The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-23
TOPICS OF THE THEATRE.
WoMEN PLAT FOOTBALL To MAKE
MIDNIGHT OLYMPIA Fun.

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Tho Coierinns' Game Buriesquod in tho
Presence of "a Boisteroua Crowded. Mis-
taken Idea About Dendheads on open.
Ing Nights-Nows OF the Foreign stage.
A timely IL not admirable addition to tho
Olympia's midnight ball on Saturday was q
game of football. Women were tho players.
seven on n side, ono group having a blue ""
on the front OF their black sweaters, and the
others similarly placardod with n yellow "P."
Below tho sweaters were the padded White
knickerbockors and black stockings. A player
on n Princeton team of several years ago acted
as referee, and attaches of tho resort
served in the double capacity of umpires
and mentors. For, though the women had
plainly been rehearsed. there still was
need OF coaching of a sort not common in games
between collegions. The teams were lined up
In the centre of the cleared space in the roof
garden n few minutes before IL o'clock. and In
two minutes after the scramble began the repre-
scntativcs of Princeton had carried the ball for
ward to the end Of the floor, and had banged 1t
against the goal posts. knocking them flying.
Thereafter two men held the posts In place. In
the rushes that followed, the contest at times
was rough on the players. Ono or two Of them
went In on the knock -down-and-draR-out princi-
pie, and when one of these had seized the holder
of the ball. and thrown her to tho floor, the
others would promptly Join in the fracas. and
by the time tho umpires succeeded in making
an Impression, from six to ten OF the
women would BIO sprawling in a heap.
Now and then an ambitious player would
and a quarter OF the distance between
the goal posts was thus made several
came TO grief as the protesting nucleus OF a
wriggl'ng mass of, white knickerbockers and
had several Chances to oS do or die. and at the
name time be distinguished from the others.
Three times IN the course Of the game she
twice catching il and throwing it back. Each
catch was ,skilful; each throw was, comical.
over the balls staying in her hands, but hor OPP
ponents were struck quite as helpless, and ut
nifty to throw. With the ball in both hands.
she swung 1t back OF her on n level with her
shopidsrs and Let II go with a right womaniy
ten feet away, among the struRglers, and finally
trotted back 70 her position before the goal.
smiling with the consciousness Of laurels won.
Both squads played with uuremitting zcst. and
though it seemed as 1; bruises were resulting.
there were neither surrenders by nor waits for
The crowd filled the big floor so full that the
cleared space was occasionally encrouched
upon. and they howled and cheered. Long before
the audiences In theatre and music hall had
been released TO swell the multitude the roof
rang with concerted college cries. and until
Just before midnight. when the band played
- Home Sweet Home" the racket steadily in
and three fourths Of the women were in the
boxes or gallery. Men stood on chairs and
tables and climbed tho ornamental posts and
E%ailings, but whether standing or sitting they
howled without let-up. Now and then IN over
OF glasses and chairs mingled with the hu6bub.
the floor sat contentedly at obscure tables and
banged the boards with beer mugs. One rowdy
threw a glass among the football players, but
he was roundly Kissed, for. aside from a few
jollity. AT midnight the entire floor was filed
with men. "A small circle being cleared here and
choking with smoke. and moisture condensed
from the inside atmosphere dripped here and
there.
Somebody writes to The SUN asking. why
do not the managers, when they produce n new
play. invite a selected houseful of real admirers
aud appreciators OF the drama, intead OF filling
the theatres with a promiscuous crowd of
This inquirer seems laboring
under misinformation. He calls attention &c
tho fact that no less than four new dramas are
TO he presented simultaneously in Broadway
theatres q week from tomorrow night, and he
" assumes that the usual method of stufinR
the houses with no-account deadheads will be
employed" The numbeDof New Workers who
like to be present at the trial of a promising
new play is quite sufficient to provide q CASH
paying audience. In many instances every
available seat is sold q week or two beforehand.
heads only when the expectation of entertain
ment is faint. The four dramas alluded to rs
ss' a sSS sa sGa .n sirh nF' are re" RI ! Rtk ssals Of tSs
with I; Bs 81 Tar,. Tree !. 9Th al The w knisS,
II. Crane at the Fifth Avenue; Castle SOM
and The Chill Widow, with Arthur, Bour-
CHER at the Bijou. And. besides these absolute
novelties, London Assurance" will have Ada
Rehan as its heroine for the first time ut Days.
heads of AM. sort will be scarce at these per-
formances: However. it would be money in the
together and agreed upon scattering the pro.
duc;ions through the week; BY giving them all
viii be- Scattered a and pSbiic attention viii be
divided. 1t Is usualt to avoid such u great con-
Of dates as this.
Mary Mannering, who is TO be seen this season
a. one of the three leading ladies" Of the Ly-
eeum Theatre stock company, has acted In the
English provinces under the name of Eyylen
She is q pupil of Herman Vein.
The production OF .Trilby" at the Garden
of at Palmer's Theatre is said to have
boon a matter in which Mr.. Palmer had very !
little to say. Paul Potter. who adapted the novel
for the stage, is said to have insisted that the
drama be presented there. as he believed the
chances Of success greater in that theatre.
Tonight. in Boston, Olga Nethersole will be
seen In a play of the French revolution made
by Joseph HAtton out of his novel called "Ths
Roll Of the Drum" There was an old piece Of
this same period in French history, and with
this title. acted years ago In New York. Tho
play Is now called "A Daughter OF France" 1t
has been remod elled to make more conspicuous
the role to be played By Miss Nethersole. The
play is known in England under the title When
Meets Greek"
Charles w. Couldock. who has been acting In
Wilton Lack company. has decided To re-
turn to his daughters home III New York aud
make no further appearance on the stage. lie
10 ~ years old and very deaf. His last regular
were made la the noisy melod rama
Humanity" but the explosions were too much
for his nerves. He has II small annuity secured
20 him as the result OF the famous performance
The Rivals, given for his benefit ten years
ago. He Is a familiar ngure at, the theatres.
One night lart winter he sat In the first row Of
seats watching Sarah Bernhardt In
Camille" In spite of his half century of stage
life, no wcpt like a child at the pathetic scenes
OF the play.
Samuel Rorle. who is A. VI. Palmer's repre-
here. went to Chicago on Saturday
night TO confer with him. 1t was said 1T tho
theatre that Mir. Palmer was not expected in
New York for several days.
Maude Adams is an actress who has won her
- Al and ia Hrpnis nturaH 4 N mn hlIr ea~anl |