The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-29
NEW THEATRICAL THINGS.
"IN oar NEW TORK," THE "a
sIN0,s ANNUAL BURLESQU E.

Inc Entertainment HTS ht fersOns' flars,
aHd Pebble Toptcs-A Performance of
1.-THE RivnI.' by Farce and Vaudeville
Comedians Some Notes of the stage.
There was a plot for about five minutes in the
new play at the Casino last night. Tho young
husband and wife OF n rural wedding started
for this city on their honey moon tour with n
thousand dollars In the joint trousers pocket.
Cpon the arrival OF the couple here they
were met by a lot OF sharpers bent un get
ting that money. Then tho plot was lost.
aud was not found again until the moment that
the curtain fell at II quarter past midnight. but
IL had lasted long enough to establish the title,
In Gay New York, for n third annual " re-
view at this theatre. and that was quite suf-
hcleht- Iho four hours OF the performance
VIII DO shortened TO three, OF course. by A
Fastening Of the many good things In tho show
and an elimination OF the few poor ones. Tho
entertainment will then be the same sort OF "A
success that THE Passing show and The
Merry World we're. Indeed. there was no
failure in the first long representation. IL
was a rollicking hodge-podH e OF t~ravcsty. satire.
burlesque and farce, somewhat reprehensible in
some OF ths costumingo Of its actresses, gay in
movement and coloring, sharp In most OF Its hits
at the follies OF the times, clever III some Of its
maltreatment OF last winters dramas. laughabiy
impertinent In its caricatures OF public individ-
uals. witty in most of its language by Hugh
Morton" and tuncful in its music by Gustave
kerker.
The first act began with n country wedding
party. In which the girls were pretty and
the men Gawky. The scene changed to
the exterior of the Grand Central Station
with the introduction OF the bridal couple,
a party OF bunco swindlers. n stranded
theatrical company, and various types OF New
Workers; and next to the exterior OF the lo-
tel Waldorf. where foreign noblcmen in
quest of American heiresses and other
topics were illustrated. The second act
showed the lobby and then the stage Of
the Casino. with a succession of incidents per-
tanning to life among show people and their
associates. 1t was hero that a number Of
dramas and operas were burlesqued, that
various actors were initiated, that II re-
hearsal was trayestied. and that bits
OF The Lady Slavey" were revived in the form
of phantoms haunting the stage. The third act
a few specialties were introduced, III" diver
sions characteristic OF that resort were exag-
Kerated, ana some additional representations
piece Of nonsense eltogether is In Gay
and folks who only take the stage seriously
should stay away from the, Casino. But there is
In two or three sets Of revelaiory costumes for
TIE women: There is hardly any vulsarity in
1ne mSis'F' COMPANY amq NO c ,oa ! no single hrf very en-,
Mus PIT the majority q the members
given to them. Walter Joue,. Virginia Earle.
Lee Harrison, and David Warfeld are foremost
among the mimicS. Juliu. SteiGer Is one Of the
with the chorus and ballet In changed gulses.
A crowded audience liked the affair.
There was nothing on the stage at the Herald
Square Theatre last night when n company OF
ourlesquers played The Rivals which was
nearly 30 amusing as the demoauOr of the audi
ence. The spectators entered the building
with an air OF buoyant, confident expec-
fancy. They all showed plainly that they
were certain of having the most amusing
evening of their lives. Sheridan's comedy was
TO be given, with the acrobatic Marie Dressler.
Ada Lewis. notorious for her Bowery hamor,
tho funereal Daniel DAILY. Otis Harlan Of Hot
StuT repute, and twice as many more comedians
who have long since made their reputation "a
amusing actors. There was every promise OF
fun, and the audience showed plainly that it
was conscious of this as 1t filed into the theatre.
The spectators took their seats with an air of
satisfaction that showed plainly how much they
appreciated their good fortune in being able TO
witness such a riot OF comicality. Here were
the burlesquers about to show what they could
do with The Rivals after the star organiza-
ton had presented its idea Of the work.
In this careless, happy mood, so soon to DO
the innocent people applauded Ada
Lewis and Marie Dressler when the curtain
rose. lnstinctively a spirit Of doubt began to
spread. That was the same s~hort-waisted long
legged Marie nressler OF The Lady Slavty'
beyond q doubt, but she was u deadly serious
person. Ada Lewis was tho unquestionably
same. but where were her chewing gum and
her slnuching gait? Until the air cleared the sus-
pense was dreadful. Gradually the conviction
forced itself on the audience that both these
condolences were taking themselves seriously.
Neither Viola Allen nor Julia Marlowe ever
struggled more heroicnliy with LvdiI LanVuLsh
than Ada Lewis was doing. Marie Dresslcr was
Mrs. John Drew. When Henry Donnelly np-
peared AZ Sir, Anfhonv absolute the spectators
longer any comforting room for doubt. one
ray Of hope remained in the person OF
but, anxious to laugh. greeted his appearance
with a gufsw, Mr.. Daly's personal PECULIAR
few lines OF his SCORE the spectators Continued
TO laugh. hopefully. ,sympaiheticall entreat-
ibIsiy. Bpt he soon ooa s ,hoyo that tn nj, too; was in
be reasonably expected.
One by one the actors appeared. and there was
no mistaging the situation. They were dread
fully in earnest. II Marie Dre,slcr had only
thrown somebody into a corner OF the stage;
merely q few stepsi all misHt have
forthcoming. Willie collier a Bob .irlrs, John
Rice as Captain Ihsplut,, Andrew Mack as Str
to take "a shy at old comedy in the Legitimate
way. Maybe they're IN be parioned, for none of
ever had tho chance before.
Slowly the spirits Of the audience fell. Won
der took the place Of anticipation. Then n
endeRyor TO do the best under the
circumstances seemed to animate all the spec
tstors. Mingled with this was nndoub,sd indt-
struck ~ The efforts Of the actors resulted in IL
performance which varied in quality from what
patnetically had IN to mediOrrity. In
despair the audience turned to Shrrd ans lines.
there WAS reward from that source.
Many OF the spectators were associates Of the
OF the stage, aid quickly a tendency to
creditSiarie DresSler with all Of Mrs.. NdILprOu's
showed itself; The laughter that greeted
these was plainly for the actress, IN tell you,
Marie Is the greatest guyer In the business
one actor after the second act. The lamented
Brinsley Sheridan came in for none OF
the credit OF Mrs. MuidDT"p'S nice derangs-
ment OF epitaphs, After the play was over
a man In a dress suit appeared on the stage
and momentarily arrested the ntght OF the
He started IN say that the per-
formancc would be repeated ON saturday az
Iernoon. but before he had finished the snec-
fators had run out into the rain. The actors
for the Herald Ice Fund, and II Is to be
hoped that their efforts increased the supply
- Ina Eartainly nnna NJ than ont anu 1t