Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-03-14
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
A Review of the Theatrical Season
lust Passed.
The Brilliant Stars Who Have Visited
WheeIing---Gossip About
Actors.

% Lenten season closes for q time to many
Of our theatre going people, the enjoyment
I of Music and Drama. Manager Foose
: made happy selection when he booked
5 Fanny Davenport for the last attraction
before lent. Miss Davenport has been play
ing "Fedcra" three years to crowded houses
She purchased the play from Sectsrian
Ssrdou on her European tour in the SUM-
3 mer OF SO, and played it at Hsverley's
New York Theatre, October LIST, of that
year, when the great piece had its first
! representation in America. The seventeen
I months previous were spent by Miss Dsv-
I export in Europe, partly for inquiry partly
I for pleasure, and partly professionally
: The latter was failure, her reception on
the continent was cold; not having the
: genius of Bernhsrdt nor the beauty Of Mary
Anderson, she fell below the English expsc
tation with the usual result. Upon her re-
turn to America she was called to the bed
side of her brother Edward, who was then
i'll with typhoid fever, under her skillful
nursing be recovered however, and is now
playing an uDimportant part in Feeders"
inheritipg, it is said, most marvellous per-
sonsl resemblance to his distinguished ia-
ther-the late E l.. Davenport without
possessing any of his remarkable ability.
The soft climate of Italy was not with
ous its great effects on the actress, for she
is a perfect picture Of radiant good health, |
and has made Fedora" go" as WAS
evidenced here. A lady remarked to me !
that she could still feel the effects created
BIZ Fanny Daverport's fine acting late the
next evening This sentiment must have
been universal for it called forth an admo.
milton from one Of our prominent ezpoun-
ders of Divine law, against the witnessing
of such perfect art and in favor Of light
comedy.
~
l was grsvely informed to-day that at Ess-
ter, Lent will be over! During these forty
DAYS there will be q great deal of that sort
of swearing which may be called reversed
PRAYER, and the professionals are ready TO
dance with the iocund sun on Easter morn
| ing. The stage should emphasize its re-
concilistiou with the church by closing the
theatres during Passion week, Quite aside
from any religious question, it is neither
good taste Ior good business to keep the
play houses open while the whole christian
world is wearing metaphorical sack cloth
and ashes and restricted to fasting and
prayer. The best patrons of our theatres
are our beet people and our best people de-
fer, either conscientiouslY or convention
ally to the observauees o. religion.
There are times for oil things and man
gers will learn by and by, that judicious
closing means more brilliant opening, .
Altogether, the season thus far has been
successful. Frank Weston-Minrie Mad.
dern's husband-took a sensible view of
things. He told me he was not disappointed
at the only fair patronage they received
here, considering the long financial de.
preston, he was surprised to see as good
an audience. Minnie Madden, by the way, :
is a rising star The best evidence Of her
emotional power WAS to be found every 9
where about one in the falling tears as they
crept down over the cheeks of children, I
and even hard hearted men-in the audi
ence.
~
This sort of criticism is not always q
sure standard for there are publics and
publics There is that world OF fashion
which goes to the theatre to .shoW its tot
lettes, which arrives late and departs early,
which rarely listens to what passes on the
stage, bat is occupied with what is happen
ing in the boxes 4 collection of blaSeS
who come to kill time at the theatre and
flush the chat of the day. Then there is ;
the world, it may be unacquainted with
the refnements of talent, but sensitive to
accents of genius; candid, free from all
prejudice, souls made for truth, and ready
to recognise and receive it.
~
Manager Foose has given US during the
season some fine talent both in music and
drama. Among the artists we have had,
Kate Claxton played Called Back" to an
spprecis!ive house; Mile Rhes, ever popu-
lar, gave three performances, besides Rob.
son & Crane in Comedy Of Errors,
E(is Ellsler, Woman Against Woman"
VIM. Sheridan's Louis H." all the best
minstrels on the road, Joe Emmett, Lotts,
Clsrs Morris, the queen Of the European
stage, in The New Msgdslene;" Bella
Moore in her Mountain Pink" and the
Alta Norman English Opera Company.
Mr.. Foose told me yesterday he had booked
several "winuerS" to appear later, butnoth.
ing for the immediate future.
-
Miss Bella Moore will return to Wheel.
ing before the season is over supported oy
Mr.. Frank Hennig. have never seen
Miss Moore on the stage, but if her acting
| is anything ike as winning as her manner
and conversation in tie parlor, it will well
paw the lovers of art to see her.
During the latter portion OF the war the
great and unfortunate trsgedisn, John Nc
! Cullough, played leading man to John
Wilkes Booth in Washington City. Shortly
before the formers sad arrangement he
said, in speaking of Booth, that he he had
doubtless often seen the whole band Booth
was then training to kidusp President
Lincoln, yet he never met any OF them.
When he accidentally fell upon them Booth
would ssy: John. you don't want to be
bored With these fats; cone along, and
thew would leave together. Mccullough
thought his devotion to his profession saved
him from Booths confidence. Actors in
all times have been very close to the spirits
who make conspirseies. Shakespeare was
too Young to have been in the gunpowder
Mot when It was discovered in that circle
which frequented bis theatre.
Booth was very intense in his mind and
alWsys q Southern man. Mccullough |
stated that on one occasion he borrowed
500 from him to get come rebel friend out
of prison; on another occasion he found
him in boots, spurs and gsuntlets, with a
knife, pistol and map Of MARYLAND before
him. but the scales never fell from his eyes
ill he heard of the assassination, then be
interpreted what he had seen.
Contradiction.
San.
seo,chmsn-"Whstl ye haeH
Frenchman-"Tll sake drop OF con:
, trsdiction."
Sootchman-"Whst's thstT