Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-05-27
A DULL WEEK.
DRElRINESS The FEATURE IN THE LON
DON PLAY-H0USES
Laurence IrviDg's Russian Production Lacks ORA
matte Skill-An American Mystical Musician
Astonishing Society Drawing ROoms-An In
stance OfEalurs Being Forss.allsd BY Art
lCopyrt9htsd.l

not been remarkable for startling events
in the theatrical world. In fact. drear-
mess has been the most remarkable
feature In connection with the London
theaters, although the successes are
succeeding, and the usual amount Of
gossip in connection with new things is
In circulation.
Henry Irving's son, Laurence, recent
ly paid long visit to st. Petersburg to
study the language ana characteristics
OF the people with the view OF writing q
play dealing with the downtrodden
and furnishing Russian peasantry and
with the Siberian system OF imprison-
msnt. This play, in one act, entitled
Time, Hunger and Law" was pro-
duced for the benefit Of charity, at .
Thursday. The new production was
efficiently played by the author. his
brother, II. B. Irving, Cyril Mauds and
others. Although not without merit,
tho play lacks dramatic skill and proved
q tedious entertainment. Personal In.
terest In the play and the author at
tracted good audience, among those
present being many leaders Of the dra-
matte profession.
Although E. s. Willard's programme
for his coming season Is not officially
announced, many applications for seats
have already been received and consid
cradle interest is manifested In his
plans.
At the Royal italian Opera Covent
Garden, Sir Augustus Harris Is present.
ing series OF operas, including Faust"
"Orfeo," "Cavallera Rusticana," "Phil-
emon Et Baucis," "PlRliacci," Scar
men," "Falstaff." The artists
who are interpreting these OPP
nett, Pauline. Joran, Bauermeister
and Gouliea and Sofa Ravogli. and Nine.
Plancon, Abers, Bonnard, Customary,
Iginio. Corsi, Rinaldini. PM Corsi. Ar
mandi and Pelagalli Rosetti and others.
On Monday Marie Geselschap, the
pianiste, of Boston, Mass, played at a
soiree given by the Netherlands Min
lister, Baron Won Kernebeck. United
ambassador Bayard was among those
present
An American mystical musician
named Shepard, made his debut this
week at the house of Lady Milford.
He is an tonishing society drawing rooms
by his wonderful extern PORTING.
The wordy warfare between Clement
Scott and Robert Buchanan, resulting
from the formers notice OF "a Society
Butterfly" In the Daily Telegraph, has
resulted in cross libel suits. This cause
celebre will probably have a stimulat-
ing effect upon business. Mr.. Scott
proposed In the first instance to con-
vene q meeting OF the leading dramatic
critics, place the matter before them
ann act upon their decision; but, before
this intention was carried out, he finally
decided to appeal to the law. That the
sympathies of the great mass of play
goers are with &c S." has been shown
more than once since the now famous
incident. At many first night, he has
been received with loud cheers from all
parts OF the house on entering his box
with his wife.
Here is an instance, as Oscar Wilde
would say, of nature being forsstalled
by art. Two years ago Mrs. Oscss Ber-
niger wrote . one act play entitled
"Slave," which Is to be produced by the
Inde pendent Theater Society next Sep
TENDER. 1t Is q powerful little piece,
and terminates with domestic tragedy
OF the most impressive character. Many
of those who read "Slave," while fully
recognizing its domestic force, ex-
pressed the opinion that the circum-
stances could not have occurred in
h..
maintained that there was nothlHg i'm
possible or even improbable In her plot
and, a short time aftervard, her con-
tention was fully justified, for q tragedy
was reported from Hungary, similar Ia
every respect TO the one chosen by her
for dramatic treatment.
"a Modern Eve" the new thrse-act
play OF contemporary English life, by
Malcolm Sslaman, which Is TO be per-
formed at Haymarket matinee, Is cast
s'up to the hilt." There are only six
characters, and will be played by Mrs.
Beerbohm Tree, Mrs. Dion Boucicault,
Mrs. Lottie Venue and Messrs. Beer
oohm Tree, Fred Terry and Cyril
Maude. The theme chosen by the au-
thor is original, the interest OF the play
commencing when o woman, who has
left her home with her lover. returns TO
her husband and is received back BY
him.
Theatrical celebrities naturally play
no small part in 1.-THE Fair Women Ex-
hibItion." which has just opened at the
Grafton galleries, and from the time Of
Neil Gwynn and even earlier, down to
the present day the dramatic world is
well represented. The Queen has sent
her famous portrait Of Nell Gwynn by
Sir Peter Lely, to the exhibition, and
Sir Joshua Reynolds. Mrs. Siddons as
the Tragic Muse" has been len, By
the Earl OF Warwick. Among the other
theatrical pictures may be mentioned
Gains borough's portrait OF Mrs. Jordan
dorothy Bland), the celebrated comic
actress who died In 1916; g. 4. Fats
portrait OF Mrs. Langtry, painted many
years ago In which the famous Jersey
beauty" is wearing on her head what
looks like q modified Salvation Army
bonnet; Saraent's ELLEN Terry. -
Lady Macbeth" which gained medal
az the Worlds Columbian Exposition.
and was SpIndlsr's ''Sarsh Bernhard" "