The Billboard 1905-05-06: Vol 17 Iss 18 (1905-05-06)

A LE ELL TOOL LE LLL LIE The Billboard s WAY: GOSSIP. | Things Theatrical in the Metropolis, and Bits of General interest Discussed on the Rialto. The penitential season is over and its passing was marked by a distinct and material increase in business at the theatres. The first week following Lent marked the close of several of the season's successes, among them, | Vorough, Mrs. Leffingwells’ Boots at Annie Russell, in Jinny, Criterion; It Happened in Nordland, at Lew Field's Theatre, You Never Can Tell, at the Garrick, and The Darling of The Gods at the Academy of Music. ‘These final weeks were all marked by exceptionally goo] business. ree the Lyceum; Miss The Carrier, at the two in comedy, number, The Proud Laird, a Scotch by Chas. Cartwright and Cosmo Hamilton, at the Manhattan; and Sergeant Brue, a new musical comedy by Owen Hall, Lehman and J. Hickory Wood, at the Knickerbocker. Notwithstanding the lateness in season both attractions opened to successes that promise to carry them far into hot weather. The Proud Laird engagement constitutes a supplementary season at the Manhattan, following Mra, Fiske and her Manhattan Theatre Stock Co., which has been one of the financial and artistic successes of the season, and of which I have occasion to remark several times previous.. The Proud Laird is not an ovexwhelming success, either in conception or \ production. It is founded on Shakespeare’ Much Ado About Nothing, and has a grea deal of merit of its own, endued to it by it present authors or adaptors. The company is excellent. With a more meritorious vehicle they would score one of the pronounced success achievements of the waning season. The prin; had | efforts ;} agement at the New | after The openings last week were only | Liza | ' not cipal parts are in the hands of Robert Lorain and Dorothy Donnelly, two celebrities of whom much is expected and who give much. The play deals with the efforts of a Scotch com munity to unite in marriage an impecunious Seotch nobleman and a_ vivac’..1s American girl with a $10,000 a year income. The comedy situations are well chosen and worked out with great finish. Naturally, in a Scotch play, there is much that is droll, and the Proud Laird keeps up to the standard in this respect. Many of the situations are convuisingly comic, and the acting of each individual is remarkably clever in its respective light. The two authors are to be congratulated, too, upon their ‘ achievement, which, while not a brilliant success, gives promise of greater things to come. The cast includes Robert Loraine, H. Sassard‘shot, J. H. Bunny, Thomas H. Thorne, Ed‘mund Dp. Lyons, W. H. Denny, Ida Vernon Adelyn Wesley, Elspgth G. MeNeill, Lucy * Spencer, Dorothy Donnelly, Sydney Smith, | Frederick Edwards, Robson Dalton, Chas. | Burbridge. Augustus Balfour, Zongetta Mack. 'May Lyn, Catherine Cameron, Nina Lyn and | Martha McGraw. -e _ At the Knickerbocker Sergeant Brue jwas given an ovation. It is a really funny feomedy, with good music, sparkling dialogue jand lively acting and denouement. Sergeant |Brue is a little, dreaming policeman on the |London force, whose aspiration is to live easy. |A message reaches him from a lawyer that his | | | j | ‘brother has died in a foreign country, and later | lhe comes to his house to read to him his ‘brother’s will, which leaves to the sergeant a ‘fortune with provision that he rise to the position of inspector. Then begins the little serjgeant’s plots and efforts to reach the coveted ‘pluce. He enlists with him a couple of thieves nwho. lead him into all kinds of amusing situations, while professing to give him to do something that will result in romotion. The sergeant is infatuated dy Bickenhall, who also tries to aid him in ulfilling the provision of the will so that he an get the money and she can marry him. n the final er house, together with a party of friends, and as them gamble. Sergeant Brue appears or he scene, nspectorship. s excellent in the part. long with him and makes good in every line. jie is supported by a well selected and capable mpany, chief among whom are Harry McYonald, Blanche Ring and Anna Fitzhugh. Miss “itzhugh was first brought to particular notice i the oppor| his | with | scene she invites a magistrate to | arrests the magistrate and releases nim only when he has promised the Lady Bicken| all that the sergeant shall be promoted to the Frank Daniels, as Sergeant Brue, | He carries a laugh) on Broadway, in the Baroness Fiddlesticks. in which she made a personal hit, notwithstanding the fiasco of the production itself. Miss Ring is always populer on Broadway. Her My Irish Molly O was encored time after time. Miss Fitzhugh is not given the opportunities she might have for singing, as she really has an excellent voice. The cast includes Frank Daniels, Alfred Hickman, Sallie Fisher, Clara Belle Jerome, Anna Fitzhugh, Elphie Snowden, Mary Clayton, Myrtle MeGrain, Irene Cameron, Claire Leslie, Majory Goodwin, Della Connor, Greta Burdick, Walter Percival, Nace Bonville, James Reany, Lawrence Wheat, David Bennett. | George Lestocq, Gilbert Clayton, Harry MeIda Gabrielle, Sally Daly, Leavitt | James, Leslie Mayo, and Blanche Ring. cee The first rehearsal of Trilby, which will be produced under Wm. A. Brady’s manAmsterdam Theatre May 8, with the original cast, was held in this house Monday, April 24. It is the purpose of the management to give the attraction as nearly the original in business and _ technique as possible, and it was interesting to note the of the company to carry out the idea. The following people are in the cast: Wilton Lackaye, Virginia Harned, Burr MelIntosh, Frank Glendenning, Douglas Fairbanks, Ed. W. é | Morrison, Leo Ditrichstein, Rosa Rand, Mathilde 1e | Cotterelly, E. W. Walton, Herbert Ayling, Fred. A. Thompson, and Howard Boulden. 