The record-union., 1891-10-03
MUSIC AND DRAMA


Sol Smith RusselI's Visit - General
Stage Notes.
Sol Smith Russell has a new play,
which has met with great success. The
new candidate for favor is by Edward E.
kidder, who has already given Mr.. Rus
sell, in "a Poor Relation" character
that viii live in the annals of the stage as
one Of the quaintest ever drawn--that of
Noah Vale. The new play is named
Peaceful Valley" a sufficiently unique
name to mystify and interest Mr.. Rus
sells legion Of admirers thus far in adj
vance. The play abounds in a number
OF strong dramatic and novel situations
and the interest is continued to the finish.
The character which Mr.. Kidder has
drawn for Mr.. Russell is an entirely
original and unique figure TO the stage.
Some of the loVable traits of Noah Vale,
it is said, have been retained, but thenew
character is entirely different from Noah.
lie is educated and typically American.
He says what he means and means what
he says, in a blunt, characteristic way.
Mr. Russell's engagement in this city is
for October 9th and 10th, when Peaceful
Valley'' will be given.
Sol Smith Russell is only Al years old,
but as he has been upon the stage con-
stantly since childhood many people
think him older, and he is frequently
spoken of as the veteran" comedian. IN
1868 Mr.. Russell first came into promi-
nence, and in 1874, at the Olympia
Theater in New York, he made the first
hit of his life. In 1880 Mr.. Russell
bloSsomed out as star in a comedy called
''Edgewood Folks" He made an instant
success and played the piece for five years.
Off the stage, Sol Smith Russell is the
same quiet, easy man as behind the foot
a
key, and he talks readily and tluently.
He uses less makeup" than any one on
the stage; he does not wear a wig, and,
except a suspicion of white and little
rouge, uses no paint.
STAGE NOTES.
William Stafford has entered a suit for
9 divorce from his wife, Evaline Foster.
The gross receipts of Salvini's week at
the Chicago Auditorium reached $780, 600.
The Minnie Hauk Opera Company be-
gan its tour at the Chicago Opera-house
on September 2Sth.
Ollie Archmere Della Berry, formerly
of Sacramento, has made hit in
"O'Dowd's Neighbors."
Anna Katharine Greene has a written
new light comedy for Joseph Haworth,
which he will soon produce.
Essie Tittell has made pronounced
success in Charles Frohman's Western
company, playing "Mr. Wilkinson's Wiz
dows."
"Eileen," an American opera by A. NJ.
Salyer and J. n. Goodman, was produced
for the first time at Topeka, Kan, Sep
tember 2lst.
Louis James and Frederick Warde pool
issues next season and star Jointly. They
promise to produce the new plays, 1.-THE
Lion's Mouth" and "Memnon."
Nina Laurence, who plays Brat in "a
Hole in the Ground" has made a very
marked success in the part and is one of
the clever young women with "a future"
Robert Mantell has made such a hit in
Edward NJ. Alltriend's play, The Louis
ianians," that it has become the principal
feature Of his repertoire. Mr.. Mantells
season so far has been a marvellous sue
cess.
a noticeable thing about ladies who
kindly taBe off their bonnets at the thea
ter is the disappearance of the Psyche
knot and the substitution of the pyramid
coil. A lady's description of the latter is:
''Draw the braid up to the crown, not the
top, and tie it to stand out"