The Billboard 1909-02-27: Vol 21 Iss 9 (1909-02-27)

a The Bi liboarad FEBRUARY 27, 1909, THE WEEK’S OFFERINGS. ULIA MARLOWE in The Goddess | of Keasun, a druma of the French Kevoluuon, by Mary Jvlustuon, Daly’s Theatre, Monday evening. hourad Dreucr, in Jaegerblut, by Benne Rauchepegger, the new German Theatre, Tuesday evening. Mrs. Leslie Carter, in Zaza, at the Liberty Theatre, Thursday afternoon. Marietta Olly, in a German production of Zaza, at the Irving Place Theatre, Thursday evening. THe GODDESS OF REASON. A play in five acts. by Mary Johnston. Daly’s. The Abbe Jean de Barbason..Vinceut Sternroyd Count Louis de Chateau-Gui....Theo. Hamilton Capt. Faqguemont de Buc.....Alexauder Calvert Melipars uel l'Urient........Syduey Greeustreet Faguerrand La Foret -Lawreuce Eyre The EKnglishman......... eeeeeeesHdubert Osborn The Viuame de Saint Amour. tigen ceescececeeeeee+sLestrange Millman ID. obaeecieces .Frederick A. Th Engages Bruce McRae for Julia Marlowe Makes Her Metropolitan Opening in the Goddess of Reason which has been Worked into Smooth _Running Shape by a Road Tour—Charles Frohman | THE WEEK IN NEW YORK The Flag Lieutenant. taking place on H. M. S. Royal Edward. It is partly spirited melodrama and partly capital comedy. London greeted The Flag Lieutenant as the best of its kind that it had seen, either artistically or technically, since Captain Marshall’s The Second in Command, the play of army life that brought his first great fame to Cyril Maude. LETTER OF THANKS. John J. Freschi, the secretary and | treasurer of the American Italian General Relief | Committee, formed for the relief of the earth han, and Devernia. Joseph Hanrahan, stage manager of the “Hippodrome, presided at the first meeting. BREEDING BLUE MICE. One of the most extraordinary contracts ever entered into by a theatrical firm, was arranged last week between the Messrs. Shubert and Dr. Ditmars, the Zoological expert of the Bronx Park. By the terms of this agreement, Dr. Ditmars undertakes to breed fifty genuine blue mice of unmistakable hue, and to deliver the entire pumber to the Messrs. A Sergeant of Hussars Tree yt Alfred Paget Mile. de Chateau-Gui.......... .Edith Lemmert Mme. la Marquise de Blanchforet.......... Ree¢cosaves te eeeeeeeceseeeess-Ulive Temple Seraphine........ ee eeeeeeeeeeees Payson Graham Mother Superior........ eseeses Ruth Blake Aiselique..... ecccecese Margaret McElroy Mn eG 28s 2 tbsbaivrccenc ..-Beruardine Kisse De bibsscusians eeeeeceeeee-Klizubeth Baker Mine. de Pont d’Arche........ ..---Loulse Wolf Comsent Girl........... eeeeceeeesAlice Warren Convent Girl..... eovvcee ceeeeccceses Neil Angus UR EE: pa cenc ced ecbsee +++. -Jdean Roberts Yvette cebiPetece secccecccccccccscDhiss Marlowe The Goddess of Reason deals with thrilling aid dramatic events of the French Revulution te iWeea the years 1791 and 1794. The drama is witten in five acts and six scenes, and is composed in blank verse throughout, varied by the introduction of occasional iyric passages. The sis scenes show tae Chateau of Murbec in Brittany; the Gurden of the Convent of the Visitafiow at Nautes; a square in Nantes; the interior of a chcrch in Nantes used as a prison; a judgMeat Lai! in Nautes, and the banks of the ire. The scenic effects are said to be excepQonally elaborate aud the entire company, inChutvs the people used in the mob episodes, Bumbts one bundred peuple, Mi>+ Marlowe plays the title role of Yvette, a Br-ton peasap' girl, who becomes identitied with the revoutiouary movement in its wust Spectacular aspect and is crowned by the people of Nantes #8 the Guddess of Reason, the deity at that time arbitrarily created by the French nativo. Yvette is the watural child of the old Baron of Morbee tn Brittany and a peasant mother, but bas been reared among the peasants with whem she sywpathizs ouly the more keenly becuuse of the bar sinister in her pareniage. Tue opening act of the drama shows the Chateau of Murbee oue summer wourajug in 1791, the day following an unsuccessful aight attack made by the peusaniry on this er.