The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-29
STARS OF THE WEEK.
The Brilliant Lyceum Company
to Open Tonight.
SKETCHES or THE MEMBERS.
A Week of Exceptionally Fine Plays
and P1ayers-Men and Women Of
Worldwide Dramatic PANE.

Tonight Seattle enters upon q period of thea
trical enjoyment, pending which all other social
attractions viii be practically suspended The
play and the people OF the Lyeeum Comedy
Company form combination which it is not too
much TO say has never been surpassed. Every
one of the pieces 10 be given this week has been
a shining light in the theatrical world, which
has attracted attention from afar, and whose
advent has been watched with intense interest
Tonight AID at the Saturday matinee "Tbe
Wife, by Belasco and De Mile, viii be given.
on Tuesday night Sweet Lavender" BY A. w
Pinero; Wednesday and Friday nights, sCharity
Ball. by Belaseo and De Mile; Thursday and
Saturday nights, 1.-The Idler," by C. Heddon
Chambers
The company consists of Georgia cayyan, Fife
shannon. Henrietta Crosman, Mrs Charles Wal
colt, Mrs Thomas Whiffen. Eliza Logan. Messrs.
Herbert Kelley, Nelson wheatcroft, W j. lie
Moyne, Charles Waleott, Fritz Williams, Eugene
Ormonde, E. J. Radcliffe, Walter C. Bellows, C.
W. King and Charles Robinson. Every member
OF this brilliant company has made an indi-
yidual reputation. Miss Georgia Cayyan, the
leading Lady, began public life at the age OF IA,
by giving readings and Rotations in Boston
and through the New England states. Her
talent caused her To be chosen for the comedy
part OF Dolly, in Hazel Kirke"-her debut as
an actress in New York city. She sprang
into favor, and in rapid succession
created the roles of Lisa, in 1.-The
White Slave Sara, in Siberia" Hattie,
in "0ld Shipmates," Lena, in "The Romany
Rye" and she became the leading lady of the
Madison Square theater with the production Of
May Blossom" When Daniel Froham organ
lied the Lyceum company she accepted a SINH
lar position with him, and created the various
roles in which she will appear here. She is an
actress of quiet but intense emotional power,
and stands at the head of the profession in the
American school of dramatic comedy.
Miss Ellie shannon, the sparkling little SOU
brette, first made her mark in Augustin Days
company, and Cts into her parts az though they
were written for her.
Miss Henrietta Crosnan comes from the
original Madison square forces, and plays oppo-
sites to Miss Cayyan. She was one of the nu-
merous Hazel Kirkes of a few years ago, and
possesses strong emotional ability. Her comedy
talent is especially displayed in "The Idler
Mrs. Charles Walcott plays the society mother,
a part her dignified presence and charming
manners render admirably. She began her the
atrieai life with Laura Keene at her New York
theater She was the opheIia of Edwin Booths
Tonight run OF Hamlet at the Winter Gar
den, New York, and has been leading lady in
the Walnut street theater, Philadelphia, and the
National in Washington, in the old stock days.
She is equally st home in comedy and serious
parts, and viii play both here.
Mrs. Thomas Whiffen plays the loveable old
ladies, and has made the different types a study
50 that they never lost in her own person.
She came TO America with the original Pyne-
Cation Opera company, then playing under her
maiden name of Blanche Cation. She was the
original Mercy in "Hazel kirke," and was years
ago in this portion of the country with Annie
Pixley and her husband, Robert Fulford
Herbert Kelley, the leading man, is English
By birth, and was for several years at the Drury
Tl-f~o e..
become entirely identified with the American
stage. He came to this country to join Lester
wallack's stock company, and with them created
the role of Spider in ''The Silver King" He was
for two years leading man with A. NJ. Palmer's
Madison Square company, and then accepted his
present position with the Lyceum company. He
is the beau ideal OF manly strength in character.
William J. LeMoyne, who is called by the
eastern press the Coquelin of the American
stage. is an actor OF wider range of roles and
greater experience than any other prominent
player before the public. He is the true come
dian who can call for the smiles and tears at
will, and has opportunity for both in the plays
TO be given here. Mr.. LeMoyne has been ON the
stage thirty nine years. lie was born in Boston
and made his first appearance there in support
Of Jane Sinclair, Edwin Forests wife, az one of
the officers in the "Lady of Lyons" He
was in the first performance ever given
of"Uncle Toms Cabin" with Mrs. G. C. Howard
as Topsy, and little Cordella Eva. He has
made pronounced hits as Uriah Heep in "David
Copperfeld, Sir Harcourt Courtney, ST. An
thony Absolute, Sir Peter Teazle and Jessie
Rural in the round OF old comedies. He was a
prominent member of Augustin Days first
company when 'Under the Gaslight," "Pique,"
and "Divorce" were produced, and A N.
Palmers company in the first presentation OF
"Saints and Sinners and .tJim the Penman."
Nelson Wfeatcroft is another distinguished
English actor who finds himself more at home
on the American stage. He has struck out q
new line of accomplished stage villains, playing
such parts with an undemonstratiye but forci-
bic individuality hitherto unknown. His wick
edness is so attractive that il fascinates rather
than repels. He spent ten years on the English
stage and in travel, but for several years has
been a mainstay OF the Lyceum company.
Charles Walcot ia an American, and thirty
years ago began acting in the same company
with which Mr.. LeMoyne was then attached
He was al that time IL years old. For three
years he played all lines of business, and when
the war broke out in 1861 he was leading man al
the Richmond theater, Richmond, Va. He was
leading man at Niblos and Laura Keene's in
New York, and for fifteen years leading man
and manager of the Walnut Street theater Phil
adelphia He was the Horaiio to Edwin Booths
Hamlet in the Tonight run of that play al Win.
ter Garden, New York.
T.. u. katcllne IS a young Englishmau who
came to this country with Mary Anderson, and
soon became noted for his forcibe Juvenile
work. He was for two years in Bronson How
ards Henrietta"
Eugene Ormonde is graduate of the Boston
Museum stock company, and was transferred
from there TO that OF the Lyceum theater. His
work is in the same class as Mr.. Radcliffe. but
tending more 10 what is Professionally called
''hesyies"
Fritz Williams is the light comedian of the
party, whose duty il is TO make love to the
sonbrette. Although young man, he has had
considerable experience with Boueicault-that
past master of stage art-and in various ones OF
Days plays. His is of q theatrical family. his
father being the well-known Fred Williams,
now stage director OF the Lyeeum thester, and
formerly OF the Boston museum
For four years the Lyceum company has been
kept intact except for two changes a remarka-
bly, small percentage for so large a number OF
people. The result is q symmetrical strength
and harmony Of sction which comes as near
perfection as can be conceived The stage man
agement is entrusted TO Walter c. Bellows who
also plays character bits. He is graduate of
Ann Arbor, Mich, and brings to a thorough
knowledge OF theatrical business an educated
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