7ee The Barnum & Bailey Show opened under canvas in Brooklyn last week and played to exceedingly good business. On Tuesday night the house was comfortably filled. The performance is substantially the same as that given at Madison Square Garden and will be kept up to this standard. The new canvas looked very pretty the lot, which, however, was sufficient extent to accommodate the whole outfit. The horse tent being some blocks away from the main show. A new feature this on in season under canvas is a blacktop, in which a picture show is given, and small side with wagon fronts The entire outfit is lighted with acety several shows lene gas, which has replaced the electric apparatus formerly carried. The performance runs very smoothly now. Particularly iy this improvement noticed in the of the animals, which have become accustomed to their work. The Todd Judge Family's act, consisting of foot balancing, passing from the back of one to another, has greatly improved increasing steadiness of the animals. The Royal Viennese Troupe have added several new turns to their aerial act which is still one case camel been by the ISABELIE WAIKER As Dolly. Fletcher in Why Girls Leave Home. of the most sensational features. The Lecusson Troupe’s tallyho act has been somewhat elaborated also, and will = undoubtedly prove a very interesting and popular feature -on the road. A few minor changes have been made in the order of the program and a few acts have been changed. On the opening night in Brooklyn, one. of-the Ancillotti Brothers was severely injured in his double leap the chasm, and did not appear on Tuesday night. It would seem that this part of the act, which consists of a double leap the chasm and loop the gap is, as far as the double chasm is concerned, scientifically impossible. I do not know now, whether they will attempt to put it on again or not. It is a great show under canvas, The events are rapid and _ sensational. The reserved chairs, with foot rests, have been installed again this season. Two years ago they were found too heavy to carry, but I believe some special arrangement has been made so _ that they can be retained this season, possibly by cutting out the parade pharaphernalia, no pageants will be given. 7e The Hippodrome continues to turn away people at every night performance, and the seats are still sold from two to three weeks in advance. The circus program will be changed weekly, which will give an extra’ incentive for patrons to visit the show frequently. a ae Miss Antoinette Walker has her part in the cast of the Music the Bijou, and was given a _ very ception upon her return. Apropos of the Music Master, it will run wei! into June, according to the last announcement of the management, and will undoubtedly continue to draw big houses. It is another attraction that will open at the same house early next season. It has certainly been a winner for Mr. Belaseo, and has incidentally placed David Warfield in the first rank of stars. renewed Master at warm re 7e Mr. Chas. Stow, the well-known press agent, who is now connected with Melville B. Raymond's attractions, has a_ very unique acrostic printed on his card. It is reproduced here: Called by the ‘‘stars’’ pose, Here at your door solicitous I pose; Awaiting like a hundred more a show, Right off the reel to inundate and blow, Light literature to bring of art divine. Easily claiming preference in its line; Squibs of a smartness worthy double lead, ensations piled upor Sensation’s head, from earned obscure re Yo fill your aching void with columns bright, Yer which the groundlings pose with . delight, While you, though tortured, strivé to be polite. er Miss Belle Gold writes that she will close a very pleasant and successful season of weeks principal comedienne and one features of Hanlon’s Superba Co. She s negotiating for a starring tour next uit has not signed as yet. Several have been made to induce her to try vaudeville. but she is undecided as to whether she will accept the propositions. 