New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-19
THE THEATRES.
THE GOSSIP OF THE WEEK.

contend With the fatigue OF rehearsng two plays DUR
ing the day and playing another at night wisely deter
mined to lay aside her play last week and devote
herself to A Scrap of Paper" Not little WORK WAS
re CURED for this Sardon's play" as che said yes
terday, depends go much on the neatness and
accuracy OF the business that it needs constant anu
wearying rehearsal L have also had look after the
setting, for though do not intend to spend vast
amount of money on play which is only to run LOT
two weeks do like TO have pretty stageefect ai'
robbing my own house of its brlca-brac. Altogether
think The stage will look quite nice and appropr-
ately furnished Mr.. Seymour. the stage-msnager OF
she Boston Museum. came on early in the week ana
was of great assistance TO BY the way receiVeo
charming letter from Lester Wasck to whom
with much timorousness to ask he would enu
me his prompt copy OF the play. He replied IN the
kncest manner. pointing ont that the piece was SUI
in rcpertory else he should have been glad to ASSIST
me in ANY wav | feel naturally little nervous o.
producing q piece which ia known here through its
production by such company as Wallacks, ineiu""s
himself, but nothing venture nothing have sna'i
play il according the Parissn version, when dne
slightly from the usual English In the hr't ac''
by the way, | a riding habit as did Person io'
Suzanne is supposed to have ridden over from
neighborng chateau, TO pay brief call. Mr. sotnern
will think, be excellent as Prosper though like
Mr.. Piggott is excessively funny, ana he is delighted
with the change to show that he play something
besides a vacuous young man. His horror over nus
part in the new play which is somewhat on the same
order Is comicaL E If | an always to play an IDIOT,
he plaintivsly remarked shall end by becoming o"e
off as welf- as on the stage" The cast Tomorrow
night will include three new members OF Miss pau
vrays company. Rowland Blackstone who PLAYS the
boy Anatole," Ellie Wilton who plays Louise
and Emma Skerrett who plays Zenobie' The others
who have already been seen are J. L. Whiting as the
a Baron" w: Payson "a Baptiste,7 Gus Brooke as
q Francois" End Leslie as MathiIde" Clara Doug
lass as Nine Dupont" and Miss Dore as Pauline
Holiday times and snow-storms, present-buying ana
Christmas parties make difference to " jim
the Penman." who is more fortunate in this respect
than the majority OF his nelghbors. The middle OF
every afternoon the house for the evening entirely
sold out and the receipts do not vary 800 on any
evening through the week. II is merely the unre-
served seats the gallery which affected by storms
of snow or rain Next Thursday Mr.. Palmer will give
a professional matinee OF Jun which will enable the
members OF the different companies IN town to see the
play of which much has been said and written and
which by the way lie pecul'arly an actors play.
While giving the theatrical profession an opportun-
ity to see the play said Mr.. Palmer yesterday,
have followed a sensible suggestion hoPo W
eft the Actors Fund al the time. As far as can
see at present ny plan of operations will be pretty
much as follows: Invitations will be sent to the prn-
cipal theatres in town and seats aside for the
bers OF their companies. few prominent people
outside the theatrical profession Will also he invited
and think with these the house Will be pretty sel
filed. We shall then request tree-will Christmas
offerings Tor the Actors Fund from those who attend
and a committee OF well knogn actresses, probably
including Mrs Gilbert, Miss Robe, and Miss Bur
h. mi sta Ia his m
this will oe better than making any charge Tor admis
aud may possibly result III lar or sum Deing col
eced the Fund" Mrs. Agnes Booth has since the
opening night OF the piece received every day Que or
more letters, generally from stran gers in which her
portrayal is spoken OF In the most enthusiastic terms
Especial stress is always laid upon her treatment OF
the passage IN which she discovers that her husband
forged letters which separated ter from her ovei
percival, years before. In this, IA Is generally
known. Mrs. Booth speaks no word tor several min
utes and vet without gesture and barely movement
holds the house nightly in such silence that pin
might be heard to drop.
Following his annual custom Mr.. DAILY will bring
touch Of domescitv INTO the auditorium of his theatre
at the end the week by decorating it in appropriate
fashion with Christmas NJ DAILY 10 QUO of
the busiest men in the profession and to lind him of
the stage of his theatre and gagged for a
moment is a lucky chance. visitor who was thus
lucky the other day found him just concluding the
Instructions he was giving these holiday ye-
meuts NV only Uews IL that news which with a
manager s colDcident with good news" said he. |
shall not make up my mind until after the holidays as
10 what shall follow Love in Harness with The
piece is r. nnlng much too well 10 render me at all
hastv IN making my decision. Ii may he Mr. Pineros
new play and II may be new Shakespearlan
revival have heard from Mr.. Piuero that he NAV
produce his new comedy at the Court Theatre on
January l, in which case lie will come over lnmcdi-
ately after tor holiday and to superntend the pro-
ducfion of nis play." Mr. Days company mourn
ing tue uutmey decease OF one OF their number whose
obituary notice has not yet been printed Bealcie,
= 49, Ia oh in 10 fir
act of Love in Harness." died carly last week and
was inferred with suitable ceremonies. Mr. Dorney
was the chief mourner OF the little dog, Tor he had
bou ght it in England az present Tor MS late
daughter. Beauce was bought at the Crystal Palace
Dog Show and apart from his umiable disposition was
one OF he most perfect speci nens of the breed ever
imported INTO this country. permanent successor
has not vet been found and dogs of all and breeds
and have Judgment passed upon them in the bust
ness otlce of the theatre
Bronson Howard the dramatist. who has OF late beer
a tolerably busy man. found time fer chat with
friend the other afternoon. They spoke of the recent
matinee production OF Mr.. Howells's Foregone
Conclusion" found il. most interesting affair,
said Mr. Howard. " 1t has been said that it un
dramatic and from the point OF view OF the practical
pIavwright perhaps il But the dramatic posi-
bities in the inquire of that backrobed priest moving
through the play were great There was an intellect
ual dramatic movement. too which subtle but dis
tinct. The construction was naturally the weakes
part OF the rav but that By the condensation OF TIVE
of the acts INTO one could he literally streng hened
had read the novel which, perhaps, added to M,
| interest Talking OF Mr. Howes think however w
NAV disagree from hIs views the ING drama ex
pressed some tine ago in Harper's,' we at al
| events him some gratitude Tor insisting on th'
value of Mr. Harrigan's work. We shall not appreci
ate till we have lost him, perhaps what Mr.. Harrgar
is doing tor New-YOrk OF to-day. lie is preserving 10
us types drawn With mnutest skill OF character whic
are of New-York solely and which before long viii
have utterly passed away. He has developed the dra
matte value Of New York life in OF its phases n
IL exists nowhere else the world and though dra
matist should, think be restricted in way TO hi
own or any other country, it is something t. have on
who worthily the material Immediately round u.s.
Mr.. Howard maze an interesting remark about him
self "No who has earned his living with LII
psn" said he, has been less literary the phrase
usually unders God than myself. began as oqrna
ist and stuck to journalism pure and simple till tool
TO writing plays. never wrote story or an article