The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-05-03
THE DEVIL TOOK THE THEATER.
CLOSED BY FAUST
WITH A BLAZE or FIREWORKS.


Care of His Own-The Ghost to
Have His Last Walk sunday Night
and the work OF DemoIishing the
Old Thcater to BegiD on Monday.
The improvements TO Cost Over
So. OOO-Mr. }. c. shaw Will BE
Manager.
The Oldest theater in the United States
was professionally closed last night with
the production of Faust" by MT. Lewis
Morrison's admirable troupe of players
The circumstances of the closing were
by no means uniting for the occasion.
The house was crowded from pit to dome.
The gallery gods would have done honor
to a bowery theater. The pit and dress
| circle we're filed with the elite of Savan-
nah society 1t is by no means an ordi-
nary thing that 1854 worth of audience has
! been gathered within its modest walls,
yet such was the case last night and
! that amount represented about 1850 peo-
pie exclusive of those who had ID. II.
marked on their tickets.
! 1t is rather a remarkable fact that
! theater II years old. and one from whose
! stage resounds the echoes of the voices
and footsteps of Americas most famous
actors and singers should in its declining
hours be taken possession of by the devil
Such a termination of it's career, how
ever. it seems was not unwelcome to Sa-
| Vannah theater-goers.
! Mr. Morrison and his troupe on short
tour through the south, have had the
! pleasure and honor of opening Greenwalis
new Lyceum theater in Atlanta, and no
/ doubt the same degree OF honor ana
| pleasure were enjoyed on this occasion.
The troupe appeared with the following
Mephisto (his original creation) Lewis
Morrison.
Sycorax (witch)...... Miss Emma Mardoe
| Zendoe (witch), ..........M Miss Marie Thai
MORTALS.
! Valentine, Marguerttes brother. Porter
| J. White.
/ Siebel ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. j. Han
| Wagner (studenO, .......... Edward Wade
| Brander (studenO, ........ Chas. G.. Taylor
! Altmayer (studenO, ........A d. Foudray
| Martha ............-...M Mrs. Nelson Nneass
Lisa ...................M MISS Alieen oeItetle
| Elsie ...................Alis Miss Lillian Armsby
/ Marguerite Miss Florence Roberts
1t may be said with truth that the old
theater closed with blaze of fireworks.
! Faust is noted for its brilliant and merry
| scenic effects many of which are pro-
| duced by well arranged electrical appar-
atus, and In the Broken scene the blaze
| of fire is startling and appropriate to the
| region represented. Mr.. Morrison was, or
course, the central figure in the perform
| ance, his Mephisto being part which he
| has studied practically to perfection. He
was ably assisted by Miss Florence Rob
| erts who appeared as Marguerite, and Mr..
| Edward Elsner as Faust. In fact, the en-
| tire cast was up to the standard which
made the performance artistic and excel
lent
Mr.. Morrison was several times called
before the curtain. 1t was al the conclusion
| of the Broken scene, with its startling eff
| fects, that the applause was prolonged
and loud. He was called before the cur
tain second time, and a speech was asked
for.
Mr.. Morrison responded most graceful
| ly to the calls. He had hoped, he said,
that some Savannahian would be heard
from on the occasion of the professional
closing of the oldest theater in the Unit
ed States, but as it seemed it had fallen
to his lot to speak of it he was proud of
it. 1t gave him pleasure, he said to APP
pear at tie Savannah theater on this oc-
casion. He referred to Savannah as the
most beautiful city in the south, a. speech
that was warmly applauded. Mr.. Morri-
son said he had been playing Faust in Sa-
Vannah for about seven years, and the
performance had always been greeted by
large audiences
The devil, you know, always takes care
of his own he said. Whenever l come to
your city always drive out to your beau
! tiful cemetery and rest 1 was not born
in Savannah. but it may be that some day
l Will indeed rest there. You are soon
to have new and handsome theater
one of the handsomest that will be found
IN the south. l shall be with you again
next season, l trust, if life lasts, and if
| life doesn't last, why and he gave a
significant glance at his mephistOphical
costume and retired midst prolonged ap-
plause.
The ghost will walk in the old theater
for the last time next Sunday night. This
IS the proverbial ghost that has Inhabited
its old walls for years TOn Monday the
now owners of the theater will begin the
work of demolition, and within few
short days the building will be Quilted
from Drayton TO Bull street. The rear
wall tho two side walls and small part
OF the roof are all that will be left, and
these are to be used a frame work or
structure for the new house.
The new proprietors of the theater, with
the architect of the new building, MT.
Frank Cox, went over the building from
garnet to cellar yesterday, and Mr.. 4.
Weis. the treasurer and general manager
of the Cireenwall Theatrical Circuit Com
pany, made several suggestions to the
architect with regard to additional i'm
| provements to be made. Mr. Weis said
last night that the improvements to be
put upon the building would cost be-
tween $4,000 and $4,000, which is consid-
erably more than was at first contemplate
ed. The changes in the plans have been
finally decided on, and are in substance
as was stated in Yesterdays Morning
News. The entrance VIII be placed at the
Huh street corner, the floor of the theatel-
will be lowered. the lobby and interior Will
De handsomely nnlsneu, ana Ine seatlng
capacity viii be made about 1,SOo, with Il
good line of sight between the stage and
every seat IN the building.
1t has been finally settled that Mr.. J.
c. Shaw is to be manager of the new the
alter. He has for a long time been the
popular travelling passenger agent of the
/ 1GHlIdl FdllIOdd ne mas d Aiuc dC2ludln-
tance among theatrical people. and the
appointment will afford qualification to
all who are interested in the success of
the new enterprise.
The production of Faust necessitates the
use of a large amount of special scenery.
This scenery did not arrive at the the
alter until 1880 O'Clock, but Stage Manager
Hamilton and his efficient corps of stage
men had ii in place and ready for the
curtain to ring up about S:45 o'clock. They
have been in the business a long time
and know how to hustle when it is neces-
sary.
Not 81, But 800.
In the advertisement of Messrs r II