7eR The Prince of Pilsen has made such as season, good offers a success at the New York Theatre that its run has been prolonged until the last of this week. It is the first time this attraction has been seen on Broadway at popular prices, and the attendance is excellent, considering that the Prince has visited New York eleven times before and had a iong run each time. Geo. M. Cohan’s latest success, Littlha Johnny Jones, will succeed Mr. Savage's attraction. There is no indication of the withdrawal of The Education of Mr. Pipp from the Liberty Theatre. It is now in its eleventh week and still continues to draw good business. Mr. Digby Bell, in the leading role, has scored a personal success. His supporting company is also capable. ee An interesting feature of the matinee performance at the Garden Theatre Wednesday, was the appearance of the Wesleyan Glee Club, which glee songs from the stage during the second act of the College Widow. Its first entrance is in the faculty reception scene. Immediately after the performance the club started on their Southern tour. The Col lege Widow continues to draw good business. It has been one of the big successes of the season, and will probably epen at the same house in September for a long run. 2eoe A report announces that Mr. Walker Whiteside closed his season last week at Cleveland, his tour having covered a period of thirtyfive weeks, during which time he presented David Garrick’s Love, We Are King, Hamlet, Richelieu, Othello and Jewels of Fire. At Cleveland Mr. Whiteside met with a sad loss in the death of E. J. Snyder, who had been his manager for over nine years. Mr. Whiteside has gone to his home at Hastings on-Hudson, where he will spend his vacation. -e On Monday, May 1, Sam Bernard, under the management of Charles Frohman, opened at the Herald Square in his new musical play The Rollicking Girl. ‘The performance will be reviewed in the next issue of The Billboard. We will say here that Mr. Bernard is surrounded by an excellent company, including Miss Hattie Williams, Joseph Coyne, Aimee Angeles, George Howard, Esther Tittell, Harry Fairleigh, Thelma Fair, Sydney de Gray, Gertie Moyer, A. W. F. MacCollin, Flossie sang With Aristocratic Tramp Co. this season. Hope, Eugene O'Brien, Edna Odell, Flora’ Prince, Armand Cortes, Belle Ashlyn, J. H. MeCormack, Phyllis LaFond, and Marie Kellar. Sydney Rosenfeld has written the play W. T. Francis contr! buted many and original musical It is that the at the Herald Square Theatre indeed, it is the first of a series evening entertainments that Charles will vide New Yorkers He to an spread of fun and to aml in The Rollicking Girl Williams, Miss the are provided possible their Goodrich, Geo. and has hew intended humbers. shall run summer. of Frohman purposes melody production all summer pro sive these Mr Sydney with the mirth-provoking for ample entertainments, Bernard, Miss and Angeles, de Grey fullest powers. others for scope -e The Carrier, at the Criterion with Miss Annie Russell in the title last week. Too can said of Miss Russell's work fact of the work of each the company, but of to or Jinny, Theatre, role, closed much not be in this play, and in individual of the’ interest lot one met ber was lost In a that hot deplorable, badinage, such two very an extent even clever scenes save it from It is Mr. Zangwill capable of and more astute judgment. had of the characteristics the success of Merely Mary Ann strained and the dialogue not brilliant, although it is the Mary Ann. The play is author's chief efforts have in this respect. were potent to fiasco, too, as much better work Jinny, The Carrier, that for The play is particularly of Merely that the brilliancy is few made is success obvious been for 7e Mrs. Leffingwell’'s Boots season at the Lyceum last week has had a great run and a Many critics have called it the best the season, In fact no comedy Thomas has given such general and satisfaction. The company includes known people as Fay David, Margaret Iling ton, and other important players of Charles Frohman’s forces have been most advantageously cast. The story of a husband's jealousy is most enjoyably told in the and the lively domestic incidents are as are sure to enjoyed by the average On Tuesday, May Miss Ethel weeks’ engagement at the Lyceum, in Ibsen's A Doll's appearing in the title She will give only fourteen performances of the play, after which she will sail for its comedy closed The successful one. comedy of Augustes thorough well by play such be audience Barry more two » ~ began a House, role. London. 27ee The Freedom of Suzanne, Miss Marie Tempest’s new vehicle, has at the Empire. The comedy has been characterized as French with en English setting. It is a little broad and risque, but there is nothing in it to offend § the delicate sense of propriety The authors have known thetr limit and been very careful their Judgment. The presents Miss Tempest in her most attractive and her portraiture of the young wife, flings conventionality to the winds and startles her husband's people in order that she may drive him to granting her her freedom, all the charm impart scored a success most have in role of Suzanne guise who shows and comedy roie. dash that this actress can Miss Tempest’s company composed entirely of English actors, leading man being Allan who plays the husband of Suzanne to a is her Aynesworth, very satisfactorily, though perhaps not = exactly after the American conception of the part. Mr. Frohman imported this company for a four weeks’ engagement at the Empire at a very large expense, and it is to be hoped that he will be financially paid, for it is worthy. CLYDE PHILLIPS.