The Washington times., 1894-07-23
Operatic Performances at Court Be-
coming Quite Frequent.
NYNDHAM AND HIS REHEARsALS
Manager Edwards Tour Around the English
Speaking world-Naud Hobson and Her
Turquoises-How Black Cat Spoiled
CIimax-Bernhardts Love for America.

LONDON, July 22.-Aside from Sarah Bern
hardt, the week has been devoid OF novelties
in theatricals. Operatic and dramatio per-
formances before the court arc so frequent
as to no longer attract much attention. For
instance, on Wednesday last, the two De
Reszkes were commanded to appear at
Windsor Castle during the afternoon. They
obeyed, naturally, and sang . selection of
solos and duets from varions operas. Tosti
presided at the piano. The same evening
Siegrid, Arnoldson, Ben Davies, and Signor
Arcona sang before the Queen. the Gar
wich, and other members Of royalty and their
guests, selections from Governs ''Signa'
Cewen played the piano. The Queen person.
ally arranged the programme for the De
| Reszkes.
The Princess OF Wales, accompanied by a
brilliant suite, was present on Thursday last
at Sarah Bernhardt's performance of La
Femme de Claude" The audience applauded
vigorously. aud Nine. Bernhardt was recalled
repeatedly. But the enthusiasm displayed
was called forth by the wonderful art OF the
great actress, and not by the play.
E. S. Willard has extended his season at
the Comedy Tneater in J. NJ. Barries' 1.-The
Professors Love Story" in which Mr.. Will
| lard is Prof. Goodwillie. The play has been
drawing better than at first expected.
CHARLES wYSDHAM's NOVEL REHEAnsALs.
Charles Wyndham certainly does his best
| TO make the rehearsals Of his company as
agreeable as possible. When Lady Violet
Greville's play was being prepared for pro-
duction at the Criterion, he took the entire
company Gown to Brighton for several days
and rehearsed in large private salon ut the
Metropoli. Now. however. he las gone one
better than this. He has had tiny stage
| fitted up in the garden OF his own house. and
| it is on these miniature boards, shaded from
the sun though in open air, that the first re-
hearsals OF Henry Arthur Jones' new play,
due at the Criterion early in the Autumn, are
taking place. At ordinary rehearsals 1t is
almost impossible to get anything like com
Portable meal but at Mr.. Wyndham's Thea
ter ROYAL. Back Garden. the creature COM
| forts OF the performers are most carefully
| looked after by Mrs. Wyndham
London Ia now witnessing the debacle OF
the theatrical season. Last night saw the
final performance OF a successful play,
Money" at the Garrick
Henry Irving has lent the Lyceum for n
special matinee next Monday by members OF
the Actors Association and others. among
those who are to appear being Sarah Bern
hardt. who during her present stay has sew
eral times given her services in the aid of
charity. The programme is to conclude with
the play scene from "a Midsummer Nights
Dream" with George Anson. E. J. Lonnen,
J. L. Shine, Harry Pauton, Lionel Rynold
Fanny Brough. Carlotta Addison and Beatrice
Lamb In the principal parts. The supers will
also be prominent actors and actresses. Per-
formances Of this kind always cause as much
amusement to the performers as to the audi
ence, and gagging is the order of the after
noon.
FIN DE Steele MANAGERS.
Twenty Year, ago managers would as soon
have thought Of flying as Of undertaking a
tour round the whole English-speaking
world. Now such enterprises are of quite
common occurrence. Early in September
George Edwards sends to America u power
ful burlesque company. whose tour will open
with a ten weeks season in New York
Their principal piece is "A Gaiety Girl
which has had such great success at the
Prince of Wales. but In Town" will also be
rlayed. After visiting the chier towns in the
United States the company will sail from San
Francisco for Australia and will not return TO
England until July, 1895. so that the tour will
last altogether ten months.
Several interesting engagements have been
made by George Edwards in connection with
the English touring company of "A Gaiety
Girl" Nina Martino, Of La Petite Parish
enne" fame. will play the important part of
Nina, and two sons Of Nellie Farren will also |
be In the cast. Miss Martino Is now taking
6ancing and fencing lessons at the expense
of the MANAGEMENT.
As an instance OF nineteenth century pre-
cocity it may be mentioned that Sydney El- |
lison, the stage manager at the prince of |
Wales, is barely out of his teens.
Maud Hobson, who played the part Of the |
Gaiety Girl in London but who will not 20 to |
America. has just had her portrait painted by |
Markham Skipworth. She is seated in gilt |
chair. behind which is background of hang
ing tapestry. Her dress, which is cut low. is |
OF white and yellow satin, embroidered with |
gold and edged with sable. The jewels she is |
wearing are all turquoises, the comb in her |
hair. her necklace, and bracelets consisting OF
most handsome and valuable stones. Maud |
Hobson is worshiped by the .'jeunesse |
doree" OF London and scarcely day passes
but she receives extravagant presents of jew
elry. many OF them sent by anonymous donors
Edward Terry, who. by his performance in
liking Kodak" showed that despite long dis
use his burlesque had lost none of its cunning,
starts on a provincial tour with his own CON-
pany on the 18th proximo. He will return TO
town in December with two new plays, and
after their production it is not unlikely that |
he will set forth on prolonged tour in
America, Australia, and India.
IT WAS. IT WAS THE CAT.
Even in the best regulated theaters ludi-
crous stage mishaps are not unknown. A
most amusing instance of disillusioning, due
to the theatrical superstition that 1t is neces-
sary 10 have cat ''behind," is reported from
the provinces. The great scene In "The
Middleman' is. of course, in the third act,
when Cyrus Blenkarn breaks open his oven
and finds that he has discovered the long-lost
secret Of making certain old ware. In the
beginning of the act Blenkarn dwells n.
length upon the excessive heat to which the
clay has been subjected, and he has to wait
long time before the oven has sufficiently
cooled to enable him to pull down the bricks.
The actor had just reached the final point in
the scene, and the bricks were beginning to
crash upon the floor. when a large black cat
appeared at the oriflce and leaped upon the
stage. The result produced on the audience
by this unrehearsed effect can readily be i'm
agined.
Mr.. Oscar Beringer has written two-act
play, "The Plot of His Story" founded on a