-'ocratic strougbold. The wub bas been rep. i-i by Rene de Vardes, the young Baron whe c+ only just come into possession of the esta -. on entirely different aud far more liberal cvaracter than the old Buron, so generally hated tor i‘s op pressive rule. The various leuders ip the << sault, including Yvette, are arrested, but im stead of being banged are released by sSsron Rene, after their cause bas been stated vy Yvette, with pathetic and compelling eloquence. The Baron, to the disgust of the older royalties present, even promises the peasants ameliration of their hardships. Baron Rene recognizes in Yvette the woman of his dreams whom be bas seen once before on a widsummer eve in the mystic ’aimpont woods. Yvette is also loved by RKemond Lalain, one of the Revolutionary deputies, whose jealousy immediately finds expression in bitter taunts, chiding ber for her interest in an-aristocrat. In the second act, a year later, Yvette, under the patronage of Baron Rene, is shown as a sheltered from all the revolutionary excitement. pupil in the Convent of the Visitation at Nantes, Jealous of what she believes to be the Baron's love for the Marquise de Blancheforet, she is persuaded to leave the convent and join the red-capped throng. In the third act Yvette is shown crowned as The Goddess of Reason, first protecting the Baron Rene from the fury of the mob, und then | delivering him to its vengeance, iuspired to this revulsion of feeling by the discovery that be has endeavored to save the Marquise. The fourth act shows the Aristocrats in prison and going to death. In the first scene of the last act, Yvette, overcome with the borror of the outrages perpetrated in the name of Liberty, rises in the Judgement Hall, denounces the Revolutionary chiefs, and is berself condemned. The last act shows the Baron Rene and Yvette on the banks of the Loire, about to be drowned, according to the custom of the Republican Marriage in Nantes, reunited in their final moments The Goddess of Reason was staged by J. C. Huffman, general dramatic stage director for the Messrs. Shubert. BRUCE McRAE TO PLAY THE PRINCIPAL PART IN THE FLAG LIEUTENANT. After a service of fifteen years as leading man in various Charles Frohman companies. Bruce McRae is to be promuted to the principal part in The Flag Lieutenaut, the next comedy that Charles Frohman will produce in America. It wus fifteen years ago that Mr. McRae, who is a nephew of Sir Charles Wyndham and as an actor greatly resembles the un4le, obtained his first part in America in Charles Frobman’s production of Aristocracy at the Wallack’s Theatre. His promotion to the chief ag in The Flag Lieutenant, which was played London by Cyril Mande, is especially grateful news to Miss Ethel Barrymore, whom Mr, McRae has loyally supported, in seaxon and out, for several years. The Flag Lieutenant is a naval comedy by Major W. P. Drury and Leo Trevor, As acted at the plarhouxe in London, it was regarded as the greatest success Cyril Maude has ever bad in the British capital. It is a naval romance, with its principal act ne THERESA L. MARTIN. Theresa L. Martin has jumped to fame in a day. City Stock Company she has risen to the stardom of her own organization. seuson the talented young woman will star in is a Texas girl and has an unusual amount of is with The Georgiana Eddings Stock Company From playing heavies with a Kansas At least next Miss Martin At present she a repertoire of high-class plays. vim, dash and defined talent. quake sufferers of Italy, has sent a letter of thanks to all the members of all the Shubert companies who participated in the great special Sunday night benefit at tbe Hippodrome. The ietter, addressed to ‘‘Members of Shubert Companies, care Messrs. Shubert,’’ says in part: “At the second monthly meeting of the Executive Committee of this body. held Monday, | February 8, a resolution was adopted tendering the thanks of the American Italian Relief Committee for the splendid service you rendered | in the recent benefit for the aid of the suffer— ers from the earthquake in Italy. You are | to be congratulated upon the unusual and extensive program made so successful through your kind efforts.’’ CHARLES FROHMAN ENGAGES HOLBROOK | BLINN FOR ISRAEL. Charles Frohman has engaged Hol| brook Blinn to create the part of Thibault, Prince of Claire, in Henry Bernstein's Israel. Holbrook Blinn is now acting with Mrs. Fiske in Salvation Nell. His other recent New York engagement was as the gambler in Salomy Jane. To play Thibault in Israel Mr. Blinn gave up an opportunity to star on his own account. ORGANIZED TO EAT. The Hippodrome BPeefsteak Club, comprising the heads of departments, has been | erganized with the following members: R. I. Burn<ide, honorary president: Wells president: Harry Hertz, vice-president: E. Fuller, secretary and treasurer. Committee of Arrangements: Mexsrs. John Berg, Rickers. | Howard, Harris, Elsner, Hilliard, Chinn, Hanra | big W. | a | known, | Theatre. | won | of Shubert. The mice must not be the already though rare species of maltese mouse, which is of steel blue hue, but must all be of a bright and striking tint. It is the purpose of the Messrs. Shubert to put each little blue mouse in a pretty exge and distribute them among the hotels in New York City as an advertisement of The Blue Mouse at the Lyric (By that clever press agent.) FIELDING SCORES AGAIN. Romaine (Ned) Fielding, one of New York’s best liked actors, has scored heavily as Thunder Hawk, with William Farnum in The Renegade. The production is under Liebler & Co. management and is being fitted for a metropolitan run. Fielding’s work has unusual commendation from the critics. A hearty welcome awaits him In New York. NEW CIRCUS ACTS. More new circus acts were added this week to the Hippodrome’s already mammoth bill. In addition to the Pissiutis, gladiatorial riders, and the Kudara Japanese acrobats, Herzog’s six performing stallions appeer in a act. Other arenic events by the Three Merkel Sisters, contortionists: the Four Emilions, equilibrists, and the Three Athletas, models of beanty and brawn. The musical elephants remain as the big feature the bill. The Hippodrome’s cirens takes place during the opening spectacle of Sporting Days. The tent is put up on the lot and after the parade the performance takes place under its own round top. The Ballet of Birdland, with its parade of color and graceful group | in whispers. ings follows. Then comes The Battle in the skies, with all the thrill of aerial warfare. The final scene shows the Golden Gardens, with mermaids and groups of living pictures rising from the water. HOW ONE PLAY WENT BEGGING. Otis Skinner and The Honor of the Family came to the Grand Opera House last week. Exactly a year has passed since Charleg Frohman presented Mr, Skinner in this play, a dramatization of Balzac’s novel Un Menage de Garcon, at the Hudson Theatre, ‘I shall never forget,’’ said Paul M. Potter, who made the American version, ‘‘a night in the summer of 1903, when Mr. Frohman, Mr. Gillette, and I, climbed the broad marble stairs of the Odeon Theatre, Paris, intent on seeing La Rabouilleuse, a drama by Emil Fabre, which had made some stir. The once famous playhouse of the Latin Quarter had fallen on evil days. Paul Ginisty, the manager, was on the point of resigning. On his staff he had Firmin Gem. ier, now director of the Theatre Antoine, and Andree Megard, who Is Gemier's wife; the Gemiers had an alliance with Emil Fabre, a southern writer, who had practiced at the bar of Marseilles, and Fabre had packed away in his trunk a dramatization of Balzac’s Menage de Garcon, which he called, as Balzac had at one time called it, La Raboullleuse, or The Shrimper. “Gemier persuaded Ginisty to produce it. It attracted instant attention. Diners at Foyot'’s neighboring restaurant left their tables in haste to be in time for the first act. Playgoers came swarming across the Seine to see it. But J think that Frohman. Gillette, and I were the first Americans to know that something out of the common was happening in this remote part of the town. “The house was well filled, but we sat ip gloom. There was