The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-09-12

who has been the subject of most en-
thusiastic admiration in the European
press, has signed contracts to give a
series of performances with an TIA
liam company in the United States.
During Mr. Richard Mansfelds New York
season, which opens at the Fifth Avenue the
alter on Oct 4, several important productions
to begin. The first will be George Bernard
Shaw's latest work, 1.-The Devils Disciple"
which is said to fully sustain the reputation
of the author Arms and the Man" for orig
inality and fin de sieclism. Here is a bit of
dialogue characteristic OF Shaw's humor and
satire: The scene is a court martial, at which
the Devils Disciple (Mr Mansfield) has been
sentenced to be hanged and protests against
the decision, with a request to be shot to
which the presiding general, Burgoyne, Of
Saratoga fame, replied: you speak like
civilian. Have you any idea OF the average
craftsmanship of the British army? Let US
persuade you, for your own sake. to allow US
to hang you"
How time flies, to be sure! It doesn't seem
so long age that young Sothern' made his
metropolitan bow: but here are the Lyceum
theater announcements reminding us that he
begins tomorrow evening MS eleventh an
nual engagement at that theater, says the New
York Herald. Bless my soul! Is it possible
that the boy-and we all, there's the mischief
of it's getting so old? Out on these chron-
illogical ffends who get up the playbills. Let's
change the subject.
Madalne Lucette Ryley's comedy, ga Coat
of Many Colors," was produced for the first
time at Wilkesbarre, Pa, last Thursday night.
1t was received With much favor. The cast
includes such well known artists rs Herbert
Kelcey, William J. LIE Moyne, Barr Mcintosh,
Ella Wilton and Efie Sh lu1cn.
So Miss Maude Adams is at last star-or,
rather, will be in few days, when, in a
lutter of excitement, she is to make her
stellar debut at Washington. in Mr.. Barrie's
play, 1.-The Little Minister" says the New
York Herald. She has been very popu-
lar young woman these several seasons past
as Mr.. John Drew's leading lady," and a
host of good wishes will go with her when the
train draws out from Jersey City to take her
to the national capital to ''try it on" the prov
erbial dog and what he will do. It's ten
to one he'll wag his tail and look pleased.
The return of Secret Service to New York
attracted a large and brilliant audience to the
EMPIRE theater says the New York Press,
which welcomed William Gillette and his COM
pany with great cordiality. At all the per-
formances that have been given in the En-
pire since its return the audiences have not
only shown their unmistakable appreciation,
but also their patriotic pride in the echieve-
ment of the pay and players.
Tomorrow night Hoyt's "a Stranger in New
York. will be produced for the first time in
this city. The production will be made in the
Garrick theater, all idea of producing 1t in
Hoyt's being abandoned because of force OF
circumstances. Mr.. Hoyt is now on the road
~,
nor Lloyd Wilson, Arthur Pacie, John Hy-
ans Jules Gordon Joseph Williamson Will
lam Ryan and the Misses Sadie Martinez,
Amelia Stone Nellie Butler Grace Freeman,
Annie Muller Margaret Fitzpatrick and Annie
and Leah Angeles.
After deploring the lack of new plays by
the foreign dramatists, Hillary Bell in the
New York Press, propounds these inquiries:
What then are our countrymen doing for
us? Has Belasco another Heart of Mary
I
Secret Service?" How about Paul Potter's
delivery of another Sheridan" Has Clyde
Fitch a continuation of the engaging adyen-
lures of Beau Brumme.?' Shall we ex-
pect new 'Lettarbar'' from Marguerite
Merington? Can Augustus Thomas offer an
other Alabama" or lin Mizzoura?" Where
is the successor to My Friend From India"
that was promised by Du Souchet? What is
Was "Aristocracy" the swan song of Bron-
sen Howard? If these talented folk have
plays of merit let them stand and deliver.
So far the season has not only been devoid
of remarkable interest, but it gives no es-
peca sign of mending. The people have
bought seats for the play. but the curtain
does not lift on it. Therefore. Camille
says. Heaven give us strength!
Madge Leasing will go on the road Sept. 1
with Jack and the Beanstalk."
The actors are complaining this year that
salaries are lower than they have been for
several seasons, and there has been some
confederation of this grumbling from the
other side of the combination, says the New
York Sun. The managers and the agents
have been willing to admit that there are
cases this year in which the salaries paid
are smaller than they were last year, but
they claim that there are today more actors
assured of employment during the approach
ing season than there were this time one
year ago.
Its not the actor that the managers pay
for now" said an actor on Friday who is
for Of no
but the part. When it comes to the queS-
ton Of engaging a man or woman to act in
an important production now the manager
does not say, / will engage this or that
man or woman, or the best substitutes for
them, to play this or that part That brings
| in the question of the salary that tfese
actors are in the habit of getting, and this
! is a point which the managers do not take
into consideration. The question with them
is not how much the actors services are
worth. They say, for INSTANCE, the part Of
the young lover ought not to cost more than
$50 a week.. vs-
They will distribute the, rest of the cast
in proportion. Then they wait until actors
can be found who will accept those terms.
AS this is the rule followed in the majority
of the important productions, it naturally
follows that actors are compelled to accept
the lower terms rather than wait with the I'M
certainty of getting nothing better later in the
season. Those actors who are able to wait
sometimes get their terms. But they are
in the minority. Most of lis thave to accept
are worth but what they decide a certain
part in their production ought to cost. Now
it is customary for managers who are about
to undertake enterprises involving much out
lay to allot certain amount to every par
ticular character in the cast. In that way
they estimate the expense of a production,
and they stick to these figures unless they
decide to decrease them. 1t Is this practice
which has led managers in recent seasons to
lay so much stress on the physical proportions
and appearances of actors and actresses. Now
hnn n mo- nT1o
is certainty that they will be able to play
it, so it is necessary to have the actors look
the parts at least. Now managers order &C
tors six feet tall and women who weigh $50
pounds, That is the result of paying for the
part and not for the actors especial talents.
The reduction OF salary is, of course, the
most important result to the actor
One result of this years decrease in salar-
companies the country They number
now about twenty-five and employing an
average the number of actors as they do, they
have brought down the size of salaries. Ac-
tors are paid less when they do not have to
travel and all Of them are willing to secure
long engagements at a reduction of from
20 to % per cent for a number of months
in one city. Even as it stands, the decrease
in salaries has not affected the best known
members of the profession. They continue
to be paid as much as usual. 1t is said that
those who have experimented in the music
halls and then returned to the stage find
that their services are less in demand and at
smaller figures. The explanation Of this can
be readily enough found as qtheir standing.
the change is not quite the same that 1t
was The agents say that the services Of the
other good actors are as well rendered as
ever, and that only those; who have not made
equally good regulations feel the decline. But
those who have been Compelled to accept
smaller prices could of course, be expected to
agree to that
The Dramatic MAGAZINE ia the name of a