, nearlng Its decay, employs a mala servant, who is one of tbe principal figures of the drama. Angalzla, the maid, murders her mistress by letting fall on her bead the lid of a massive chest Then, by sensual allurements, she gains power over the widower. Tlbaldo, and Is Installed as mistress of the household. But Olgllola, the murdered woman's daughter, thirsts for vengeance, and on the anniversary of her mother's death reveals the crime to her father and Incites him to drive Angalzla from tbe houee. Tlbaldo cannot make up his mind to do so, and Angalzla, grown Insolent through Impunity, and conscious of her power over the widower, confesses tbe truth to Olgllola and defies her, declaring that Tl- baldo was her accomplice In the crime. Finally tbe shrew Angalzla rouses Tlbaldo's hatred and horror by stoning her own father, a hunter of snakes, who has come to see her. Tbe fiery De Sangro blood Is so stirred in Tlbaldo that he kills the woman to prevent bis daughter from soiling her pure bands by such a deed. But his daughter, who had reserved tbe vengeance for herself, and had already "put the light under the bushel" to set on fire the ancient man- sion, accuses ber father of having murdered Angalzla to rid himself of his accomplice In the first crime. Tlbaldo falls thunderstruck before his daughter, who renounces him, and, like Cleopatra, ends her life by letting a venomous serpent bite her breast Slgnor d'AnnunzIo, who claims to have written the play In twenty-nine days, received a great ovation at the conclusion of the performance. George Asbton has Just concluded arrange- ments for the performance, In a few weeks' time, of Mr. Flnero's farce, "A Wife With- out a Smile," In Italy, a start being made at Naples, by Slgnor Ettore Bertl's company. The piece will be given In all the principal Italian cities. Mr. Asbton Is already ne- gotiating for the production In Italy of sev- eral of George Edwnides' recent successes at the Gaiety and Daly's. Charles Frobman will produce next season, In New York, "Peter Pan," as acted In this city, with Mr. Du Maurler In his original part The same manager intends bringing out In London, next Autumn, his English version of tbe French opera, "La Petlto Boheme." Cosmo Hamilton Is collaborating with bis wife, Beryl Fabcr, In tbe dramatization of his own novel, published In the States, to be called "A Sense of Humor," which may shortly be brought out at a West End the- atre. Last Wednesday night Charles Hannan's adaptation of "The Vicar of Wakefield," en- titled "Sweet Olivia," was produced for tbe first time In London, at the West London Theatre. The piece has been successfully performed In the provinces for nearly two years. Another of Charles Hannan's plays, entitled "The Whltechapel King." has Just been secured by Samuel James, for the pro- duction about Easter, at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith. Nancy Price and Ben Webster have been engaged to ploy In the Autumn drama at Drury Lane, "The Prodigal Son," for which Its author, Hall Calne, Is now busy, with Charles Collins, preparing for tbe production with grand and Imposing spectacular effects. Forbes Robertson, on nls return from America, will bring with him, for reproduc- OUR AUSTRALIAN LETTER. moll 0UK OWN COIinKSPONDBNT. Sydnhy, March 0. At the Lyceum Theatre Nellie Stewart en- tered upon tho closing nights of her season on Saturday, with a revival of "Sweet Nell of Old Drury". She repeated her old success, and though most of the cast was Interpreted by different actors, still King Charles, ns before, was Impersonated by Ilar- court lloatty. There will be a final matinee en Wednesday, and on Saturday Geo. Man- grove will Introduce Mr. Van Blene and an en- tirely new English company, In the "Broken Melody." At Her Majesty's Theatre J. C. William- ton's company Is featuring "The Orchid," which Is drawing very line audiences. Evelyn Scott Is causing quite a sensation In ber rendering of "Little Mary," while Geo. Lnurl Is very good In "I Do All tho Dirty Work." At tho Theatre Itoyal Bland Holt revived "Woman and Wine," which follows "Best of Friends." The latter Is one of Bland Holt's firentcst successes, both financially and art- Btlcnlly, At the Tlvoll Little Tlch Is the bright and particular otar, and since his advent, Inst Wednesday, the houses have boon simply packed. Ills patter la of the most humorous description, and we must congratulate Harry ltlckards on securing blm for nn Australian season. The others on the bill arc: The Reseda Sextette. Fanny Towers, F. W. Mil- Ins, the ventriloquist; the Four Figaros, Gregson and Good fellow, and Ford and Bent- ley. In Melbourne Van Blene hna made a great success In "The Broken Melody," nnd, as an- nounced provlosly, he will open Inter here In Sydney. The Beerhohm Tree company, head- ed bv Maud JcfTrics and Julius Knight, ore featuring "The Itoynl Divorce" with Immense success. Tho principal attraction at Harry Itlcknrd'R Opera House Is Hnckcnsclimldt, the wrestler, who Is In his lost days. In Adelaide, which Is called "The City of Churches," there ore two pantomimes, viz: "Rlnhad, the Sailor," and "Allodia," both of which are scoring successes, husband (affectlonlcss marriage with whom, by the way, the wife was almost forced some years previously) the fact of his guilty In- timacy with