no orchestra. People talked The curtain rose on a dull scene; the sitting room of a French provincial town ip the year 1824, three years after Napoleon's death. Half-pay officers came and went. Gillette, who had been reading up the subject, told us that Balzac had written his novel to show us what became of Napoleon's officers, colonels at 25, after the close of the Napoleonic wars; how some joined the Bourbons, while others paraded from cafe to cafe their military frock coats and insolent remarks, their ribbons of the Legion of Honor and insatiable appetites. ‘They had no virtue,’ said Gillette, quoting Brunetiere, ‘but physical bravery. But they were creatures of their time—dernments of the first order. There are no such authentic records in the French War office.’ “The opening seemed dull. We found it hard to take much interest in the asceudency of Flora Brazier, the lovely ‘shrimper,’ played by Andree Megard, over the toothless old miser, | Jean Jacques Rouget; or in ber love for the gay scamp, Commandant Max Gilet. why the critics bad been We wondered esctatic about this play. But something came. It was called Philippe Bridau, adventurer. It was played by Gemler. It carried a black thorn stick, which it twirled incessantly. It bullied Jeap Jacques Rouget, it harried the serving maid; it frightened Max Gilet and the half-pay officers. And at last it came face to face witb Flora Brazier, the ‘shrimper.’ “Frohman sat in silence to the end. As the last curtain fell he got up and said: ‘I'll take this play for England and America. You, Paul, will make our version. Gillette will play Phil ipee Bridau.’ “The gods willed it otherwise. Gillette found something else—a trifle, believe, known as Sherlock Holmes. Actor after actor had some reason for refusing the play. I lent the manuscript to Beerbohm Tree, who thought It ‘too small for his theatre.’ I told the story, In a Turkish bath, to E. 8S. Willard, who was blind to its qualities. But Mr. Frohman's faith tn it never weakened; and, at last, by the merest ac | cident, Otis Skinner heard of it: great enthu| silastic over it; saw in Philippe Bridau the fore| runner of Thackeray's Barry Lyndon, and most ‘chevaliers d'industrie’ of the modern drama; | and with hat rakishly cocked over his eye, and | his shabby military ed coat buttoned tight over his chest, he came swaggering out on the New Rochelle stage in September, 1907, and everybody knows how he has defended The Honor of the Family ever since.’’ HITCHCOCK BROKE. Raymond Hitchcock has filed a voluntary petition in bankruptcy. He owes THEATRE TICKET BILL. Albany, N. Y., Feb. 15.—Assemblyman Stern, of New York, introduced a bill tp the Legislature recently in relation to the dis | crimination and other frauds in the management of phices of public entertainment and amusements. It provides there shall be no distinction against any person or class of persons in prices charged or received from other persons for the same privilege or in excess of advertising rates: it alxo forbids the establishment of agencies or any place where tickets are sold at a greater price than at the box-office of the theatre or re fuses to sell a ticket to any person for an un sold seat at a regular advertised rate: any vio lation of this act is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $250 to $500 or impris onment for six months to one year or both. NOTES. Charles Frohman has engaged Wm. Hawtrey to appear in the yess of Mr. Brown ip ’ the coming production of Guy du Maurter’s Ap Englishman’s Home. Donald Brian, who made such a suecess as | the original Prince Danilo in the American prowere furnixhed | duction of The Merry Widow, has been engaged by Charles Frohman to act and to sing the lead. ing role in The Dollar Princess, the comic opera which Charles Frohman will shortly produce Ip America, as he has already produced it in England. The role of the leading man In The Dol lar Princess is that of a young Englishman who ap comes to America and falls in love with American girl called The Dollar Princess, (Continued on page 48.)