The Billboard 1905-10-07: Vol 17 Iss 40 (1905-10-07)

OCTOBER 7, 1905. The Billboard Misc LONDON, ENGLAND. 23 Oxendon Street, S.W. London Rialto C.C. BARTRAM, Rep. Tel. Garrard. Telg. Breather. \. A BY C. C. BARTRAM. VER since August Bank Holiday the business at the London playhouses and music halls has been improving. Last week full were the rule im all parts of the Metropolis. As my letter of last Saturday was flying along to Queenstown, to catch the American mail, Mr. Seymour Hicks was celebrating the an niversary of The Catch of The Season at the Vaudeville, and just to show that a year had not worn out the welcome of the plece, London playgoers turned out in numbers that overflowed the limited capacity of the Vaudeville. Several new numbers were introduced, and, judging from the reception accorded, The Catch of The Season has signed a new lease of popularity and life on the Strand. NO PASSION PLAY FOR LONDON London is not to see the Passion Play after all. Mr. Seymour Hicks and Mr. Charles Frohman had made the most elaborate preparations and spent hundreds of pounds upon preliminaries. Two well-known play-pro ducers hed arranged most of the eighteen tableaux, the management had had the scene models made, and had even ordered most of the dresses and engaged many of the Italian actors. All save the details then had been arranged for the Passion Play's production at the Aldwych Theatre next Lent, and, as after consultation with many leading divines it was considered that the Church would encourage the project, the smaller difficulties were being rapidly overcome, the news came that the leading dignitary considered that the subject of Christ's life was not a proper one for representation on the stage, even though the play consisted of damb show. Not wishing to cause offense Mr. Hieks reconsidered his scheme, and when he and his company left for Douglas on Saturday, he had abandoned the idea altogether. A FANTASTIC FORECAST The sub-title of the coming Palace Review, A Fantastic Forecast gives away to some extent. the idea that Mr. Sims will follow in this, his first incursion into VarietyLand. He will show what he imagines London and London Mfe will be five years hence. By the way, the Palace—the house where most of the American invaders first appear—has not done so poorly this last year. The directors have decided that the profits will allow a dividend of 12 per cent. for the year, and the carrying forward of 13,000 odd pounds. REPORT OF THE STAGE SOCIETY On Sunday the Stage Society published their sixth annual report, showing a present membership of 1,200; a balance in the bank of 400 merry jingling poundlets; also six hotable plays were successfully produced dur ing the past year, and 149 plays (of which 131 were by English writers and 18 were translations of foreign plays) were submitted to the Council during the past season. All of these plays were read and considered. ILLUSTRATED SONG INNOVATION The illustrated “song-scene” is a deNghtful and interesting interlude at the Coli seum. The chorus at the sides sings Longfellow's Wreck of The Hesperus as verses and illustrations are thrown on to the curtain. The house is in absolute darkness, and as the grim tragedy is unfolded, the music, the pictures, the insistent wail of the singers prothrilling effect. I REDE YE TENT IT We are told that the next form of “American invasion’ will take the “tented feld’’ for its sphere of operations, that is to say, the firm concerned will present spectacles of Drury Lane dimensions in gigantic tents. The canvas-backed drama will thus be con veyed hither and thither as occasion serves. duce a PASSING OF THE CHILD PERFORMER The days of the “child performer” seem to be numbered. Not only the public taste for this class of ‘“‘sympathy” act fs de clining, in England, but many magistrates are how taking the option given them by the ‘Child Labor Act" of refusing licenses permitting children under sixteen to perform. TWO AMERICAN COMEDIANS Of the twenty-four turns which ap peared at the Tivoli Anniversary on Friday evening, America was well represented as a land of good comedians by Mike Whalen and Radford and Valentine. PRESS SCORES CLARICE The press has not accepted Mr. William Gillette's Clarice with the same show of approval as was shown by the large audience present at the first performance at the Duke of York’s on Wednesday. The principal houses | | | | | complaint was the exaggerated realism. There is no doubt that, in comparison to English plays, many of this class of American plays exaggerate realism in some instances to the border of boredom. The device of several minutes silence at the opening and the close of the acts, which has been used with such excellent effect in such pieces as Shore Acres, etc., has doubtless had its run, and dramatists must invent new devices if they would not bore their audiences. of acting of Mr. Gil company, of the mounting of the piece, or of the story, there is no word other than of praise. But that the pauses in the action of Clarice are more strongly under lined than the action, there is no doubt. This makes it like telling a story merely with asterisks, or making the punctuation marks more important than the words they sever. The hit of the evening was undoubtedly scored by Miss Lucille la Verne as the negro servant, Judith Clancy. But then, the first performances ever more difficult to judge. The the end nearly as when all is said, it tion that American and it also the lette’s excellent become not foreshadow And run of a London produc Perhaps it is just a little for Londoners to swallow may like beginning does much as is the counts formerly. too once, them which grow on from JOHN BULL'S OTHER ISLAND The Court reopened on Monday with olives come abroad. a third revival of Bernard Shaw's John Bull's Other Island. The attendance during the week bas shown that Mr. Shaw's whimsical and witty plece has far from exhausted its popularity. A request sent to the manager of Dublin's leading theatre by ‘‘several play goers’’ that this piece be preduced in Ireland, which concludes, “‘We are sure that it would be well received."’ reminds me of the Orangeman who asked the Scotchman to play The Wearing of The Green on his pipes. Sandy asked, ‘‘For why?’ The other replied, “‘I jus’ want to see if I can stand it!" So Sandy commenced, but had not gone far when the Orange (lIrish)man rushed at him. When Sandy had administered the good thrashing the other deserved he said, as he gathered up his pipes “I ded’ne think he cud stand it."" Personally, if 1 visited a performance of John Bull's Other Island on that other take the precaution of of armor OLGA NETHERSOLE SAILS Nethersole the 13th of Washington, Courtney's Ireland, [ would wearing a suit Miss Olga America on or about to produce, at WwW. L. powerful drama Le tion of the which ineludes Hubert Carter. Mr. William Louise Moodie, Miss Cicely Dorothy Grimston final rehearkals whieh will Washington, Mr. Courtney the Atlantic THE SHUBERTS PLANS of a have sails for next month ten days later. Mr. adaption of Paul Hervieu's Dedale. For the interpreta she has Mr. Hamilten piece engaged a company Revelle, Mr. Farren, jr.. Miss Richards, and Miss In order to assist her with take alse place in has promised to cross incompleted Arrangements teresting character by the Shubert Brothers the Waldorf time The a translation of Zapfenstreich, by particularly just been for the about for well-known Adam popularity reopening of Theatre in three week's plece chosen the oceasicn is that Franz marked German play, Reyerlein, which alike in the France, Austria has obtained country of its and in America SPORTING ELEMENT GROWING In the music hall the element is a origin and modern sporting progrowing held their for several seasons past; and despite many attraction, it matches gramnce feature. Wrestling contests have own attempts at popularizing a rival that football introduced on the Variety winter An ambitious the WILL RETURN TO CAST and Mrs. Arthur Bouchier will their original parts in The Walls of Saturday, when the 342d performsturdy piece will take place CYRIL MAUDE’S PLANS are to be the pro is now sald stage during coming syndicate poses to inaugurate attraction at Olympia Mr. return to Jericho ance of next this Mr. Cyril Maude is to have a London playhouse of his very own early in the new year If we are not much mistaken, it will be the 25-year-old Avenue, rechristened The Playhouse. PRODIGAL SON A WINNER The Prodigal Sen has successfully stood the box-office test, and is now on it’s way to a run which will extend “Panto” sea son. | affairs has had an interesting ‘‘interview’’ THE IBSEN OF TO-DAY A traveler well versed in theatrical with Ibsen. We are told that today “he is a | watery-eyed, tremulous old man, his nervous | force gone, and