Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1890-11-23
SOCK AND BUSKIN.
IT IS SAID THAT MAGGIE MITCHELL WILL
HAVE A NEW PLAY.
The Ever Youthful Lydia Thompson IS 10 Sta
Again-Lawrence Barrett Will ResurreCt a
Drama by TsnnySOn-GOssp Cfthe Metro
politan Theaters-F OOthght Flashes


is TO resurrect drama by Tennyson.
There could not be a grouping of three
greater surprises. Doubtless there are
signs below the surface of them. Bar
rctt, for instance, eXcites wide curiosi-
ty by his semi-official announcement
that he will produce Lord Tennyson's
gloomy tragedy, "A'Becket." Over a
year ago Barrett, who was then in Lon
don, accepted Charles Osbornc's newly
written tragedy, Thomas a'Becket,"
founded on the same historical subject.
1t was then announced that an elab-
crate production of Osborne's play
would be a feature of Mr.. Barrett :
tour in 1S90-9l. But difficulty
arose. The manuscript OF the play was
delivered TO Barrett, who, after retain
ing it some time, delivered it to Osborne,
suggesting Il number OF alterations.
Osborne declined to make them, on the
ground that they would seriously affect
the historical accuracy and the literary
strength of the drama, and the result
was that Osborne retained his play
Barrett refusing To accept it unless
changed as he suggested. The news
that the actor has now decided 10 revive
TennySon'S old play on the same sub
icct is calculated to cause Osborne Il
pang or two, and il has seriously dis
turbed the American agent To whom he
has intrustcd Thomas Il Beckett for
disposal. TcnnySOn'S play was not Il
huge success, it will be remembered.
but under Barrett'S revision it may be-
come notable revival.
As for Maggie Mitchclls new play, it
is as yet only rumor, but il is definite
enough to gain name, Tom, and an
author in Charles Il. Vincent, who
wrote 1.-The Editor" There are $4,000
gray boards who will sigh for fear that
'Fanchon" may disappear forever from
the repertory of this ever young actress.
THE Shadow Dance" has east Il spell
these twenty-nnc years, and still it fas-
cinateS, it charms. it fingers. Once it
did more 1t coupled the names of
Ralph Waldo Emerson and Maggie
Mitchell, while the literary world held
its breath and the dramatic world shook
with laughter. 1t is an incOntroverti-
/ bic fact that in 1863 the great philOSo-
pher. the adelantadO. the high cOckalO-
rum OF the transcendcntal school of di-
dactism. actually wrote a poem which
he inscribed TO the only Fanchon. Nay,
more: that there could be no possible
misapprehenSion. he called il The
/ Shadow Dance" and it is one of the
prettiest things in verse that ever came
/ from the Hub.
lydia Thompson evolution will take
her this time out of tights and gauze OF
burlesque into the whirl and noise OF
/ farce comedy. The world has of late
quite lost sight of the eX-Queen of Rob
inson Crusoe.' of "Ixion," and of all the
other pun plays. She clung TO burlcsque
until it became apparent, even to her
warmeSt friends. that this is an age OF
exacting and forgetful playgoerS, with
whom tradition is not always the
moneys worth. Lydia Thompson
learned the bitter lesson that has been
taught since the stage was in its in
/ fancy: and when she had realized its i'm
port she went into temporary retire
ment TO catch her breath. But she has
not been crushed, nor has she been
/ forced upon the variety stage as
Pauline Markham of the velvet voice
has been. or as poor Lisa Weber was
until death released her from earthly
contracts. A year or more ago LYDIA
/ Thompson'S daughter, Leiiic Illlbury.
a pretty girl and good actress, began
to star in Il modest way through the
smaller cities under the direction OF Il
Lowell. Mass, manager. She has been
a profitable star, and now her mother Is
to be exploited by the same manager and
in the same general way. a musical
farce called the "Dazzler' has been
written to fit Miss Thompson, and the
company are already at rehearsal.
There will be plenty of music, new
scenery. and gay dresses. IL looks like
the dawn of new era for Lydia
Thompson, who may not be so rich after
all, as was supposed when Alexander
anderson made her Il widow for the
second time.
In this weeks poverty of new plays
i'm town the east and west side comolna-
tion theatres have shared with the
Broadway houses. but the combination
resorts have the advantage IN that thelr
patrons do not demand novelty as rule,
being content with repetitionS OF good
things. There is, for instance. no less
of favor for Hands Across the Sea,
Pettitt's essentially British melodrama.
which is at the Bowery Peoples this
week. The audiences have been large
and enthusiastic, as they always are
when Il sensational and picturesque play
is on the Peoples boards. Edna Carey
is still the leading actress in
the company, which, under
r.
maintains its standard OF even capa0ill-
tv. Over at the Grand Opera House the
exciting incidents and charming scnti-
ment of Shenandoah" have again won
plaudits, as they are likely to do for
wears to come. Nanette ComStock, Net
tie Guion, May Hampton, +. NJ. Bur
heck. James O. BarrowS and Frank Car
Ivle are in the cast as principals, ana
their work is generally excellent. The
play has been handsomely staged and
the indications are that it Will have
prosperous fortnight at the Grand. Inc
Windsor's star, Ullie AkerStrom, has
scored an undeniable hit in her play,
..Annette. the Dancing Girl. MISS
Akerstrom is an uncommoniy Sood
dancer. and added to that she IS an In
telligent and painstaking actress. Inc
Windsor's audiences have endorsed her
with no uncertain sound. In her sup
mort there is at least one able actor,
Harry f. Adams, who impersonates an
aged negro with much skill and fidelity.
At Jacobs the story of Shamus O'Brien's
LOYALTY to the tight little isle has been
told once more with all the vigor, pa
thos and liveliness of old. The impers-
onator of Shamus this time IS Charles +.
Werner, who makes handsome and
robust hero. He is especially effective
in the humorous scenes, and he Is least
pleasing when he sings. Mr.. Werner
is not an Irish thrush. The audiences
thus far have been very large, and
they have been immensely entertained
h. Nnrner and his company. The en-