The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-03

Last night was a profitable one for
the theaters, and for theater-goers,
too, If the attractions at the Frothing-
ham and the Academy of Music count
for anything.
At the former place of amusement
De Wolf Hopper and his Eel Captain"
company kept the applause ringing
from as large an audience as the thea
ter would hold, and the Sages and their
mesmeric feats did much the same at
the Academy. which also was filled.
Eel Captain" Is all that has been
claimed for it, The vast audience that
occupied every seat in the theater and
much of the standing room went To
see Hopper. Some later day 1t wiii
again go to see not only Hopper, but
his dashing little wife and "El Capi-
tan" The big singing comedian long
ago made his hit with scranton; In fu-
ture in this city he will have to share
honors with Edna Wallace and his
latest medium of comic opera tomfool-
cry, which Is no other than a great
success. That was the opinion Of the
audience If the real continuous" ap-
plause and apparent favor from the
audience is any criterion. Hopper,
Edna wallace and "El Captain" are a
strong triumvirate.
the big star and his wife. Its dash and
swing Of Sousanic rythm, the oppOr-
tunity for his inimitable comedy and
her grace. sweetness. vivacity and ab-
sence of blase Dellaism were all inter-
woven in a way that pleased. The
opera is staged ad lib. Its costuming
is something new and depends upon
picturesqueness for appreciation rather
than upon spangles and limbdom. The
scheme requires no settings, but their
absence was more than compensated
by the fine scenery Of the three acts
and only as many scenes. Its one
startling departure from old operate
ideas was the absence of ballet or
concert dancing of any kind and like
wise of the scant attire and lace which
has heretofore been adjudged neces-
sary. What little dancing there was,
appeared among the principals on only
two occasions and then as an accom-
paniment to the Zanzibar" topical
song.
SYNOPSIS OF THE PLAY.
Briefly, "El Captain" is "Medigua,"
or Hopper-very much of him. He is
viceroy of Spanish province in Peru
and an arrant coward. a rebellion
among his subjects causes him to dis
appear as viceroy and to turn up as
"El Captain" in the ranks of the in
surgent army, where he fights against
himself until reinforcements from
Spain restores him to power. Mean
while he captivates Estrelda EDNA
Walace) the daughter of the insurgent
leader, her finance and Mediguas wife
in their strife for his affection furnish
the source of much of the operas COM
edy. Alfred Klein, as Pozzo, the cham
bcrlain, who Is palmed off on the in
surgents as the viceroy, becomes
tangled in much trouble and Is one Of
the humors of the plot.
Miss Wallace will never be accused
of being other than parlor singer, but
she is refreshing and sparkling and an
artistic relief from her predecessor in
the Hopper companies. The real sing
ers of "El Captain" are Nella Bergen
as Medigna's daughter, Edmund
Stanley as Count Venada, a Peruvian
nobleman, and the en- semble chorus.
John Parr Is a good looking and grace
full Scaramba. and Estrella couldn't be
criticised for her regard for him. Alice
Hosmer as the blue -blooded spouse Of
the viceroy was clever. The remain
der of the support was also excellent.
If "El Captain" comes again, it will
be royalty greeted.
After the second act the audience
would not permit Hopper to respond
with others of the company to its cur
tain call. HI was forced to show
himself unattended and made one Of
Casey At the Bat"
AT THE ACADEMY.
At 9.45 o'clock, to the very minute,
as promised, Hypnotist Sage last night
in the Academy awakened Frederick
j. Williams. who on Monday night was
put into cataleptic sleep and exhibit
ed for forty-eight hours in the win
dow of Dunn's hat store, on Wyoming
avenue. At the time appointed the
subject was carried on to the stage at
tired In dressing gown and wrapped
in the quilt which had covered him
on the cot which formed his resting
place in the store window.
Five men caught hold Of him to keep
him from straining or otherwise in
juring himself while going through the
involuntary contortions induced by the
relaxation of the muscles as he
emerged from the cataleptic state.
Then Sage started to rouse him. First
he passed his hands over the subjects
brow and then commenced clapping his
hands In close proximity to the sleep
er's ear, shouting to him at the same
time You're awake" You're all
right You're awake" Wake up
here"
Soon the subject began to respond to
the hypnotic power and in a few mo-
ments was squirming and twisting so
violently that 1t was all the five men
who were holding him could do to keep
him from getting away from the chair,
on which they were vainly endeavor-
Ing to keep him in q sitting posture.
After about a minute Of this suuirm-
ing the subject suddenly ceased his
struggling. relaxed his muscles and
smilingly assured his captors that they
might rust him to behave himself
They released him and after rubbing
his eyes he gazed out on the audience
and bowed his Acknowledgements Of the
applause which greeted the wonderful
act.
He then walked briskly over to the
scales and was weighed by H. U.
Hopewell. who was on Monday night
selected by the audience to be weigh
master. Mr.. Hopewell announced that
Williams tipped the beam at 129
pounds which he said was six pounds
less than he weighed before going into
his long sleep and fast. Monday night
Mr. Sage then read the affidavit Of the
three citizens who watched over Will.
Jams during his sleep and who affirmed
that he neithel partook of food or
drink. awoke or showed any signs of
consciousness since he was placed un-
der their surveillance Monday night.
Williams was not what might be
called ravenously hungry after his long
fast. He first partook of boiled milk |
then some wine, then milk toast and
followed it UP after a short interval
with an ordinary meal. In two or
three days at the most. he says, he will
have regained his former weight AL |
though giving this same exhibition ev-
cry other week he AYERS that he never |
enjoyed better health or spirits than |
at present.
The other features of the Sage's per-
formance. particularly the balloon as
cension. were provocative of the usual |
roars of laughter. The cenematograph |
was also the source Of much enter. |
tainment and great wOnderment |