Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-11-15

oHefS gllt-edged and uncommon special
| ties while Manager Yales new features
| of song and pantomne, viz: The Bike
| Craze; the Bashful Maidens and Timid
| Old Maids; Weary Willie episode, the
| HoboS' Soiree, are claimed to be among
! the strongest features of the production.
| The ballet which consists of large group
| of young, pretty, graceful and clever
| coryphees, secondos and balerina headed
| by Emilia Bartolette, Adele Anon and
| Maria Tregato, a trio of uncommonly
| handsome principal dancers are a very
! strong factum. New scenic effects cos
| tunes and other paraphanalia have been
| added and altogether that patrons of
| real spectacle, produced in clean, bright
| and entertaining manner with every at
| tention to detail combined with the most
| liberal methods in gorgeouSneSS of pro-
| duction, can in the engagement of the
| forever Devils Auction" look forward
| to an undoubted treat.
By referring to the advertisements in
another column those desiring good seats
| for the above performances can ascer-
| tain the time tickets for same will be
on sale. The rule at the box Office is
| first come, first served" and there is no
deviation. Govern yourselves accord
ingly
A promised treat for Saturday is Miss
Emily Bancker in her phenomenal sue
cess "Our Flat" Miss Bancker has been
seen here before in this side-splitting
play and her audience can recall with
delight the comicalities, funny situations
and best of all decidedly charming man
nerism of the beautiful actress. So
The tragic opera Andrea Chenier'' was
produced the past week in New York.
The name of Andrea Chenier was at one
time well known among the literati of
France, but it was the part that he played
in the French revolution that lead Gor-
dano' to make him the hero of his latest
opera. AS matter of historical inter
act nain cd fn.e .1x .,.1 ,...
in the army and afterwards became the
secretary to the French embassy in Lon
don. Later on he lived in Paris, and it
was there that he sprung into notoriety
as a writer of classic verse. In the
spring of 1894, he was imprisoned by the
revolutionary authorities on the charge
of conspiracy and a few months later
was guillotned. --,H... -, ..t...
The heroine of the opera is Maddalena
de Coigny, and the opera opens with a
fete at her chateau to which Andrea
Chenier is hidden. In Maddalena's en-
pIQy there is young lackey by the name
of Gerard, who is in love with her, but
at this fete he Is dismissed for a trivial
offense.
The second act is laid in Paris, five
years later, where De Chenier learns that
his life is threatened by the authorities
and he Is urged by a friend to leave the
city. 1t seems, however that he has
become fascinated with an unknown cor
respondent (Maddalena de Coigny) and
for this reason and the promise that she
will reveal herself that day, he refuses
TO leave Paris. In the meantime Gerard
has become conspicuous figure in Paris
and hearing that Maddalena is in the
city he makes every effort to find her
A great climax in the opera is the mo-
ment when Maddalena reveals herself
to Andrea and as they tell each other of
their love, Gerard appears on the scene
A duel follows and Gerard falls, but is
not mortally wounded. Maddalena is, of
course, under the protection of Andrea
and as she is supposed to be q political
criminal he is arrested for sheltering her.
In the third act she goes to Gerard and
pleads for Andrea to be released. She
promises to give herself to Gerard If he
will only spare her lovers life But An
drea has already been condemned. and
Gerard's efforts to save him are too late
The closing scene is in the court yard Of
the prison of Saint Lazare, where Andrea
is to meet his death. Maddalena enters
and determines to die with him. 1t is
arranged for her to take the place of
condemned criminal and with Andrea she
ascends the guillotne. $50
The music is said to be admirable. and
without the aid of a libretto, tells the
story of love and hate and death. 81.
A London success was also brought out
at the Knickerbocker. 1t Is "a drama in
five acts, entitled "The Sign of the
are laid during that period of Roman his
tory when Nero DEGREES the extermina-
ton of the Christians The execution of
the order has been placed in the hands
OF Marcus, the young project of Rome
He is enamored Of a young maiden, who
bears the gentle name of Mercia, and
whose shining eyes are full of the glory
of the Christian faith, and in his efforts to
save her, he is accused of treachery to
the emperor. He then pleads with Nero
to spare the life of the girl, but the en-
peror will not listen to his appeal. Mar
Gus is SO swayed by the sweet influence
of Mercia and so moved by her gentle
words, that on the threshold of the arena
he embraces the Christian faith and,
hand in hand, they go to meet the mar
tyrs DEATH Mercia carries a cross that
flashes out in radiance as She holds IL
before the eyes of her Roman jailer
Maud Jeffries, yong American beauty,
essayed the role of Mercia at the London
production. Lillah Mccarthy, who Is
also great beauty, has the role at the
Knickerb0cker. There Is no denying the
fact that beauty Is a great requisite to
dramat tic. career, Notwithstanding that SO
much has been said about the disappoint-
menti that has fallen to the lot of many
a professional beauty. And in writing Of
women who are exquisite types of come
illness, think that you willebe mostly in
terestea In American types. 1t is said
that American women do not fade as
earlyI as do the women of other climates.
So that our stage beauties have an adj
vantage in their nationality. OF the
younger women on the American stage
Cora Urquhart Potter is a distinct type.
of rare 1oyeliness. and is very little in
debted It'd artificial aid. She is above the
average height, and is. perhaps, a little
fragile in appearance. Her hair is mar.
velous. and her eyes are large and dark
and fathomess. In London she Is con-
sidered an American beauty In New
York-well, the New York public is such
beauty each season. Georgia Cavan,
Katherine Grey, Katherine Florence and
Ethel Barrymore have had prominent
mention made recently Of their right to
pose as representative beauties. Kath-
crime Grey resembles one of Murlllo's
madonnas. Ethel Barrymore, who Is a
neice Of John Drew, is just blossoming
into lovely womanhood. She Is a sweet
faced girl, and her expression is most
fascinating. Caroline Mfskel-Hoyt Is a
magnificent specimen Of physical perfec-
ton. fs,t--Ey ,asAs
OF these types of beautiful women, it