The sun., 1896-10-09
UNUSUAL STAGE EXHIBITS
rur u<JINEE OF THE ACTORS
npDEf or FRIENDSHIP'

I~.,rr-A sketch In "hieh "o
n,... Enscted Themselves - News
,s..,n ut weber a. Fieids's Hail.
r.,t hundred actors and nearly rs many
.. o,hIbItcd themselves on the stage OF
49, Academy OF Music yesterday In their street
s,a,ho, and everyday manners This was at
A.. Machining of the entertainment given Tor
a.. honeat of the Actors order OF Friendship
and in a sketch called "on tie Rialto," which
Clny NJ Greene had written for the OCCASION
Tho porticipants gathered in front OF the
KnIckerbocker Theatre and discussed the prof.
ect OF the matinee. Louis Aldrich, William A.
Brady, and Edwin F. Knowles, the committee
men. did most OF the talking, with Joseph
wilkes as an obieotor to every proposition.
Charles Klein was representative OF Ora
matte authorship and VIII A. Mcconnell of
nneruetic exploitation. Maurice Barrymore
and Wilton Lackayo were actors about
20 venture out as stars" in new plays. Aunt
Iooi,a Eldridge appeared rs a chaperon to the
notre.scs Every ono with a speaking part was
supposed TO bo plainly himsef with no assump-
tion OF other than his usual manner. They
wore a highly respectable looking gathering,
With an absence Of foppery and presence of
bu.InessIike solidity among the men, and not
great deal o. gayety OF attire or friskiness OF de-
ueanor among the women. The matter which
Mr., Greene had provided for them related 20 the
preparation aad management OF tho matinee,
with revelations of mannerism for the speakers
and laudatury announcement Oh some OF the
contributors to the show.
The other novelty was the appearance of two
comedians in q tragedy. Tho actors were Will
liam H. Crane and Stuart Robson. and the play
vns "Julius Cpsar." Portions OF the first act
were given, eliminating with tho assassination.
Mr. crane was the Brtuus and Mr.. Robson was
the C1SsiuS. Doubtless there were many in the
audience who expected that Shakespeare would
be subjected to burlesque. All such anticipation
OF fun was disappointed. OF course. and there
was no satisfaction Of any kind in the exploit OF
these actors. who had simply lent their names
and popularity to q promise of diversion that
was not meant to be kept. Mr.. Crane is man
of professional dignity, and he played his part
soberly giving nobody q chance to laugh. Nor
did he warrant any applause. Tho respectable
mediocrity OF his performance measured by lis
market value. was about $50 week. Mr.. Rob-
sou seemed disposed to deal similarly with Cas-
sftS He did not try TO be absurd. On the contrary.
he did his best to prevent the audience from
laughing. He delivered the account of CJsdr's
swimming match with serious elocutionary in
tentions. and carefully correct in all he did,
but his quaint face and odd voice would not be
tragic, and the people laughed at his earnest
be amusing; Mr.. Crane and Mr. Robson are
and their loyal sacrifice IN the cause OF Its treas
ury was praiseworthy. perhaps; bat Ia II not
little like the gold brick game 10 see something
isn't? The people gave hearty welcome to
Mr.. Crane and Mr.. Robson when they came out
SoSldock " who @ Appeared are a. as Co Tesa. e Marie Vain
wright was the Cdlphurntd, aud satisfactory
one, but most of the parts were played very
The matinee began at half past l2 o'clock and
lasted until 8; II contained single acts from
ia!ners from the vaudevilles, Joseph Jefferson
in "Lend, Me Five ,shillings," and She two
so of 14s n or
seats ranged from Sl.5O to $3.50. and many
seats had been sold at much higher rates by
auction. Printed programmes had to be
bought at 25 cents each from actresses in tho
lobby. and these charming coaxers also did q
revenue was neglected. Although the pro-
gramme was six honrs long. the purchase of q
Ses aSas op
as no return checks were given at the door.
Atweper & Fields's Broadway last evening
anew burlesque entitled The Geezer" had its
first performapce., 1t was written BY Joseph Her
bert had many musical numbers by John Strom-
berg and was described In the programme as
"a respectful parody on The Geisha,' now rum
ming at Mr.. Days London and New York thea
tres" few selections from Its long list Of
characters will show that 1t was not close copy
ing: indeed. the widest departures were made
for the purpose Of making fun. Lord Dunrdptng
was at the top of tho list. Then came Ttpo-Ht.
played by Sam Bernard in the costume of a
Chinese laundryman, who spoke his lines in
comcal mixture of German dialect and
"pseon English John T. Kelly was Ii Hung
Chang, and he pursued his usual method of
using an Irish brogue that sounded IL he
had hot potato in his mouth. Four
sailors from the yalkyre were skirtless
women, three ladies of tho nobility danced
briskly In very short skirts and In song told
conviIcinGly that they were models of domes-
ticity and dozen more were about equally
divided between Cel lestials and Westerners.
The nrst act was located in DoyerS street, the
second in China. According to the story, the
Chinese noheman was in this country in search
the Japanese war debt. Why the English yachts.
man was on hand was not explained: he and the
rest rest OK EN- we're there to be comical. at any
plot was not clear IL made no difference. One
song for John 7. Kelly gave to him line of Chi
non OF the refrain; Charles j. Rose sang
az "9out TX kissing, Thomas J, kyans verses told
hatch dcorkn@b, and the love Of a homeless
cod for 9 French sardIne was tuneful in the
.Sa .Snes Of Lillian SWAN; These airs. as we'll as
whistler and the Joking between times
s"Sb. was bsnfS1GV sonG enteraninE Some of tho
5ssau:s Si eoerssness for Vi there pf wa; eDe eDe
HN' 'nat without tnelr CONTEXT ana at
,endant antcs they would seem hope
iessly absurd. But they always gained their
intended effect, und their succession was
ciose enough to keep the fun unfiagging
compared with THE Art OF Maryland" which
The Gee Geeser" succeeded. the new burlesque
was much superior, and the other was deemed
gota got ,e ente.tGtnmsnr. lts Production. was
emu was delayed until close upon mid
plsht, nor was IL 30 thoroughly rehearsed
SUI mat the burlesquers themselves were occa-
slonally moved to laughter. but the delay was
IN stage waits. and the performers will to-mor-
EoT 10Y pe a9Lt to Keep their faces straight This
resort.
Ihat 'hiA would be Maud Adams's last
winter with John Drew was announced some
lime ago. The contract under which Charles
Frohnlan will send her out at the head OF a COM
phny with new play was signed yesterday.
II Is never SAFE to believe that Loie Fuller Is
goiAg to do thing until she gets right at it. but
IL must b. that the news of her engagement 10
dance In China is trustworthy. as It WAS made
pS Counselor Hummel incidentally in court.
fNt the notion that she was hired by Ii Hung
Chang Is peculiar. as the Chinese statesman did
NO, so INTO any theatre while ln America.