The morning times., 1895-11-10
new YORK STAGE GOSSIP
Broad Humor Promulgated In
"The Shop Girl"
so VERY ENGLISH, YOU KNOW
'.For Fair Virginia" Is Success.
Mr.. Henry Irving as a
p, r.
so VERY ENGLISH, YOU KNOW

New York, Nov. S.-After months and
months of hard-work and an outlay Oh
many thousands of dollars, NELL Burgess
produced The Year One" at the Star
last Saturday night. The play is by Charies
barnard, author of "The County FAR.
1t contains neither story, situation, bright
dialogue nor comedy. Whether 1t Is a
tragedy, comedy, farce, grand opera OF
extravaganza will never be known.
Mr., Burgess has mounted his piece sutnp-
tuously. 1t is pity Ia see 50 much
money and sn many good intentions wasted
on such an iucnnsequentiai play
The chariot race did not work well, but
even If it had it could not have saved the
piece The cast includes Edgar l.. Daven-
port, Cuyler Hastings. John Lane and
other competent actors.
There was very little for the women to
do. and they did not do that little very well
1t is TO be hoped that Burgess can whip
the show into shape and in the end make a
success of his new venture-but, must
confess. the prospects are very dubious.
If"The Shop Girl'' is a specimen of John
Bulls wit, Ireland is away ahead. But why
should Rave expected tu find her "A mirLh-
provoking parsonage" when always have
known that English jokes must be accom-
panied with 4 diagram? Notwithstanding
this, went to see THE Shop Girl"
sprinkEed. through this potpourri OF
female anatomy are lines which need no
diagrams TO make their suggesdveness
understood. The girl is ioundlng, who
has suddenly become an heiress 10 four
million pounds.
About a dozen young women claim TO
have been found" years ago. The real
heiress has a birthmark. They all insist
that they have the same. a committee is
formed o determine who the real heiress
is, and when the master of ceremonies"
proposes an investigation of birthmaTks
lie is informed that BERTHE knows"
Berthe doesn't deny the allegation, but
proudly smiles on the alligator with the
air of real devil" while the girls all
giggle.
herd of woulG-be heiresses regarding their
birthmarks. They all clamor around him,
each trying TO impress upon him that she
is the cniy genuine article. One dashing
soubrctte is particularly persistent and
while she attempts to Caress him he pushes
her away and says, Never mind; know
yours"
| could mention many more such witty
t?D speeches. but sample is sufficient.
THE cast is good and it seems a pity to see
competent actors wasting time on such
trash.
George Grosssmth,i IT., as BERTHE Boyd,
is one OF the best stage dudes / have ever
pretty and pleasing. Her singing doesn't
Seen. Seymour Hicks and W. H Ra Wins
are both ofthem competent.
Ethel Sydney, THE Shop Girl" is
amount 20 much, hat she displays a teauti-
ful neck and is satisfactory. Marie Faw-
cett and BERTHE Wright Go clever Japa-
neSe dancing special which is enc of the
best bits in The farce. Leslie Greenwood
wears some fetching frOcks and gave me
the pleasure ofsecing an English woman who
knows how 10 dress and look stylish.
When Nj. and Mira. Russ Whital produced
"For Fair Virginia" at the Fifth Avenue
Thcater last spring | was in Europe and
did not have the pleasure of seeing this tai
ented couple in the pretty romantic South
ern play written by Mr. Whytal himself.
They were at the Columbus last week, and
went up to see them.
For Fair Virginia tells in a direct
manner u simple story of the South during
the war. and combines pa tn and comedy in
q charming way. Mrs. Whytal plays the
leading character with intelligence and
force. She has sweet, sympathetic
voice. which has tears in it, nd her pa
thetic work is most effective.
As the play is Mr.. Whytals first attempt
at play writing, it is safe to say that we
may look forward to his future efforts
with interest.
With a dialect which was cross be-
tween 'Jibbernonosy'' and Celtic Henry
Irving inflicted New York with Mac
beth at Abhey's last week His opening
night address, as well a S the many familiar
speeches OF the Thane of Cawdor, was per-
fectly unintelligible, and nobody will ever
know whether it contained thanks or
s'don't mention it's"
When Queen Victoria knighted Henry she
must have struck him speechless, for be-
fore that memorial event to him one was
able to understand at least part of what
he said, but now, alas! his audiences are
helpless without librettos.
Poor, unCiviiZed America possesses ny
number of SirlesS actors who are far su-
perior In ability TO Mr. Irving. but Is / am
not press agent for any of them L will men
tion no names Irving shows us so me fine
stage pictures and some effective witches,
but one can see those in a fifty-cent
Spectacular show. In England tue patron
age of the nobility makes the actor. In
America he must know how to act.
1rvIng's unsuccessful opening predicts a
"farewell tour" and he viii no doubt after
this engagement join Madge and Willie
Eendal in the ranks of English actors
who have worn their welcome out in
over Irving as a stage ma nager, when in
reality lie never staged a piece in his life.
know for a fact that he relies entirely on
q stage manager whose name is never, for
business purposes, allowed 10 appear o n
the programmes.
He reads Irving's part while he re-
hearses the company, arranges all the de-
tails, and Henry strolls into the theater for
the last couple of rehearsals, says VERY
nice, me boy and takes all the credit,
while the real artist takes his salary and
Is never heard of.
This week we are 10 see Mr.. Irving In
liking Arthur and Louis XII" In the
former play Julia Arthur, an American
actress, makes her re-entree before New
York audience. Just at present there are
more English actors and actresses in town
thap ever before at one time, and tn RiaIto
which includes Broadway from Twenty
third to Forty-second street resounds with
The tramp of big British feet.
POINTERS.
Mile. Jane May, a French pantomimIst. and
her company are rehearsing at Daly's The
ater, where they will open November 1s
IN Mile. Pygmalion."
"In Sight of st. Paul" another red hot
English melodrama, was produced at the