The herald., 1896-12-06

matinee, that powerful romantic pay
Darkest Russia. will be seen.
This most successful attraction for
four seasons has held front rank in
public favor and each season it grows
more attractive. Darkest Russia is
from the pen of H. Grattan Donnelly
who has drawn an interesting picture
of Muscovite rule, and in every way the
play is different from any other treating
on the same theme. Ii depicts the sub
jects of the cZar and their character
istics, and the contrast between the no.
bles and the peasants is we'll shown, as
we'll as the far-reaching power of the
secret police.
A story of Russia surrounded by an
air of romance and secrecy, as this coun-
try is, is always listened to with rapt
attention, for there are many ways in
which the story can be varied and yet be
based upon authentic incidents. The
many different phases of character to
be found among the millions of people
under the rule of one who is accountable
to none for his actions. the cZar, make
tales from this peculiarly governed
country particularly interesting to the
people of America, and there Is probably
play to be produced in the face of such
decided opposition as was advanced to
the United States government upon the
first appearance of the play, by Russian
consuls and others, who considered it
to be too vivid an exposition of Russian
methods. In every way it is strong and
carries the closest attention from the
opening to the closing scene 1t is built
on original lines, and the story is told in
an attractive and pleasing manner, with
a stratum of spirited comedy running
merrily through it, All the characters
are strong, but none more so than Sep
timus Cobb, the jolly, lght-hearted
American colonel from Kentucky and
the captivating young German widow,
the Baroness Won Rhineberg, who as the
fun-makers win and continuously hold
delighted attention. The plot deals with
the undying devotion of young colonel
of the imperial guard, a son of noble
man, for a young woman, the daughter
of an exile and hater of the czar.
Through the plottings of an intriguing
nobleman of the court, both are sem
fenced to Siberia. The incident on which
the play is founded is stirring one. A
maiden, an accomplished violinist, re-
fuses to play the national air of Russia,
God Save the Car, and when demanded
to play breaks the instrument in the face
of exile. Darkest Russia is lavishly
staged and costumed The scenes are
accurate reproductions and many fea-
lures are utilized in handling the ever
changing pictures Most particularly is
this shown in the revolving scene in the
last act when the entire setting of the
governor generals office is transformed,
in full view of the audience, to the snow
laden plains, showing the exile IN his
march to the mines. The company is
large and strong one and is better than
any which has heretofore made up the
cast. The usual matinee Will be given.
ORPHEUM.-Com is the only word
that rightly characterizes the new bill
at the Orpheum this week-vaudeviIie
comedy, the most popular entertainment
among Americans. And of this there
will be great abundance, for the bill in
cludes five new turns, together With two
of the biggest successes of last week.
1t will be roaring show, beginning
with laugh and ending with perfect
tumult. There has never before been
a purely comedy program on the boards
at this house, and never but once as
many new features on single program.
An unprecedented array of vaudeville
talent, the show is billed, and deserved
ly so, for there is not a theater in the
country that offers as attractive bill.
Comparing the Orpheum program with
those of Tony Pastors. Hammerstein's
Roster & Biars, Keiths, Proctor's or
any other of the great vaudeville houses
in the east, it will be found that the
Orpheum card includes more artists and
changes oftener than any. In compari-
son, our local theater stands ahead, not
alone in the matter of amusement, but
in the prices charged for admission.
These advantages were never more ex-
emplified than in the present show.
At the head of the list appears the
familiar name of Burt Shepard, who for
years has ben known as one of the lead
Ing minstrels in the world. Shepard will
be great feature and will contribute
more to the enjoyment of the patrons of
the Orpheum than any one who has ap-
peared here in months. He is an artist
in the strictest sense of the word and
a funmaker from the word go. When
ever Shepards name appears on a bill
there is a guarantee of at least one good
turn, and it is safe to predict for him
rousing big hit.
More fun is yet to come, for Lewis and
Elliott are also on the program, and
there is some assurance in that. They
are renowned sketch artists, with a rep
utation for creating merriment and a
novel act that makes people laugh in
spite OF themselves. From the east,
where they are widely known, come
many fiattering accounts of their work,
from among which the following is taken
from the New York Journal: "Then
came Lewis and Elliott original comedy
duo, who kept the audience in good hu-
NOR for twenty minutes. Their funny
sayings, especially in the burlesque
drama, where Mr.. Lewis wants to poison
Miss Elliott with a Frankfurter saus-
age and roll, was really one of the hits
of the evening"
Their latest creation. The Upper Ten
and Lower Five, is said to be the most
humorous vaudeville sketch produced Of
late years.
Ed Heffernan will add a gay feature
to the evenings entertainment with his
Irish dialect monologue. Heffernan is
what theatrical managers term a top
liner. and he is usually billed as the
leading attraction. He is big feature
and will doubtless take a high place in
popular favor.
More comedy will be furnished by the
two clever sketch artists, Charles and
May Morrell. They are a rafting good
team, with breezy sketch, made up of
bright specialties and excellent music
They are both great banjoists and will
add not a little to the amusement faciI-
tiles of the show.
Finally. there are the two Arabs
Ibachi and Masaud Manager Walters
latest European novelty, who are said
to be two of the worlds greatest aero
bats and hand balancers. They are high