The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-03-22


at other Houses-Coming Concerts.
Mr.. William Gillette is one of the most
talented and most versatile writer's for the
stage in America When he offered sHeld
by the Enemy" to the public (Which by the
way, had its first appearance before the foot
lights in Washington) he was considered q
strong dramatic writer When he brought
forward "The Private Secretary and quite re-
Gently "All the Comforts of Homen he was
instantly given the palm as a writer of thor
ough, unadulterated comedy. What is still
further to his credit is that In these days, when
even plays that please do not continue to do
so for more than one season, all of his have
stood the test of time and are still in the pres
ent season netting him a large income. 'All
the Comforts of Home" which was so largely
successful here q few weeks ago, is now near
ing its one hundredth night in New York
With such reputation for UNMARRIED success
the announcement of q new comedy from his
pen is sure to be read with interest. Mr.. Gil
lette has been in retirement in Florida for
some months on account of his health. But
such an energetic nature as his cannot long
remain idle, and the result will be shown Mon
day evening at the National Theatre, when his
new comedy, "Mr. Willinson's Widows"
will receive its first performance upon any
stage. Mr.. Charles Frohman, under whose
direction the production is to be made, has
brought all of Mr.. Gillette's plays to public
notice. He also, at the beginning of the pres
ent season, launched one of the most success
full stock companies in New York which that
city has ever seen, which has been playing
Belasco and De Miles latest work, ''Men and
Women" to crowded houses for months. AS
it is Mr. Frohman's intention to take Mr.. Gill
,lette's play and the company appearing here
in it to his New York theatre to take the
place of his stock company Immediately upon
the close of the Washington engagement, it is
perhaps unnecessary to state that the cast is
an exceptionally strong one. The scenery and
appointments for the New York engagement
will also be seen here first. OF the company
Mr.. Joseph Holland, Mr.. Frederick Bond, and
Miss Henrietta Crosman will be remembered
as prominent members of MIR. Augustin Daly's
company for years. Mrs Dion Boucicault
formerly known as Louise Thorndyke Bouci-
'cault) has one of the leading roles. The stock
company inA "Men and Women'' will leave
New York on the arrival there of this COM
pany for its summer and autumn tour, and
will be seen in Washington later in the sea-
son. The strength of the entire cast of "Mr
Wilkinson's Widows" will be seen in the fol-
lowing disposition of characters Mr.. Perez
gat Perrin, literary man, Joseph Hollands
Mrs. Percirol Perrin, formerly Mrs. Wilkin-
son. Mrs. Dion Boucicault; Mr.. Henry f.
DickcrsOn, composer of music, Frederick
Bond; Mrs. Henry r. Dickerson, formerly Mrs.
Wilkinson, Henrietta Crosman; Maj. p. Fer
guSonBlotlory, OF Her Majesty's Ninety-second,
Thomas Burns; q. e.. Pembroke, Esq, a
solicitor from Edinburgh, Thomas Wise; Mr.
Benjamin Duckacorth, proprietor of the Rock
burne Apartments, George Thompson;
Susanna lfcAulif, maid at the Perrins'
Maud White; Mary, cook at the Perkins,
Annie Wood, and Julie, maid at DickerSOn'S
Maud Wilson.
1.-THE Old Homestead" ut AIbaugh's.
play Of New England life is to have pro-
ducton at Albaugh's this week, intended to
be as nearly as possible duplicate of the
representation now in its fourth conservative
year in New York City, the presentation to be
by capable company, which has been before
the public for the past two years under the
direction of Mr.. Thompson. The organization
is equipped with duplicates of the scenery
and effects used in the New York production.
The moral tone of "The Old Homestead;''
the very simplicity yet strength of its teach
ings; it's intense naturalness, which appeals to
the heart of every man, woman, and child; it's
freedom from vulgarity and sensationalism,
so common among dramatic works of the
day-ail these and many more points have en-
-deared it to the American public. The plot is
probably one of the simplest ever woven into
drama 1t is picture of domestic life at the
-old homestead farm of the author drawn by
an artist who was born and bred among the
scenes from which the play was taken. The
old homestead farm at Swansea, deep in the
heart of the New Hampshire hills, is the loca-
tion drawn upon. The scenery used is an
artistic reproduction of that part of New
England aud the characters represented are
typical, familiar to those who have been
through that portion of the country, and are
all living at the present time. The production
will include the rendering of old time songs by
double male quartette. Special attention is
called to the matinee performances on Wednes-
day and Saturday, so popular with ladies all
over the country during "The Old Home
steads $" visits.
Pianist and Composer.
Xayer Scharwenka comes to the Academy of
Music for piano recital on Friday evening,
April B. Forty years of age, he holds. lead
ing position in the musical world. His com
positions are widely played, and the fame Of
his Polish dances reaches all parts of the
world, Over million and half copies have
been sold in America alone Scharwenka's
appearance is in marked contrast to that of
other pianists who have visited this country
in the last few years Tall, broad shouldered,
with digniied bearing, one admires the man
as well as the pianist. The programme will
be one of unusual brilliancy, including sew
eral of his own compositions. Scharwenkas
concerts in this country have been very sue.
cessful and the critics in the large cities vie
with each other in their praises of both COM
poser and pianist Tickets are now on sale at