The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-03-03
MUSIC And THE DRAMA.
Lenten ADJUSTMENTS in the Great
Metropolis.
Good Plays and Bad Before New York
Audiences - Days Company in
"Twelfth Night '-Unalloyed Nasti-
Keene in New York-General Stage
News.


A p. Dunlop, writing from New York
1nder date of February 25th, says:
1.-The first week of Lent has been a dull
one among the theaters as Tar as new pro-
auctions were concerned. The only abso-
lutely new play of Monday night among
The uptown houses was a play called
For Revenue Only at the Union
Square Theater. 1t was written by Mil
ton Mobiles, and he played the leading
part in 1t. A circular issued as an adyer-
tisement of the play says: AS in meas
IRE 1ustifying the production and SUISSE
quent existence of this play, the author,
with due humility and proper Difference
TO the over-sensative and hypercritical,
wishes to state that since its introduction
10 the public, in September last. it has
lraversed the continent, and everywhere
July met the requirements of it's creation.
II was written IN an Oft year, Tor revenue
only In other words, Mr.. Noble seems
10 say to the public that his frank con-
lesion that his play may not please
ought TO excuse it in case it does not, and
ne practically asks theater goers, since he
wrote MS play solely to make money, to
come and pay him their money and not
10 mind whether they get their moneys
worth or not. He apparently thinks that
II is no matter how bad anything is as
long as 1t is acknowledged to be bad. In
the presence of such bold and sef-sufli-
Client theory as this the province of the
critic sinks into insignfcance, and the
only safe thing to do is to state the case
thus, and then drop it altogether for fear
OF being ranked by Mr.. Noble among
the 'over-sensative and hypercritical.' In
closing, however, II is just to the author,
actor and commentator to say that this
peculiar way of spelling Sensitive is
Mr.. Mobiles and not ours.
'On Tuesday evening Augustin DAILY
presented Twelfth Night at his Iheater
for the first time. To see this play as
given by this company is one of the
privileges of the theatrical season. 1t
sometimes happens in Mr.. DAILY S Shakes
pearian revivals that particular parts
are played not strictly according to es-
tablished stage traditions and in ways
not approved by those who never think
about acting, because their grandtathers
did all the thinking for them that they
conceive to be necessary. But even for
these persons who have undoubtedly de-
rived their inspiration direct from
Shakespeare himself, the tone and air of
the Daily productions cannot but be har-
monious and grateful, while for those
who are prepared TO allow that the artists
before them may have as mach fire and
spirit in their hearts as can be found in
the marginal notes of prompt book, the
Daily pictures and scenes are indescrib-
ably lovely, sweet and restful. Twelfth
Night is gem among comedies, pure and
fawless, clean and brilliant in its quality,
sharp and fine in its cutting. Where
is there a merrier crowd of roysterers
than Sir Toby, the clown and Maria?
How delightfully."- irresponsible they are,
yet how honestly they hate humbug and
conceit. Where is there a more legiti-
mate butt for wordy wit or practical
pranks than Sir Andrew? Where a
more comically and solemnly conceited
Is,a1f Fla C1als, flaY AFa1~ a
what company of merry makers was
ever lighted by sweeter piece of
Womanly tenderness and hope and faith
than Viola? Nobody can ever see
Twelfth Night well played and see it
in the right way, without being the bet
ter for it.
ION the same night with Mr.. Daily's
production the graduating class of the
American Academy of the Dramatic Arts
gave the second entertainment OF its
series for the season at the Berkeley
Lyceum. The bill consisted of selections
from three Greek plays. The historical
bearing OF the performance was, of course,
its chief interest. Mr.. Sargent, the
director of the school. is deep and earn
est student of the classical drama, and his
attempts to reproduce it are careful and
thorough.
mime. Duse played 'Francillion' at
the Fifth Avenue Theater on Monday
night for the first time in New York. Up
TO the present time this play holds the
record of all presented on reputable
stages for unalloyed and defiant nasti-
ness. Nine. Duse maintains her reputa-
ton for finely modulated power, delicacy
of expression and even and graceful
naturalness. Her visit to this country
has been and will continue to be an OPP
portunlty and privilege to American
theater-goers.
1.-THE Theater of Arts and Letters has
had another eruption. This time it has
aimed its 'bruising irons of wrath
against that interesting institution, the
common law marriage. If there is dan
ger of the common law marriage result
ing in the production of more such plays
as this it ought to be eXIerminated root
and branch, before any further damage is
done. The play was called Shadows
and it was written by r. A. Farrelly. If
the audience of the Theater of Arts and
Letters did not have all the good breed
ing that was ever claimed for it, it never
would have sat through the play with
such marvellous display of a patience
which it did not feel. These long-sutfer
ing people sat through four acts of dull,
dirty and dreary drivel and never uttered
boisterous complaint. They laughed at
it, of course. Nobody could be cruel
enough to deny them that privilege. And
when in the last act one of the actors said
of another-the one who had made all the
anu WAS Sllll lllS IL W llN
doesn't that woman die?' the joyous APP
probation became uncomfortable and the
actors had to wait for the laughter and
applause To subsist before they could go
on. The play was acted exceedingly
we'll, as all the productions of the Theater
of Arts and Letters have BEEN"
KEENE IN NEW YORK.
T. w. Keene's engagement at the
Union Square Theater. beginning on
Monday, will be the more interesting be-
cause it will be so short. Two weeks is
all the time which the tragedian allows
TO New York. In that short time he will
be seen in several of the plays of his re-
pertory and Will keep the excitement
active. Thore are not many good TRACE
dams left now, and not many bad ones,
Tor that matter. and the few good ones
that there are ought not to be neglected
by the theater-going public.-Dunlap's
Stage News.
STAGE NOTES.
Trewey, the shadowgrapher, lost 5000
in Panama bonds.
Albert Bruning is winning laurels as
usual in the leading part of The Glenn
enceau Case" in Northern New York.
The threatened coming of hoopskirts
has already been anticipated by the skirt
dancers in what they call crinoline
dance.
Miss Lulu Klein is continuing her
marked success on the road in Miss An
ME Pixley's company. She is winning
great popularity everywhere.
John Jennings adds solidity to the
otherwise not over heavy performance of
"a Society Fad'' by genuine piece of
good, legitimate comedy acting.
Miss Edith Kenward, who has recently
been seriously sick, has returned to New
York and is much BETTER. She will rest