The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-11
AMONG THE PLAYfR-foLk
Nhat Has Beea and viii Be In Our
Local Theaters.
GOSSIP OF STAGE FAvORITES
Paragraphs Of News and Comment con.
ceruins the Inhabitants of the Mimic
worid-Auuouneement Of comias
Attractions Theatrical Tidings.


worid-Aunouncsment Of comias
Attractions -Theatrical Tidings
In a breezy letter to the Wilkes Barre
Leader from Kansas city under date
of April Dan Hart remarks: As Pud-
din Head Wilson says: This Is the
day upon which We are reminded of
what we are the other three hundred
and sixty-four days Of the year"
saw that delightful play here last night
and cannot recall "a play which l en-
joyed more. IL proves the falstty of
the laws dramatists have followed for
years. In the four acts and prologue
not one word OF love is spoken. and i'm
the end the evil-doing young man is
not dragged of to punishment. In
every way Frank Mayo has digressed
from the old beaten path. and success
has smiled upon him. The play Is no
more delightful an entertainer than Is
Frank Mayo himself. Seated at a table
in Lohmann's restaurant two years ago
he told me of his intention to give to
the stage one of Mark Twain's sketches.
The story Of the play as told me then
lacked interest. l have never met the
man who could tell Interestingly the
plot OF play. 1t is a hard thing to do.
Ii is like the description Of an oil
painting. Imagination or words can
not supply the expressions or colors.
and all one realizes In the subject.
remember Mr. Mayo explaining the
thumb mark scheme, and frankly told
him that thought u serious interest
could not be built around such u SEEM
ingiy comedy subject. This man of
forty years experience looked at me
kindly and said: You may know more
about II than l do. yet l Will attempt
to build u play around that theme.
He let ME down easy. If l knew one
fiftieth AZ much about play building as
does Frank Mayo. would be happy.
Yet l attempted to advise him. There
are two subjects upon which every man
can give advice--writing plays and run.
ming newspaper. What matters 1t II
he cannot tell an editorial from per-
sonal. or 4 comedy from u comedy
drama? He will drag a fellow into
hallway on n windy night and proceed
to give him the benefit Of his experience
of reading newspapers and selling plays.
Why il 1t we never advise the carpen-
ter, the plumber or the telegraph ope-
rator? Yet we will advise the dramat-
ist and the editor
Mr.. Hart. noticing that Mantell has
a new play called THE Queens Gar
ter" wants to know where these play
building fellows are going to stop We
have had" says he. 1.-The Queens
Lace Handkerchief The Queens
Necklace and now the garter. How
would The Queens Boomers do? No
use. The line must be drawn some-
where. ] saw the garter play In Gin
cinnati I was not impressed with Its
moral, even II brainy Espy Williams.
the most pious Of dramatists, did build
It, At the end Of one of the four acts
King Henry w. sits himself down to
think. Kings always do large amount
of thinking In plays, and as the task Is
so brain-wearing they conclude always
after thinking to cut off some fellows
head to prevent further thinking all
around. King Henry ". is novel. He
arises after bowling his crested head to
slow music and an enthusiastic gal
lery, and then loudly proclaims: Gen
tlemen of the court, there has been a
turn in the affairs of men. No more
singing in the moonlight before me
lady's chamber to win her heart. No!
the way now to win woman's love Is
to steal her garter" That line is night
ly spoken to a delighted audience by
stately king. and is but a sample of
what Is creeping into plays nowadays.
ANtNl SCdsOh pay "Ai6hto, = SuPpc'Ss
will all give advice on how to win a
woman's love. As I write I can see
Steve Brodie standing in a glare Of
red light, proclaiming to his pals:
'Ye're dead wrong mugs. De way to
win de lady's love is to chew her ear
Sect"
The history of Robin Hood" Is so
we'll known that little remains to be
told. 1t Is the most successful light
opera ever produced. 1t was brought
to light June 3. 1890. at the Chicago
opera house, where II met with imme-
diate success. and since that time has
been sung In all the important cities Of
the country. No other opera ever pro-
duced by the Bostonians met with such
favor. As 1t was especially written for
this organization, equal opportunities
are offered all the artists, and its
charming melodies and quaint whole
some humor stamped 1t as out of the
ordinary. robin Hood" has earned In
gross receipts nearly s2,00O,0OO, and
these figures demonstrate beyond all
cavil that on the lyric stage, as well as
the dramatic, those works which are
pure in tone. wholesome in atmosphere
and inoffensive in representation. bring
out that element which is rarely seen
within the portals of the theater. 1t
| will be sung by the BOstonians ut the
Academy Of Music tonight.
Margaret Mather will probably play
to large business at the Academy Tues
day, April IL. when she presents Shake
speare's great masterpiece. Romeo
| and Juliet" too long absent from our
boards. When the name of Shake
speare Is announced, We feel somewhat
like the prodigal son returning to his
own once more, for surely our theater-
going public have ipdulged in a long
| spree of burlesque and vaudeville and
| theatrical concoctions impossible to
name appropriately. Miss, Mather Is
an actress whose powers have wide
scope; she has in the last few years
| played parts ranging all the way from
Joan or Arc to Nance Oldfield. and in
selecting her present bill she has chos.
ell one of the most eXacting roles, in all
| of which she has been most signally
successful. Everything will be done
with that elaborateness and care for
, details that Is a characteristic of our
times. Frederick Paulding, heads Miss
Mather's support, which includes the
| names Of many other sterling actors.
| Magnificent new scenery and costumes
| will be used in this production. Miss
Matler also has In her company six
beautiful young ladies for the minuet:
in fact. nothing will be left undone to
make this memorable engagement
"The Gladiator" Saumet's grand he
roic tragedy. will be given here at the
| Academy of Music OH Thursday next
By the famous American tragedian.
Robert Downing. and u large and cap
able company. headed by the charming
leading lady, Eugene Blair. The