Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-02-16
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
DEFECTIVE SURROUNDINGS CLoUDING
JULIA MARLOwE'S CAREER.
The Gifted Elsie LesIie-Garrick and Dib-
dIn-Musical Culture in Washing
ton-General Stage Notes.

/ tOn-G60eral stage Notes.
Rosalind May, the regular New York
correspondent of the SUNDAY UNION,
| writes as follows in regard to theatricals in
the metropolis:
"At the close of a delightful narrative
given me some years ago by a lady friend
concerning spring costumes in Fifth ave-
nue., the question arose, And the wearers-
their faces, the expression on the different
countenances Faces ? was the surprised
exclamation. why, suppose they must
have been all right. | was looking at the
| dresses
"This lady was, fear, the type of many
another. Fine surroundings given; re-
suit, all right in short, the old proverb,
'Fine feathers make fine BIRDS The lay
criticisms have heard on Irving are also
worthy of meditation. On the part of
every non-professiopal critic there was
doubt and a ready acquiescence to the sum
ming up that they, for their own parts, did
not like him nearly as we'll as Ellen Terry.
But, then, the stage settings, you know
He understands all those sort of things so
perfectly Evidently they drew little if
any distinction between the man and his
surroundings.
DEFECTIVE SURROUNDINGS
Have prevented Julia Marlowe from
making the great sensation here she might
have made. Commonplace scenery and
costumes in AS You Like it would have
had quieting effect on popular enthusiasm
at any time, but now of all times, when
Daly's equisite scenic creations and liberal
outlay in attire are presented in the same
play but two blocks distant, the contrast
becomes positively painful and decidedly
harmful to the gifted and charming
aspirant One can imagine her trans
planted to these fairly landscapes where
her youth and beauty would find ap-
propriate setting. The picture would
be then likewise more complete than at
present. She looks the Hebe one might
expect from this romantic maiden, and
rare intelligence and grace in the inter-
probation of the part captivates and causes
deep interest in her future career. Faulty
management, however, brings comparative
coldness in the general public and apathy
in her audience. Empty seats are pain
fully visible, and eferts that under more
propitious circumstances would bring
rapturous applause, met with but feeble
response Happily long future seems
to be before Miss Marlowe, and it is to be
hoped that she may be favored by more
suitable environments. At the
BROADWAY THEATER,
Charming little Elsie Leslie does her best
to redeem play which, deprived of the
special interest that attaches to this really
gifted child, would fall fiat. 1t is thin and
commonplace throughout, produces little
effect of illusion on the audience, and
apart from the elements of intelligence,
simplicity and spontaneity, combined with
much childish beauty on Elsie's part, pos
sesses no attribute likely to bring about
lasting existence. The houses already
show evidence of thinning and no antlci-
patton of great run is apparent.
THE BRIGANDs,'
At the Casino, still proves an attraction
Much of its popularity is due, OF course,
to Lillian RusselFs special charms which,
now at their zenith, draw many an adj
mirer. At all events, The Brigands' is
still paying attraction. The Senator
at the Star Theater, continues to pack the
house, and Scanlan's visit at the Four
teenth-street Theater has proved quite as
successful as his first appearance, early in
the season.
"Among New York's entertainments,
Professor CromwelPs views of cities abroad
prove excellent and instructive as ever.
They may be almost called standard, since
during six years they have not waned in
public estimation, and this winter are
given at the Fifth Avenue Theater. The
moderate price of 80 cents brings them |,
within the reach of the many, and the
Professor may certainly be called public |
educator He is indorsed by leading lit
erary men.
"In opera, the news Of latest interest is
battle between people who pay So apiece
for seats and boxholders who want to talk. |
Kisses from the former have been in order,
and it is now in debate which, on the
whole, pay the most. Numerous 50 count
up, and further developments are in the
future"
GARRICK AND DIBDIN.
In 1l6S Dibdin transferred his services
to Drury-Lane, where he had the usual !
disagreements with Garrick in regard to !
money matters. One would hardly be JUS |
titled in applying the term "unscrupulous"
to Garrick; but he undoubtedly knew the |
value of money better than those who |
served him, and it was not his fault if he
got the worst of a bargain. Dibdin signal |
lied himself at Drury-Lane by his writing |
of the music for "The Paddock and yet |
for his share in the work he received only |
e45, while Bickerstaff, the author of the |
words got e1,700. AS he says himself, |
however. be was of an easy and credulous !
temper, and as we may say for him, he |
was also extravagant and improvident,
being, indeed, kind of Goldsmith of his |
profession. He parted with most of his |
early writings without proper agreements,
and in consequence got handsomely |
cheated. His renowned song, "The Wa
terman," he sold for two guineas; Nothing |
Like Grog" for half guinea, and so on. |
Thus, while he was always working hard, |
his existence for the greater part of his |
career was but little better than the hand |
to-mouth one of the third-rate profess |
sional
Garrick seems to have found him of sig |
nal service at the Stratford jubilee, as well |
as at Drury-Lane, yet they do not appear |
to have at any time pulled well together. |
The young composer had become indebted |
to the actor to the extent of ESQ, and he |
tells us that Garrick made him a slave at |
song writing for the Shakespeare celebra- |
ton till "he had better gone to a Jew for |
the money" On one occasion the actor
said to him apropos of his debt, 81 can
take down the pegs that make this music"
to which Dibdin replied, eyes, as honest
as you are" At another tine, Garrick |
having previously failed to satisfy Dibdin
IL, fo,- ho
words of the rondeau beginning "Sisters
of the tuneful strain" and asked Dibden
if the piece would do. "Yes," was the re-
ply, "it is tuned SO musically that it sets
itself. It is certainly the best you have
ever written" The rondeau turned out
to be by birmingham, and if Dibdin was
unaware of this fact he, at any rate, got
credit for knowing it, for the famous actor
never forgave him the honestly expressed
opinion
G,r~;oI- saa,,e ,rJaaI 70 bava baaY, q