The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-04-15
MUSIC And THE DRAMA.
Plenty of Amusement for New
York Theater-GOerS.

Alexander Salvini as Popular as Ever
j. K. Emmett a Prime Favorite-
Mrs. j. W. Florence-The Boston,
ians Coming-GeneraI Stage News.
A. P. Dunlop, writing from New York
City under date of April Sth, says:
Easter week has brought the usual
reawakening and uprising among the
theaters. New plays have been produced,
old bills have been changed, and bigger
audiences have come into the houses.
Those who have come back, and those to
whom Lent made no particular differ
ence, have come again TO keep the others
company. The most important produc-
ton of the week is probably The
Guardsman,' played at the Lyceum The
alter on Monday night. 1t is by Sims and
Raleigh, whose play The Gray Mare
was so successful at the same theater
year ago. The new play is in the same
tone as the older one, that of light frolic
and humorous perpleXity. 1t leads up
to delightful funny situation at the end
of the second act, and holds the amused
attention of the audience all through. 1t
is a foregone conclusion that everything
done at this theater will be well acted.
The company is one of the most evenly
balanced and well organized in the coun-
try, and there has been less change in it
within the last few years than in any
other company in New York. This is
an important point, because the feeling
of unity in the company is thus pre-
served, and the public comes to look
upon it as the mem bers of it do, or ought
to, as whole. Thus people who know
the Lyceum Theater go to 1t to see play,
and not to see an actor or a particular set
of two or three actors. There comes to
be a feeling that such a permanent COM
pany is no longer composed of individ-
uals. For the class of plays done here
this is exactly as it should be. This char
acteristic is well preserved in the produc-
ton of The Guardsman.' No one is
allowed to glorify himself at the expense
of the others, yet all seems to be right
and even. Mr.. Kelley, Mr.. Walcott, MIR.
Whiffen, Mrs. Whiffen, Miss Harrison,
Mr. Williams, Miss Shannon, and all the
rest are excellent and expert in their
parts, and everything goes brightly and
merrily.
Alexander Salvini's appearance at the
Manhattan Opera-house is a most well
come incident. Mr.. Salvini is bright,
talented, conscientious, attractive and
fascinating young actor. Moreover, he
has purpose. lie is one of the few ex-
ponents, and almost the only worthy one,
the theatrical art which is too much ne
elected, but one, on the other hand, which
few actors of the present time are capable
of sustaining in such way as to develop
its possibilities and not to bring it into
ridicule. To do this in the best possible
manner Mr.. Salvini is fitted by nature,
by cultivation, by training and by in
Caesar de Bazan' has been full of warm,
bright color, dashing spirit, fine energy
and trained understanding of stage tech
nique. The stage management, too,
shows the eye and the hand of the artist,
and carries out the principle of making
every part of every scene picture. Mr..
Salvinps appearance in other parts is
looked forward to with the happiest an
ticipations of artistic enjoyment.
Not an important production dramat-
ically, but most merry and pleasant one
III its own way, is The Poet and the Pup
pets,' which began its American career at
the Garden Theater on Monday night 1t
does not aim at anything except TO keep
its spectators convulsed with laughter
and that it does the most of the time. 1t
has certain outline of form that recalls
it's original, Lady Windermere's Fam
and having exhibited that so that it can
be recognized, it seems to jump into a
roaring river OF fun and to let itself go
wherever the current Will take it. There
Is d DuTl6SEut vi anu OpuGAld,
there is negro minstrel show, there are
clever limitations of Lottie Collins, Mile.
Paquerette and the French quadrille dan
GERS, and then once in a while, nobody
can ever tell when, there is a spasmodic
return to Lady Windermere's Fam
This, it is scarcely necessary to say, is
real burlesque as distinguished from the
so-called burlesque which has of late ap-
propriated the name almost exclusively.
Such things ought to be done oftener.
They would afford infinite amusement,
and they might even do some genuine
good in calling attention to some of the
faults and absurdities of more pretentious
stage productions.
~. X. Emmett is again before his
friends of the metropolis and is playing
Fritz in Ireland at the Grand Opera
house. He is as attractive as ever, sings
with his own accustomed spirit, dances
with his own usual grace, and alto
gether fills place on the stage that no
one else just now can occupy.
1.-THE newer style of burlesque reap
peared on Thursday night at the Casino
| in Henry E. Dixey's production, or
rather reproduction, of 'Adonis.' 1t is
done in the best manner that it could be
done-of course New York could not be
expected to accept anything else-but it
is not easy under any circumstances to
toresee the result of such a revival. If
the public, in its unquestionable judg-
ment, takes pleasure in accepting it. it
will be accepted, and will prosper; if the
public sees tit to pass by on the other
side and let it alone it will be let alone
ana will fail. Nobody can ever tell what
the public will do. 1t is dangerous
enough to offer it an untried play; it is
far more dangerous TO offer it one which
was long ago proved to be great sue
cess"
| MRS. w. ]. FLORENCE.
Mrs. W. J. Florence's re-entry to the
stage after an absence of four years spent
| in retirement has met with all the sue
cess deserving this justly celebrated
actress. She comes to the Metropolitan
Theater, opening on Thursday, April 10Th.
| for an engagement of two nights. Mrs.
| Florence includes in her repertoire this
season the famous comedy, 1.-The Mighty
Dollar" and a brilliant comedy, 'The
| Old Love and the New" The four years
spent In retirement from the stage lite
seem to have added a degree more OF
humor in her already wonderful work as
| a comedienne.
| The elegance of Mrs. Florence's COS
tunes on the occasion of her several for
mer visits to this city which attracted so
much attention are said to be utterly
worn by her this season. In each act she
wears a different gown, which were
specially designed for her by the famous
Felix of Paris.
ROBIN HOOD"
robin Hood" which the Bostonians
will sing at the Metropolitan Saturday,
April I'D, has broken all records OF
American opera, and even made a close
contest for honors with the most popular
OF the light operas of European author
ship. Competent musical authorities de-
! clare that it will endure SO long as opera