someone unnamed, and absolu- tion Is about to be given when the wife ap- rcurs. Her demeanor opens his eyes to the ruth, and the promised consolation gives plnco to the cursing of his false friend. Tbe men are led away, but at tbe last moment the arrival of the ransom money saves them, and aa thoy are returning to ber presence, the woman rushes out to a forbidden gorge, the setting foot In which Bhe knows will mean death by the rifle of the guarding brigands. As the curtain falls tbe unhappy wife, who has been shot, Ib beard, with dying breath, craving forglvencBs of the husband. Mr. and Mrs. Kendal and Bassett Roe have the parts In tho little sketch. RehenrsalB aro now In order of C. M, S. McClcllan's drama, "Leah KlcBchna," which Charles Frohman hopes to produce at the New Theatre on Raster Monday. As Charles Wyudhnm Is still on tbe high sens, be will not be ublo to tnko port In the rehearsals until a later date. In the production he Is to nppear as tho hero, Paul Sylvalno, and l.cnn Ashwcll In tho title role. Norman Sic- Klnncll will play the part essayed In New York by Charles Cartwrlght. William Dove- ii'oux nnd Alfred Bishop essay tbe roles of Schram and General Berton, respectively. A. 19. W. Mason, n popular novelist, has written a comedy for Edna May. The piece hears the title of "Marjory Strode." It Is In four acts, and Is to bo produced, both in London- nnd New York, next season. As It happens, however, F.dna May will not ploy the part specially designed for her, Inasmuch as Charles Frohman considers It would be unfair to rob musical comedy In America of one of Its principal stars. Wherefore, for a year to come, at any rate, Miss May will devote herself to thnt particular kind of en- tertainment, nnd "Marjory Btrodo" will he handed over to another of Charles Frohmnn's clever young actresses. Next Spring Miss May Is to make her appearance, under the mnnngement of Frohman A Qattl, at the Vaudeville Theatre, where she will probably be the leading attraction, playing In comedy, musical comedy or comic opera, as circum- stances may dictate. Adrlenue Augardo arrived from New York II I 11, MACKEY, The American contralto vocalist of Interna- tional tome, has Just returned from Europe, for n brief tour of tho principal cities of the United States. Miss Mackcy has the distinc- tion of creating more vocal bits of Yankee origin than auy other performer on the vnndevllle stage, her newest hit being "Pal of Mine." Hon In London, II. V. Esmond's play, "Love and the Man." Bernard Shaw's satirical skit, "How He Lied to Her Husband," has been transferred from Court matinees to the evening triple bill nt tbe St. .lames Theatre, II. Cecil Beryl Is reviving the musical comedy. The Lady Slavev," nnd the first suburban production took place at the Dais- ton Theatre last Monday night The Prince and Princess of Wnles were Sresent at the Imperial Theatre on Thurs- ay week, nod witnessed Lewis Waller's per- formance of "King Henry the Fifth." This week the stirring American drama, "Hearts Adrift," with Its wonderful atnhi. scene, Is the sttractlon this week si «B Crown Theatre, Peckbam. ' tne Ernest Brldgen, acting manager of ik. Granville, Waltham Green, has been B , ...in. ed manager of tbe Leeds Empire m. Brldgen takes up his duties next Mondi- Frsnk Lawton, the whistler, who ''am. to England with "The Belle of New YnrtS Co., and was such a success that he ren in»ii In London, la at the Empire Theatre Mr»f ford, this week. Lawton is also a o'n» \ »n Joist, clever with the bones and a er-M-tK dancer. B ■"*■ The Musical Johnstons are In town >m, week, not playing, but resting. Thev :,«« been a big hit on the Barrasford tour tSS. with the exception of current week n« booked up solid till June next, when ihi. will sail for America. May 15 Is the daS set for their Lyceum engagement, and 1 n're- dict a successful month for tbe clever nm slclans. Dorothy Drew, wife of one of th» brothers, and so well known for her work in America, opens on tbe Barrasford tour In Glasgow, next week, and will probably con. tlnue on the same bill with tbe Jobnatons Charles Rembges has been appointed ien. eral manager of the Empire Theatre Mid. dlesbroagh. For the past twelve years Mr Rembges has been J. L. Graydon'o secretary and he generally made his headquarter* it the Middlesex. Harry Taylor, the descriptive barltoni singer, is In town, and Is looking over tht ground for a London opening. I haven't heard the young man sing, but he Is well recommended by those who are capable of Judging a good voice. Avery and Hart opened at the Alhambrt on Monday last I am Informed tbat tbey are going strong, and I see no reason why they shouldn't When I see their show I will be In a position to say more about it Martin and Qulgg write tbat tbey wen a big laughing hit In Dublin and Liverpool two recent dates. This week Glasgow la their stopping place, playing a return engagement In four weeks. They bottom a bill of strong acts. Good work for "A Man and a Half." Minnie Mario, who, with her slBter, Dot Mario, played leading parts in Drury Lnns pantomime In the eighties, died last week at Brixton. "Nothing to it" is the expression Frank Chamberlln uses In sending me notices of tbe expert way In which the Chamberllns handle the lasso. The act, which Is working tha provinces for the first time, Is very