The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-10-10
PURIFYING STAGE MORALS.
FANNY RTCE'S MANAGER HUSBAND
ORJECTy TO LATE SHIPPERS.


| After to.night's performance there will he
| two vacancies In Miss Fanny Rice's "A Jolly
Surprise" company now. playing weeks en-
gaRemcnt at tho Bedford Avenue Theatre in
Williamsburgh. Applicants for the places may
call at once on George Washington Purdy. Miss
| Rco's husband and manager. He formerly
was dentist. They need have neither beauty
nor talent. but they must keep good hours A
certificate OF responsibility and a guarantee OF
moral worth must accompany each applica-
tion. Applicants must DO prepared to agree
| not to accept Invitations to suppers and to
| promise to keep themselves In all respects un-
| furnished from tho world-that il. must be
proper associates for Miss Rice
The vacancies in the company we're caused
| In this way. Mr.. Purdy resolved when hc first
assumed the management about FOUR months
ago. to do all that lay In his power to purify the
moral atmosphere behind tho scenes. When
tho company first assembled for rehearsal in
Central Hall. which has n summer garden res
| taurant. and saloon in the basement. he or
| dered TINT none OF the women should 60 there
| for luncheon. He did not think II modest or
respectable for womou to take their luncheon
| In place where mon came for beer. His OBJ.
| lection to theatre suppers was also explained
! to tho company. Mrs. Eva Holbrook. who was
| for four years with the Duff opera company and
who left the Casino company to join Miss Rice.
met in Willlamsburgh on Monday friend.
with whom she was educated ut Mount St
Vincent Convent. and accepted an invitation to
| supper after the play. Miss May Montford.
also OF "A Jolly Surprise company. was maid
| Of honor at Mrs. Holbrooks wedding. and was
included IN the invitation. The hostcsss fam
| lily is in Europe and the house In closed. Jen-
! sens restaurant opposit. tho Boswyck Hotel
OH Bedford avenue. where Miss Rice and all
the members Of her company are staying was
chosen as the place. and covers were laid for
thirty guests The festivities lasted until 3
O'clock A. NJ.
Neither Miss Rico nor Mr.. Purdy spoke to
Mrs. Holbrook ON Tuesday. Miss Rice made a
brief address in the dressing rooms OF the
| theatre Just before the Wednesday matinee.
| She addressed no one in particular, but at
| tending suppers was among the things classi-
| fled as to DO Stunned. At the close Of the per-
! formance Mr.. Purdy scnt for Mrs. Holbrook
and gave her written notice that her services
wero no longer required and that she was to
| consider the letter rs the two weeks notice
| called for by her contract Mrs. Holbrook's
contract Specifies that either party may ter
inmate the engagement by giving two weeks
hs Mr. tSoP9 S
the supper with Mrs. HolbrooE in like manner
| on Saturday
he said to Teportsr for The Sun She Went
to supper after the theatre with a party and
~ late GHDd
Rice does not like it. Mrs. Holbro9k is a mar
ried woman with baby and should know how
Miss Rice has been on the stage more than
scandal has furnished her fair fame e: - ("' ~
All the ladies OF her company must be
Of her entire responsibility and furnish refer
ences as to her moral character. The ladies'
Knew did not approve OF supper parties or
Did you learn anything about the charac-
ter ter pf the persons with whom the actresses
ri did not think It necessary. Moral women
90 home from the theatre h and 60 to bed. They
s91s bse IS aRa sIns
and She shall not be called upon to meet such
ZEN We irI 4 but ths moral atmosphere of our
Mrs. HolbrooE vas in tears y when the reporter
saw her in room Is OF the Bo'swyek Hotel She
that NJ. PurdX's MISCONCEPTIONS were OUTRAGEOUS;
she continued. for thirty weeks. leaving. the
GasnO t d" 81 Il has been aWty
dress and must learn a certain dance. I paid
thS tuition Ard s1 the
EeI cut The at Tisft put. The author: ~ Wal.
same; Haven't any use Tor the dress now.
tried to do my york conscientiously. and was
told that Miss Rice was the star. and that
Then IN wanssussh Miss aontsora sna
got real nice notices: and Mics Rice made, some
ieaoa %efH % Vi tho
s9 %s say e M E Rs5aS TAs q ii HoR %ss
word against my character. even i /
Ka oa hSt
slanderous and he accepted a retainer from
Two other members Of the com pany declined
to be interviewed. ON the plea that the CHANGES
OF 1ter etn a at this seas1n OF the
Guaarrelling with the manager of tho company
Mr. Purdy denied L, lied THAT that hi. reasons for dis
disetaIse Miss Montferd 1 on i Saturday s We're
Miss Rice" f he ~" said a."' has sacrificed her
not ike IT, Miss ontord G ns D ese song now
!rs'ss sHSS sss friends and Miss Rice
futOy ~ u uhSSs SRlu a. L. NcNhrus. INC
proprietor Of tho Bedford Avenue Theatre
but then it's his first attempt at managing
anything. He was a good dentist, | am told
and experience may teach him. or course it
also may not. but well be charitable and hope
Arthur Walace adapted A Jolly Surprise"
from the French. "Itool the, plot he says.
Miss Rice i do not caro- 70, crtIcise it MS tits
effective situations havo heen cut out
and pretty medley and ballet have been
dropped. but OF course Mr.. Iurdy had
q right to alter it to suit himself Do not quote
me as grumbling at the alterations. Ask !
some OF Tho company what they. think of tho |
changes. They are better judges Of such |
thinGe than nm. 1t would DO a good scheme
when Mr.. Purdy begins his moral crusade for |
him to start higher up in the profession. A
series of lectures to the stars might do some |
good. He could get down to tho chorus
later on"
Lawyer Hnmmel said TINT he had advised |
Mrs Holbrool that she had grounds foraction. |
He lad accepted the ease and would begin |
proceedings ms soon rs the NECESSARY affidavits |
Miss Montrord did not wait for Mr., Pnrdy's |
discharge She sent In her resignation from |
[ he company before the performance last night. |
De Wolf Hopper and lis company are play |
ing Wang" al the Lee avenue Academy OF |
Music. They gave no matinee periormance3n
Wednesday. and it was suggested that the |
H., n,rf.. - 1