The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-27
THIS WEEK ON OUR STAGE.
NOW THE TBElTREs PASS FROM
TEE OLD YEAR INTo THE NEW.

The Empire Stock Company In " Under the
Red Robe"-L,nin Russell In "An Amer
ear Beauty NJ Irwin IN "Courted
Hnto Court,'-The Now "Dorcns.'-Unu-
suniiy InterestinE Changes of Bills.
This week carries tho theatres from the old
year into the new. 1t is q good time to-day to
look over the bills. not only with a view to
choosing holiday entertainment, but to be en-
Outraged by the present condition of the stage.
II will DO found that no pernicious play Ii just
now offered to the public. There is fun and
frolic, as there should - and there is
nonsense. but hardly an appreciable amount
OF even the foolish matter Is reprehen-
sible. Those who demand artistic dignity In
their theatrical entertainment need not search
far or long to ind II In abundance. The average
grade OF plays. and of the performances, too. Is
something to be proud OF, because diversion Is
provided in such great variety. and with 30
little of improperly.
The stock company maintained these eight
years by Charles Frohman almost deserves to
lose its standing asa New York body, so much
has Il been an absentee, but II will be at homo
at the Empire tomorrow night, after about
eight months Of travel. Its return will be
marked by tho first production In this country
Of Under the Red Robe" Tho popular book
ny Sthuioy "oyhhh rcihsniOueu INV
n play by Edward Rose, who did that kind of q
Job so we'll with "TheP Prisoner OF Zenda.' OF
course, the story Of tho bravo and ad adventurous
hero is told again without essential alteration.
His mission from Cardinal Richelfeu 10 fraught
with the same perils and emotions. 1t 10 I'M
likely that the dramatiet has sacrificed any of
the romantic spirit of the novellst's work. But
It Is said that Mr.. Rose, In making tho drama,
has devised now material for the first act. in
-
William Faversham has the role Of the knight
Grant and Viola Allen that of the heroine. or
course. we shall see the piece finely mounted.
Lillian Russell will be expected to justify the
title of a musical play at the Casino tomorrow
night. That title is A American Beauty"
That she will look the part is past doubt 1t is
said that she is in good voice and so will sing
well. Tho new piece is the work Of Hugh Nor
ton as to words and Gustave Kerker as to the
music. These experts have undertaken to pro-
vide a role In which Miss Russell shall be both
seen and heard to the best possible advantage.
1t is further understood that George w. Lederer
has had a guiding hand in the preparations. The
play departs from the rut of comic opera, and
goes into q depletion of life here and now.
Two acts are located at Newport, and in
cludc a garden gathering of fashionable folks,
and n larger assemhlage at a circus ball, where
Miss Russell figures as n gayly-garbed queen of
the arena. After showing things at Newport In
what is promised shall be veritable copies as to
scenery. the play crosses the ocean to Monte
Carlo for a third act. There is expectation of q
good company and a handsome production.
May Irwin and John J. McNaily have worked
together for q number of years to make people
laugh, he by writing farces and she by acting
in them. Their new joint effort is entitled
"Courtel Into Court" and its qualities will be
or trial at the Bijou on Tuesday night. The
character which Mr.. McNally has provided
this time for Miss Irwin to disport
in is that of an actress. who lnarries a
fashionable fellow. has sharp encounters with
her mother-in-law, and carries the family row
into court. One scene contains q jolly supper
given by the bride to her stage friends and their
congenlal comrades. and another represents q
divorce trial. The plan of the piece provides
reasonable places for songs and dances. 1t is
said that n strong and probably successful effort
has been made to get a lot OF new ballads as
takingly humorous as those which helped tho
diversion greatly In The Widow Jones'"
John G. Rice and Joseph Sparks are still Miss
Irwiu's very helpful companions, and the COM
pany is the same that 1t was last winter.
A new musical comedy named "Dorcas" will
be presented at tomorrow nights reopening of
the theatre in Olympia. Its authors are Harry
and Edward Paultop, father and son. and. as It
was they who wrote "Erminie" and "Niobe,"
1t is fair to always expect something amusing
when they put forth a play. They describe the
present piece as "a comic opera without q
chorus" and add that It will be given with all
the accessories which characterize the produc-
ton of comic opera" The central idea of the
plot is that a man and a woman, having been
matched to marry. and yet are strangers, de-
eide to learn all about each other before going
to the matrimonial altar together. To that
end. and neither suspecting what the other
is doing. they assume fictitious names.
and have o comic time OF 1t while getting &C.
quainted. The period is at the end of the last
century. and English lords and ladies arc the
principal characters. That permits of pic
t~uresaue costuming. The company includes
Eva Davenport, Drew Donaldson. Charles g
Russell. and William Broderick.
We shall get at the Irving Place on Thursday
the original German play from which His Alb
sent Boy " was translated into English. Its title
in German is Der Rabenvater." The fun OF It
arises from a henpecked and uncircumspect
husbands dilemma when. after he has drawn
money for twenty five years for the support of
O mythical son, he Is confronted by his wife's
determination to discover and adopt the absent
fellow. The first half of the week will be occu-
pied by u continuation of 1.-THE Spendthrift-"
The theatrical bills include many that now
pass into q final week. One of them is "A Fool of
Fortune" at the Fifth Avenue. where William
H.. Cranes annual engagement has made its
usual addition to his portrait gallery OF Amer
lean characters. As a typical Wall street stock
speculator. he is notably true and entertaining.
and. besides that, he Is doing some excellent
serious acting. as well as exploiting humor.
This is II. Beerbohm Trees last week at tho
Knicksrbocksr. and he will devote most OF 1t to
"A Bunch of Violets." the play In which he
introduced himself strongly to us last year.
The other revivals to be made before HIS Sat
urday night farewell are Hamlet" and The
Dancing Girl" Mr.. Tree will 20 away with his
reputation increased for versatile ability In act
ing. and for artistic taste in managing.
A third highly esteemed actor who will de-
part from us after this week Is Richard Mans
Gold. and he will give on Saturday night a dem
onstration of his versatility in distinct char
acterization by assuming roles in five plays.
Tho bill Is made up of portions of Prince
Karl" beau Brummell." "A Partisan Ro-
no.,oa " s.Richard TIT ~ and UDr Jeky vii opd