highly epoken of in every town, and I don't blaras Mr. Chamberlln for using the opening ex- pression. Thla week, Newcastleon-Tyne Mrs. Fredericks, wife of Mr. Conn, of Conn and Conrad, died In this city last Sat- urday morning. Mrs. Fredericks has been nlllng for some time, and an operation was performed shortly after their return from America last Fall, Tbe operation was not successful, and Mrs. Fredericks has been lingering between life nnd death for several weeks. I understand that the body wns scat to Chicago, Conn and Conrad remain In this country and fulfill contracts, which will keep tbem here for a long time. Madame Emmy and her dogs, now playing the Moss ft Stoll houses, sail for America April 12, on the S. S. Marlon, to play dates on the other side. She was booked by Milton Aborn, and will open In Brooklyn. At a recent meeting of the Playgoers' Cub Lewis Waller gave bis opinion regard- ing the troublesome sketch question. He is reported to have declared himself In favor of free trade In amusements, and If the music halls wanted to put on a several act drama or tragedy, they were quite welcome to do so as far as he was concerned. But I fear Mr. Waller's views regarding this matter will never be accepted by oihcr actor-man- agers. In tblB country, as well as In Ameri- ca, the music balls have cut Into the business of the theatres. The Hoopers, American comedy Jugglers, dissolved partnership yesterday, In Paris. Karl F. Hooper sails for America today, on the New York, from Cherbourg, and will be accompanied by his wife, Victoria Monks, who Is going to tho States to show tbe play- goers a different style of coon singing than they ore accustomed to hearing. It Is said that Karl Hooper will return to Europe with his former psrtner, to open In London for a sixteen weeks' engagement. I understand the team name will remain the same. Reports of the great success of Derenda and Green's South African engagement have reached me. The clever club Jugglers played six weeks at the Empire Theatre, Johannes- burg, and are now at Cape Town, where their act Is going even better than it did at the first stopping place. During tbe Johan- nesburg sojourn admirers of Leo Derenda presented him with a beautiful silver loving cup. The Brothers Martlne are a noteworthy ad- dition to tbe Empire bill. Tbetr grotesque acrobatic work on the rebounding table Is one of tbe most laughable features that has been seen at tbe Leicester Square house for a long time. A good spot on tbe programme —0.26—shows off the act to great advantage. R. G. Knowles arrived last Monday Just in time to do his performance at the Oxford nnd the Tlvoll, where he headlines both hills. Mr. Knowles received a royal welcome at both places, and bis monologue (I should sny patter) went stronger than ever, which Is mi.ving a good deal. He Is billed as "Lon- don's greatest comedian." Bottoming tbe bill at the Oxford Is Mike S. Whallen. who I think Is a stronger card here than he Is In America. His rapid fire style seems to go with the English playgoers. Most American monologlsts have to almost explain Jokes to the average English audience, but I must glvo Mr. Whallen the credit for getting by with his talk. Ed. F. Reynard arrived In Loudon Sunday, after a successful week at Glasgow. Tues- day be left for Paris, to look over some novelties for the new act he Is preparing for his American tour, which I believe begins next Fall, In New York City. He Is due to return tomorrow, ns be opens at Hnnley on Monday next. May 2 be crosses tbe briny deep on the new steamship, Corona. An account hna been sent me of a light between a man and a lion, at Bostock's Hip- podrome, Paris. While a Franco-American athlete, named Key, was practising last Mon- day morning with a Hon, named Brutus, for the wrestling championship of Europe, which commenced Tuesday, at the Hippodrome, be had a narrow escape of losing his life. The lion, while Its fore paws were on the trainers neck, nnd Its head over bis shoulder, unex- pectedly fastened Its teeth In his Jacket. The trainer stopped wrestling nnd tried to •Ilsengago himself by withdrawing from tne Jnckct nnd leaving It In the lion's possession. But he was unable to do this, and limta*. without becoming actually savage, wnrmou to tho encounter and began to tear tne trainer about the shoulders and the sides. Although bleeding freely from fifty wounds, Rey, who Is very powerful, kept bin licoa, and realizing thnt ne wns at the mercy oi the brute If he fell, kept him oft as best he could. Tho wreBtllng bout, which had com- menced In the usual playful manner, ban now developed Into a grim contest. In «l> <'" one of the combatants wob fighting for ">> life, and for two minutes his fate sceiueii seated. Rey kept up tbe unequal contest, hut with a further difficulty In the way or hla rescue was the fact that In the cage com- municating with that of Brutus, a companion lion wns making desperate efforts to tyf**** entry through a holf open door. At insi Brutus was lassoed by Mr. Bostock. una dragged Into the adjoining cage. After uw hud hcen bandaged In the Hippodrome in- firmnry, ho wns taken to the Rothschild Hos- pital, where tho doctors said that If blooa poisoning did not set In, they hoped to snv< After a fortnight's rest, the Relff Brothcri are nt it again. This week finds them top-