The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-10-25

from financial standpoint, must take a |
back seat TO Francis Wilson's new prOdur- |
ton half a King" now at the Kncher- |
booker thcater. New York. Its business
for the FIRST month OF its run exceeded that |
of "Ermnie' during the FIRST month ~ It's
original production. not by hundreds. hut |
by thousands of dollars Wilson might have /
remained in New York for the best part of
this season with profit to himself aud the
thcaler but the engagement must dose 49,
ter three more weeks. Brooklyn viii be
the first city to be visited outside OF New
| York. after. that engagements in Washing
ton. Baltimore. Philadelphia and Boston
will follow.
Robert billiards new play, The Mum
my WIS very successful in Boston It's
ancient AMI musty atmosphere appealed to
the cultured Hubhites. 1t made money for
the handsome star, which liz. after all the
main test of the theatrical success. With
! out IT an attraction is likely to be "tele-
uhpned' taflor the manner Of the The
/ Caliph'D at any minute, no matter how
much critical praise it may obtain Hill
I lard prccCdos the comedy with his charin-
; ing curtain raiser. The Litticst Girl
/ which has been added to the programme
! out Of Difference To the matinee girl. who
prefers the handsome actor as "A modern
man rather than In character part, 40
natter how artistic he is
Goodfrionds Plays and Players says: For
several years past much has been said and
written about the great American play
that was still to he written. The yenrners
for this desirable product have lossened
considerably in New York since tho produce
tion OF William Gictte's play Secret Sorv-
Ice II is undcnahly a great play. and
places the author foremost in the ranks
Of not only American dramatists but among
the playwrights OF the world. 1t is mar
vel OF dramatic construction The story is
ahsorhingly interesting. the characters arc
finely drawn real, the language is forceful.
direct and always to the point. The inter-
est OF the story begins with the rising OF
tho curtain and grows in intensity. There
, is no waste of incident, no useless speech.
, There Is not moment of the play that
does not throh with vital interest. 1t "a
plain that n master hand guided every
movement. from conception to completion
The slightest deviation, the most trihing
, weakness would have made II exaggerated
and unreal. hut II remains brief chapter
, of tho war. intensely true. impressively
natural Mr.. Gillclte's success is not only
2 personal triumph Tor him. 1t Is a source
Of sincere concentration to those who
feel genuine pride in the positive adj
vanccment Of the American drama.
Lillian Russell had treat recently while
b singing AN American Beauty" in Cincin-
natl \ friend OF George Lederer, who Is
diamond merchant came to the theatei
% with necklace valued at $4,000 aud sait
I that il Miss Russell liked she could wear il
in tho third act for that occasion only. o.
4 course she liked She was rejoiced with
Il rejoicing that mon viii not understand
a but that To women win he quite compfe
hcnsihlc. Miss Russell, clasped the meek
| lace around her neck and scintillGtiugN
- sallied for h on the stage The company
I, was da2zlCd. The prima donna on her par
!, | had 10 say to The tonor And yet yol
y wouldn't marry me for gold and precious
:. stones. The tenor ga2ed proudly at III
!, necklace and remarked in whisper 10
N Miss Russel's benefit, ia marry you 10
thai, necklace" The diamond merchan
stood In the wings all the time. He tool
no chances" says Mr. Iedcrer. "Hc wa
there with an AK and some chloroform. an
y II there had been n fire he would hay
= fallen IN a fit. He didn't look any TO
r. merry while Miss Russell was going abou
with 100000 OF his around her neck
o Fanny Davenport believes she has foun
: out the reason why the theaters have bee
y comparatively uuattractivo of late. an
j. also why audiences have been less bril-
:, liant and numerous than usual In tn
;. old days" she sagely observes, there wa
- a dolightsul illusion about everything con
ii nected with the stage, There Was mys
n terry and a sense OF distance that added
=. the charm OF the theater. But now 1t
p so different. The public has found ou
r. that actors aud actresses are very niue
% like other people. and they cease to idea
s. igc them And then again. they all IAo
the practical side Of the drama, ana ur
g derstand little bit about technical thing
., The result 10 that they criticise too ooiol