The record-union., 1893-03-09
music And TEE DRAMA.
AmuSements of a Week in the
Great Metropolis
Two Operas, a Realistic Drama, a
Psycho-Dramatfc Sensation and a
Farce Comedy General News of
the Stage and Stage People.

A. L. Dunlop, writing from New ork
City under date of March 4th, says:
1.-THE novelties of the week include two
operas, realistic drama, a psyche
dramatic sensation and farce comedy,
and by managerial tact they have been
spread out to cover nearly every evening
OF the week. The Basoche, seen for the
first time in New York at the Casino on
Monday, is an opera comique in three acts
by Albert Carre, music by Andre Messa-
y or. 1t took the place OF Harry B. Smiths
deadly dull Fencing Master and was
performed by the Duff Opera Company in
very slipshOd manner. In fact, the
greatest fun extracted from the work
was caused by the actors not knowing
their lines, and the eXasperated whisper
OF the prompter. The music is only fair,
but whatever the merits of the compost
ton may be, the orchestration was ex-
cellent and even the monotony of the
choruses was counterbalanced by the
perfect execution of the orchestra. The
plot, however, is both interesting and
original. THE Basoche' is mock king
OF law students in Paris, IN the time OF
Louis XII. These law students had rem
dered the King valuable service, in re-
ward for which he permitted them to
elect annually king, who was to receive
from the court and the people the hom-
age usually paid to sovereign. The
king selected in the play had married
some time before his coronation a peas
ant girl, who, upon coming TO Paris and
hearing him hailed king, took him to be
the King of France. The real King, an
old man, had, just prior TO that time, sent
to England for wife. The royal lady
arrived in Paris on the same day the
peasant girl did, and by series OF very
amusing incidents they got mixed up
and looked upon the Basoche as the real
King. The Basoche was, of course, em
barrassed, but he was not half as embar-
rassed as Louis XII. when the latter
found pair of queens on his hands. In
several spots where the lines halt the
omission of French witticism is evident.
1t failed, however, to produce interest,
and although a success in France and
England, it is sure to fail in America.
William Haworth's "A Nutmeg Match
also had its first presentation in New
Y ork on Monday, although it has been
seen in nearly every large town in the
Union 1t contains a heap of fun, some
pretty Connecticut scenery, and steam
pile-driver in full operation. The play is
1ull of quaint rural incidents and dialect.
and is enlivened by case of a mad bull,
a wedding present of a live calf, deal of
good singing, neat dancing, and lots of
the cute ways of the rural Connecticutor.
IL has been a money-winner on the road,
and will win ducats here.
"'A Mad Bargain at the Bijou, is a
first-class example of the song dance
IdIC6, uldOe lOI OJ OOllll MI
Nally of the Boston Herald and Julian
Mitchell, Stage Manager of Hoyt's Madi-
son Square Theater. The peg upon
which hangs the eXtravagant story is a
young man who fancies he is madly in
love with a coquetle, who leases him
until he wishes to die. He lacks the
courage to commit suicide, and therefore
arranges to be murdered, when he isn't
looking'.by man who engages in earn
est to do the job but the girl proves true
and constant, whereupon her lover de-
sires to lice, and his fresh perple kites
arise from the danger of being killed by
the all 100 conscientious assassin according
TO the mad bargain. All this IS used to
ludicrous account and performed in a
rapid touch-and-go manner which proves
very amusing to the great bulk of theater-
goers who haven't art on the brain, eut
go to the playhouse to be amused.
"On Tuesday Mr.. Strange's sketch
Yesterday called a 'psycho-dramatic
sensation' whatever that means, was
done at Herrmann's. 1t is a clever little
affair that will doubtless succeed. In the
first scene an old man, Robert Perrin, is
brooding over a crime that for fifty years
has cluded his life. In vain his friends
attempt to console him. AS they leave
him dreaming by the ire the scene
changes and we have the incident referred
to played before us. Robert is young
fellow again, full of love for Dorothy
VINO appears 10 lcll ulIll lLdL SHS 1DN Is ule
brother Cecil. The latter is unworthy o.
her love, and after violent scene Rober
strikes his brother and kills him
Whereupon Dorothy goes crazy. The
scene changes again and the old man Is
found dead. This sketch has the meri
OF directness and its movement is rapid
and effective The detail is picturesque
and the dialogue is good. 1t was handi
capped on Tuesday night by the suhsti
tuition at the last moment of Miss Kidde
in Miss Dene's place as Dorothy. Bur
uand's 'Our Club in which the Henley
Company have already been seen here
was capitally played. On Friday Lillian
Russell will appear in 'Girof1e-G1rot1a' a
the Garden Theater, OF which more here
after"
STAGE NOTES.
Lulu Klein will next season star in
play of her own.
"a Texas Steer" is said TO be Nj
Hoyts best liked play.
Mime. Bernhardt is to make tour c
South America in June.
Rosina Vokes has made hit with he
new play, maid Marian"
Albert Bruning's ''Clemenceau Case''
meeting with great success in the West.
Charles McGeachy is the latest VIII
brings suit against Thomas Q. Seabroukt
1t is said now that there is no hope tha
Arthur Moreland will ever recover hi
sight.
J. jennings, the well-known characte
actor. has gone on the road with Rus
SELLS ''Society Fad"
Charles Frohman has bought the Amer
lean rights to a farcical London succes
called "Prince and Puppet."
The New York Dramatic Ne1os says
s'Maud Granger wants leading romant
lover for long summer season."
Although John Webster will IN futu1
be I'm 'front.' OF a might at the Circus,
A ]. Spencer will still remain the mar
ager.
Nellie McHenry in "a Night at tt
Circus'' is again in New York this weel
playing to the capacity OF the People
pheater.
Annie Pixley will close her tour Ma
18th at Chicago, and sail for Europe IL
following week to spend the summer
Carlsbad.
Miss Emily Lytton of J. K. Emmett
"FritZ in Ireland" will have fat Ieat
ing part in Mr.. Emmet's new pla
''tritz in the West"
Manager A. Y. Pearson has bee
ordered by his physician to spend sever
months at Bermuda, and to give up,
far as possible, his active business caree
Maude Madison has come to the trol
at bound. She has had the hardihoC
to do a 'crinoline'' song and dance
Nav York. and she is getting fair sha
OF fame for 1t.
II is announced from Boston tn
Frank j. Cornell will soon star
"oThello.f Mr.. Cornell is full-bloodt
Schinnecock Indian, and was Llllls
Russelr's coachman four years ago.
Paderewski's sore finger has so +
mended that he was enabled 10 thun