his physical strength vanish ing.” Two physicians are with him day and night, and he has even ceased to read, although an attendant reads to him sometimes when the great author can concentrate his mind sufficiently to enjoy it. The writer was accompanied by an impressario who desired Ibsen to undertake a lecture tour. The impossibility of the project dawned upon them as they saw the dramatist. They found him seated in a large chair in his library, with | and all at} | particular form as to his doctors in attendance, although there seemed | | for their to the jealous care to be no necessity that relating ceives. “It required figure,’’ his spite presence which beyond he rebut a glance at the writes his visitor, work done. His voice is his general weakness, and withstanding the marks of his great age, still wonderful from the intellectual even in its decay fills it with a stronge power. The library in which the interview took place is a high, dark, old-fashioned the first floor, with about— suggesting the the author regarded the political troubles of Sweden and Norway, and with a wide range of literature on the shelves which conspicuously showed the works of Kant and Ibsen discussed the political of his country expressed the Norway wight become a republic.’’ venerable was strong his face, notwas force that room on hewspapers strewn interest with which Shopenhauer. situation hope that AN ADVOCATE OF ORIGINALITY IN PRODUCTION Stoll, in that if Mr. Oswald this week, says would diseard the other when one and, by selves an interview theatrical managers policy of imitating one an has happened on a_ success, specialization among alive every form of emotional, more keep them sensational and classic pieces, both musical and | would not be so seriously one of otherwise, there much of any jeopardize the existence of any the other forms. A market for the supply of good material would be constantly kept alive, and a large enough public for each form of such entertainment | would be forthcoming to maintain a sufficiency | of suecess. Mr. Stoll added that all he had said was to be considered together with the very important fact that the conditions of trade affect all forms of entertainment alike, and the times the theatres were passing through now were certainly not the best for variety theatres either. though he admitted that the average success with them had been greater during the time of stress than it had Review, A Fantastic Forecast, gives away to apparently been in the theatres proper. AN ANGEL UNAWARES Angel Unawares was the first new production of the week. Pregnant as the title is of suggestions of story and plot, there is little of either in Mr. R. V. Harcourt’s piece. Still it served well as a vehicle for demonstration of several clever performtalents Mr. Harcourt has provided Miss Fanny Brough with an excellent part, which played for every atom it was worth. Jas did not much to do—but did it excellently, June Van Buskirk did splendidly in of a girl Boston. the clever man, the pen of a and is with quick wit. however, of con struction, difficult date and has not sufficient story lucidly. But An bright and amusing they do not by ean undoubtedly humor. An the er’s she Carew have very and Miss the part work of a ready writer, He has, finds it character, tell a has many which, though make a audience from It is who has endowed ho sense apparently to eluci self Angel pass control to Unawares ages, them selves play, put an good ELIZABETHIAN DRAMA NOT POPULAR The Mermaids from a want of public Londoners, at Elizabethian week only, nail in the theory The long. Behrend will shortly appearance with their into a have support. have little The season thereby “the Street gone Proving that sympathy with closed after drove one more Old Times’’ not remain Andersen & welcome re least. Drama. and coffin of Queen's one Good will Herren make a German CHARLES FROHMAN’S NEW THEATRE The which Mr. Charles Seymour Hicks are empty however, for company. new playhouse in Frohman and Mr interested will be erected on Shaftsbury avenue, | on the site adjoining the existing Lyric and Apollo. <A will probably be added later will be called the Piccadilly, a though not strictly justifiable, idea of its location theatre theatre which, second The title gives a good MINSTRELS Dan. S. Holt, formerly manager the Payton Sisters, ts doing one with the Great Barlow Minstrels. Billy Beard, “the