Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-02-09
OUR DRAMATIC MELANGE.
Esthetteism on the Wane-Latest
Theatrical Gossip I'm GOtham-Sad
Fate OF q once Famous Danseuse.

theatrical Gossip I'm Gotham-Sad
Fate OF . Once Famous Danseuse,
New YORK, February s.-Esthetes are all
around us-thick as peas in pod-but am
glad to say, for the credit Of the more sensible
portion of our society people, they are not
taking pattern after the latest English model
In fact, Oscar Wilde, as lecturer. poet or poser
has proved to be a stupendous failure, and
there are brood of managers who respect
fully decline to give him an engagement unless
they are assured against loss. Some of the
press dispatches publish only the sunfiower
side Of his experience, but private advices re-
ceived here indicate that his popularity, if he
had any, is on the wane.
Speaking Of the Englishman, saw the other
evening neat social burlesque on his peculiar
doctrines During an interval in dramatic
reception, the young ladies who passed the re-
freshments astonished everyone present by
making their appearance in the most Outland-
lsh dresses that woman ever conceived. They
were a cross between highly-frilled night
gown and the picture side OF a Japanese tea
chest, the prettiest part of the whole outre
costume being the dainty ten-button kid boots
with which it was terminated. asked an ar
fist friend to describe the thing, but he said it
was "a huckleberry aheve his persimmon''-
too utterly much for human brain to compre-
bend.
The amusement season is just now in full
blast. and what with balls, parties, weddings.
winning and dining, our fashionable people will
have their hands full between this time and
Lent. The Charity Ball is, of course, the event
OF the year, because one is always sure TO see
there the wealth and beauty OF the metropolis.
This is the farewell week of ''The Passing
Regiment at Days On Friday night it will
have been played one hundred times. 1t will
be followed by "Odette, " and adaptation from
the French, on which the mana cement have
expended much time and money.
The production of "L'Afrique" at the Bijou
Opera House, comic opera by Mr.. W. G. Nc
Creery, OF st Louis, is also one of the events
of the season. 1t would be unfair to Judge,
after seeing only dress rehearsal or two; but
you may set il down that the music is much
superior to the dialogue and bristles with mel
ody that has the merit of being in a great
measure original
After several weeks Of both financial and ar
tistic success at Booths Theatre, Mary Ander-
son has gone to the Grand Opera House across
town, where she will play for two weeks. 1t is
said to have been her most profitable engage
ment in New York.
The original Patience" continues to draw at
the Standard Theatre, and burlesque perform
ances are filling The Golfers at the San Francis
co Minstrels and Tony Pastors houses.
'Gtipus the King" the Greek play given at
Harvard last May, has had good send of at
Booths, but it is doubtful whether its fine clas-
steal character will not deter the masses from
spending shckelS in supporting long run.
The luckest playwrightS and managers in
New York are Harrigan and Hart of the
Theatre Comique, unless, by the way, you ex-
cept Colonel j. II Haverly. Think of mana
ger with seven large theatres on his hands
and seven large companies on the road. In a
recent conversation with mr. Harry Mann his
principal representative here, l learned mum
Der Of facts concerning Colonel Haverly that
are not generally known. He is by birth
Pennsylvania, and about twenty eight years
OF age, although he looks ten years older In
per.on he is a slightly built spare man of mid
die height, without an ounce of loose flesh on
his bones, and not wrinkle in his face to indi-
cate the tremendous strain he must neces-
sarily undergo in directing organiZa-
lions that are sometimes a thousand
miles apart, aad several or which are
now in foreign lands. He dispatches business
with wonderful rapidity, and impresses on all
OF his employees the go-ahead and be-quick
about it style of business that is Chars cteristic
with himself. The secret of his success is
generous advertising and the energy Of an 10 g
corps OF assistants, The latter aggregating
about $50 people, who are every night some
where in Christie ndom drawing a handsome
salary, and contributing to the amusement Of
the theatre-going public. His general banking
b siness is done in New Yorg by Mr.. Mann, and
owing to the systematic manner in which the
accounts are Kept, the chief knows By tele-
graph every morning the receipts aud ex-
penses of the previous night. The amount of
the latter he can tell within fifty dollars a
week
Maggie Mitchell. whose name has been so
long identified with "Fanchon," is said to be
doing q remarkably good business with her
new play, The Little Savage" written for her
by Mr.. Fuller, the New York correspondent of
the Louisville Courier Journal, an artist who
paints as well as he writes.
NJ. b. Curtis is coming money with his SAM
of Posen," and, ike j. K. Emmett, he made a
star OF himself by securing comedy that en-
ables him to show to the best advantage as a
character actor.
A similar remark will apply to Mckee Ran
kim who is doing a fine business with "Old
49," The origin CT the title. and the incidents
which 1t covers form an interesting and true
story, but, owing to its length, l must defer the
narrative until my next letter.
Lester Wallack is still playing in 1.-THE Colo
nel'' at Abbey Park Theatre, and at his own
house The Money Spinner" has entered on q
Madame Favart, at the Fifth Avenue Thea
ire, is to be succeeded by Mar ola, the latest
Partisan success, and said to be one Of the
brightest of Lecocq's compositions. The Bank
er daughter" is at Niblo's, Lights o. Lon
don" at the Union Square, where Clara Morris
also alternates with her New Magdaen'
matinees, and "Esmeralda' is at the Madison
Square
Une of the saddesU sights frequently to be
seen during tbs se bittsr days-winter days-is
the bent and wasted form Of poor Signorina
Yenturoh, once the beautiful Italian premiere
danseuse in the BLACK Crook" Years ago she
lost her speech her features became twisted
out Of shape, her handsome dark eyes were
tremulous from the loss of muscular control
ana to-day she Is Stlll mere wreck, tOtteriDg
up and down Wall street and Broadway, able
TO step not more than three inches at a time
and soliciting such small aims as the passers-by
choose to bestow. at one time the dramatic
profession raised several hundred dollars for
her relief, but, this being exhausted, she has
become common street beggar, and in a little
while will find her final rest in Potter's field.
And so goes the world. Many poor actor and
actress Is suffering comparatively as much.
and with no hope of relief this SIDE Of the
grave.
Col. Sam. Carpenter. the General Eastern
Passenger Agent of the Pennsylvania Railroad,
and gentleman as well known to the theatre
people as Edwin Booth, or any other star has
removed his quarters to No. SAG Broadway, and
that will be his future managerial address
F. g. De Foni aine's C mpilation of THE
Rest Thoughts of Charles Dickens" is meeting
with a large sale, especially among the dra-
matte profession. Considering its 900 pages of
contents it Is one of the cheapest and most
valuable lve-dollar books of the day.