Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-12-25
CEREBRAL STAGE Kx WIS.

known In the dramatic world as MISS
Edith Kingdom. made her first appear
ance on the professional stage in New.
ark. IL WAS on the evening OF Thanks-
giving day, November "a, 1881, and in
the Park theater, under tho manage
ment Of Leonard Gray. Miss Kingdom
appeared in the role of Lady Isabel in
East Lynne" Her compensation Was
$25 for the performance. On the fol-
loving New Years night che appeared
at the Grand opera house in the same
city as Galatea, and again earned =
modest stipend. Such WAS the begin
ming of one who now has millions Of
dollars at her disposal, and this WAS
only eleven years ago.
Stuart Robson, who has been very
successful this season on the road, says
that instead of tho drama deteriora-
ting, there has never been in the history
of the drama such advance made as
the people of today can point to.
"Playhouses," he says, are now pal
aces of magnificence, the ranking of
actors is thing of the past, and as for
play writing. IT has become as much q
science as house building to the archi-
toct, a structure erected on fundaMen-
tai rules and principles"
Probably it has been forgotten that
Sardou was ever in America, but he
was here in the COS, Gays the Brooklyn
Times, and he came to ''look over the
ground" and see what 1t afforded for
dramatic subjects. He did not 20 to
the theaters or into society, but lived
anonymously at the hotels, saw the
Hudson, Niagara, Boston and Philadel-
phIa, then went home declaring Us q
nation of savages.
Nine. Modjeska plays "Chopin."
speaks half dozen different languages,
including English, which few can un-
derstand. and reads the best literature
in them all. Albani cultivates the do
mestic arts, making splendid apple
dumplings, and writes entertaining
letters. Patti is proud of her needle
work, especially of her darning, but
it's q cold day when the diva works.
An experiment il to be tried In Paris
of employing an orchestra IN connec-
ton with the new Eden theater. Most
readers know that III the French thea
tiers it is rare to find an orchestra.
There 10 no overture and no provision
for relieving the tedium between acts;
three conventional stamps with foot
as a signal TO raise the curtain Is all
one hears Oft the stage.
} Annie Lewis made an awful plunge
IN "A Nutmeg Match" In Trenton q
few nights ago. In running to the res
Gus of the hero on the pile driver, q
board slipped and she went headlong
over the dock into what was supposed
to be the river. A stagehand caught
her and she clambered back in time to
cay "I'm coming Billy" and saved the
scene.
Lew Dockstadsr was arrested at New
Bedford, Mass, last Wednesday night,
on Judgment for $S4l.3 in an action
on contract for salary, brought by
George +. Marion, comedian, IN Oc-
tober, 1891. Dockstader was released
on s., 800 bail, and made application 10
take the poor debtors oatn.
A LOCOMOTIVES that took the star role
in nelodramA playing out west blew
up the other evening IN the enthusiasm
Of bubbling over with dramatic art.
The members of the company took up
a collection and betrayed the burial ex-
penses of their fellow member.
The Actors Fund on Tuesday adopt
ed an amendment TO its constitution
providing for a board of twenty one
trustees. and for the choosing of the
president, vice president, secretary,
treasurer, ETC., by the board OF trustees,
instead of BY general election.
Nellie McIIenry, who ie coming
money this season with her new play,
IA Night at the Circus" has again re.
| duced her weight ten pounds. and
r. hat ah
| did when ehe first went on the stage.
Ada Rehan IL the hardest worked
member of Augustin Days company
In all the years Of ner service to art IN
| Mr.. Daly's tbeater she has been known
to miss only one performance and &c
take only one week of rest.
"Ah Baba" has caught on wonder
| fully strong in san Francisco, where
David Henierson's extravaganza com
papy is ALWAYS warmly received. The
business done this time, however, has
been tremendous.
The Duchess" Helen Barry's new
play by Paul NJ. Potter, was produced
/ In Washington last Monday. The play
is good, but the star is as usual mon
strousiy bad.
Members OF the "Psul Kauvar" com
psny who were injured IN q railroad
wreck IN Texas have compromised thei
claim for an aggregate OF 81, 800.
Young Alexander Sslvini u ~ Mon
tana this week on hrs way eastward
/ HIS husness continues 10 be very large
Charles II. Hoyt mss bought q 81 30
/ diamond sunburst, which Will he pre-
( sented "a hIs wife st Nnletide.
''tslen ia Lougb." the Chicago critic
/ say, "is weak. very weak, and yer,
/ stupidly constructed"