party from south,’ reports success with the Wm. H. Minstrels, under B. Riecaby. B. L. James, of the Two Jameses, reports good business with the Christy Brothers of of the ends the West the management of Sanford under; | ALICE NIELSEN ‘“‘to be assured that | jj de| She will and shortly sail from Paris early this month after her return to the ceuntry of her great triumph, will make her second debut in New York in grand opera, supported only by a sextet of picked vocalists Minstrels. They carry twenty-two people and a band of twelve pieces. John W. Vogel's Minstrels report a | record-breaking business. It is said they played | to over 8,000 people at two performances tn |the Alhambra Theatre, Milwaukee. | Walter Stock, the minstrel man, is resting at his home in Mahanoy City, Pa. Next season he car minstrel show The following well-know promises to take out a two under canvas ople are with the Dumont Minstrels: Vic. Richards, | Jack Symonds, Matt Wheeler, Jerry Cunningham, Chas. Turner, Johnaie Murphy, Fox and Ward, Billy Payne, Joseph MHortez, Arthur Yule, J. M. Kane, James McCool, Edwin Goldrisk and Kaufman and Malone. While members of the Duncan Clark Female Minstrels were driving from Preston to Lanesboro, Minn., after the perfermance one evening last week, two of the wagons were accidentally ditched and a number of young ladies were injured. The intense darkness of the night and an inexperienced driver caused the mishap. George and William Guy, proprietors of the Guy Brothers’ Minstrels, are two of the oldest song and dance and minstrel comedians in the business. Their experience in burnt cork dates back to 1860. These performers are still in the business and it is reported that their company of thirty-five is playing to good business in Canada. Notes from Billy Kersands’ Minstrels: We are in our seventh week of recordbreaking business. At Ft. Smith, Ark., we scored our thirty-first consecutive 8. R. 0. house. Prof. James Lacey’s Cornet Band ts lthe talk of the town. Our Watermelon first |part never fails to bring down the house. | Business Manager Geo. L. Barton has had |eharge of the company for the past two weeks, |Manager Geo. A. Treyser being taid up with }a severe attack of grip. | Notes from the Duncan Clark Fe We have played te packed houses every night since the opening of the season, and managers have invariably asked for return dates. Our people are all in prime condition and are giving the best of satisfaction. We feature Mlle. Donzello im poctures; Foster and Klidzio, European eqnuilibrists; the Big Five, and The Girls in the Overalls in the |male Minstrels: olio. A Newport travesty concludes the performance. We travel in our own palace car. Our roster is as follows: Duncan Clark, pro prietor and manager; I. Staples, business mananger: J. F. Klidzio, stage manager; Burt Martion. We feature Mlle. Donzello in postures; B. Wells, prop.; Mlle. Donzello,* Bonnie Sherman, Jane Adams, Bell Hart, Sadie Connors, Violet Allen. May Long, Lilly Long, Marjorie | Farr Bert Wells, Lottie Hilles, Vivian Gray, | Alice Moss, Beatrice Grace, Mamie Collins, | Agnes Klee, Dolly Madison, Edna Lyons, Florlence Dinkley, Sylva Smith, Cora Haynes, Irene | Harrison, Susan Worth, Fanyy Dennison, Dora Cohan, Julia Brooks. Liza Jackson, Jennie Goodheart, Pearl Donaldson, J. F. Klidzio. Leon | Foster, Burt Marquart, Jack Long Cook and | Henry Neulinger Porter. BURLESQUE Burlesquers while Pa., week The City Sports | playing an engagement in Scranton. 3 Sept. 25. had the pleasure of visiting one 0! ithe neighboring coal mines They left with | many specimens of the miner’s home, and all lenjoyed the excursion immensel: The party lwas in charge of Jack Gillen and Phil. Shert| dan. | Of the large number of new bur| lesque shows this season perhaps mone is | deserving of as much attention as the Yankee | Doodle Girls, under the direction of T. W. | Dinkins. The first part is a travesty on pres |ent-day insurance methods The performance leloses with a brilliant spectacle, entitled The | Spirit of ‘76 The scenery, eleetrical ¢ fects |} costumes, and, above all, the girls have been selected with the greatest of care. The olle consists of Smit Champion & Ce. In a onefact playlet, Sadie Husted & Co. in a sketch |} Anna Yale. the Baker Troupe in looping the | gap. Fox and Duball, singere and dancers: | Murphy and Magee, comedians, and Tre phom the human telephone