The record-union., 1896-10-11
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mouse Will presently take his stock COM
pany 'on the road" for a week and
Dig morse show will occupy the stage
OF the opera-house.
Marie Dressler thus chatters of one
line Of art methods: Just a little
ught,' is a song taken from the old
opera of La Perichole," in which |
played many years ago, and which
Miss Russell has often given so sue
cessfully. People always liked the
song, and the situation which it marks
In the opera is exceedingly taking.
La Perichole, as everybody knows, is
an ordinary sort Of girl, but full OF
airy graces, and in her way attractive.
gentleman tries to make love to her,
but to his chagrin does not succeed.
Then it occurs to him to make the
poor girl tipsy. So he lavishly pours
out wine, and with each glass the girl
gets just a little more jolly, but never
30 far forgets herself as to succumb to
her companions destinations. After
all the wine, all that La Perichole
will admit is that she is ''just little
tight
/ give her expression as she says
this. She is making an absurd little
grimace, giving her eyes saucy turn,
and has pulled her hat down over one
ear just enough to make her look Ii
tie tough but fetching. She is lit
tie rogue, and never really gets so tight
that she does not know what she is
about
/ have been asked how I happened to
make so much of the part and the situ-
alton, but that is rather hard to tell. OF
course it is my own creation, as all my
parts have been. For instance, in ''The
Lady Slavey" I originated every TAX
ing phrase and situation. The play had
almost nothing in it when / began to
work at it.
When La Perichole" was given to
me there was only the mere skeleton of
a part which I had to embody in my
own conception. Yet / cannot say that /
really made a study of it, for I have
never done an hours studying for the
stage beyond learning my parts.
If it had been a question of studying
the part, of going about and watching
tipsy girls and getting their attitudes
and expressions and then spending
hours before the glass or with trainer
getting the whole thing up, I should
never have done it. That is not my
way.
/ was taken with the part, tried it
and made a hit and that is the whole
story. When I went upon the stage
and lost myself in the character and
the play, realizing, of course, all the
time that the audience was watching
me, the right expressions, infections
and gestures seemed to come to me of
themselves.
The New York Herald" opens its war
fare on big hats in these words: 'It is
the sHerald's' purpose to try to per-
suade women to lay aside their big,
towering hats in the theater-
1t is not proposed to raise a hue
and cry on the subject, or even to try
TO be facetious at woman's expense II
is simply to put the question fairly and
scuarely before woman, who is never
More tractable or more easily persuaded
than when approached with respect and
admiration. 1t Is not contended that
the tall ribboned and feathered hats
referred to are not becoming and beau
tiful. Were the theater only lawn
the actors trees and the stalls garden
chairs, nothing could be lovelier than
the sight presented by waving plumes
pompons. But unhappily, the theatel
is a place In which a clear and unob.
structed view of the stage is Of para
mount Importance. Without such ar
open line of vision, the best efforts o1
the artists, whether of a high or low
degree, are lost to the audience"
A New Orleans paper, speaking or
tlxr ha6 hi ff
say: THE high hat law is being very
generally observed by the lady patrons
of the local theaters. Yesterday after
loon during the matinee at the st
Charles Theater there was but one
woman who defied the mandate of the
Legislature. The hat really did seen
out Of place in the big audience, com
posed almost entirely Of ladies, all OF
whom were bare headed, and the bis
black plume waved vigorously, as Il
Inspired by the defianceof the wearer
There was the hat, and there was the
feather, and scores of wondering ewes
gazed at the now unusual sight, while
every moment it was expected that 9
big policeman would march down the
ailse with copy of the anti high hat
statute. The policeman didn't put in ar
appearance, and the hat remained, tow
eIing above everything and enjoying &
degree Of distinction which must have
been extremely delightful to the
wearer."
1t is Wagner. Wagner everywhere
Paris is to add two of his operas to the
repertory next season, Mr.. Grau will
make the ''Walkure," "Siegfried," anc
Tristan" the star operas Of the New
York Season, and the "Allemeine Musil
Zeitung" of Berlin says that for tht
next London season he contemplates &
complete Wagner cycle, being already il
negotiation with German singers. Mr.
Grau Will do we'll TO remember that hi:
predecessor Harris, who had 2,00(
persons to manage, died Of overwork
In London Mr. Grau will have rival IL
the Carl Rosa Company, which is nov
deyoting it's best energies to the produc
ton Of Wagners operas and music
dramas in English versions. The Lon
don Daily News" in a article on th'
late Augustus Harris, said: He saw
there was money in Wagner, and M
gave us Wagner-not indeed, as TIT
Germans have it. but well enough TO
our demand" With Jean de Reszke ant
Seidl at his elbow, Mr. Grau has now
chance to give these operas, not onl!
las the Germans have them, but bet
ter, il he will give carte blanche 10 Mr.
Seidl to arrange everything as the Wag
nerites want it, They are nothing !
not critical the Wagnerites, as Mr. Graz
knows to his cost, but If he Will pleas
them they will fill his Golfers gladly.