The herald., 1897-05-23
Indited by George A. DobInson.)

comic opera, in which De Wolf Hopper
and his pocket edition of better half,
together with their gallant company,
made life seem bright for at any rate a
few short hours. The impression left
by "El Captain" Is an entirely pleasing
one. BY the bye, why is 1t that some
members of the company pronounce
"Capltan" with the accent on the first
syllable, like the English word cap
tain" and others with the accent on the
last syllable, in the correct Spanish
manner? There should at least be uni
formity insisted upon If the stage man
ager attends to his duties.
AS musical composition Mr.. Sousa's s
effort is not destined to be JOY forever.
but II is good enough while it lasts; and
Z surely the designer of those costumes,
who contrived that elegant and entirely
ravishing combination of colors in which
the pale, delicate shades of green were
so artistically handled, and who made
those Spanish soldiers costumes in the
last act 50 effective without appearing
gaudy, deserves quite as much praise as
the much lauded band master.
4
For the coming week the advance an
nouncements. in the language of the en-
( thusiastic press agents, Indicate a lib
Y eral supply of good fare. The British
= ers celebrate tomorrow night with a per-
sformance of the nautical extravaganza,
"Pinafore," which time appears to be
unable to stale. Then, later in the week,
\ comes Excelsior Jr.," with Sadie Mar
tinot in burlesque attitudes and pleas
antries. Katie Putnam, that very clever
and interesting delineator of youthful
vivacity and copybook maxims, will ap-
pear in new piece at the Burbank and
Is worth a visit. Lastly the Orpheum
gives grand opera, chorus and menag-
erie performance combined, which is
worth several times the price of admis-
sion.
The vaudeville form of entertainment
5 has evidently come to stay, so far as
this city is concerned, and forming, as
1t does, the staple entertainment at a
z house that Is one of the cosiest and
most commodious of its kind, 1t may
not prove out OF place to offer q sugges-
ton to it's managers, based upon not
few complaints that have been made
upon a matter that may easily be rem
edied. 1t is with regard to the dialogue
and songs of the teams that make a
speciality of the "song and dance" acts.
These people are very rarely refined in
their instincts and, If the truth may be
told, they secure a large amount of vul-
gar applause by the exhibition of COARSE
ness. The standard of vaudeville en-
tertainments is getting higher all over
the country, as is evidenced by the act
ors and actresses OF excellent repute
! who have accepted engagements in this
class of houses.
+. 1t Is therefore time that the people
who applaud the niger minstrel joke
with a double meaning, and the other
vulgarities of speech and song, should
be educated to do without salacious
stimulant. Vaudeville is by this time
80 thoroughly established in popular
estimation and is patronized by all
classes of people, SO that those who like
an entertainment free from suggestive
dialogue and shady songs have a right
to have their tastes consulted. This is
q matter that Is entirely in the hands
Of the managers, who can control it
with q word.
"It Is the dearth Of good plays" said
Mr.. Daniel Frohman, not long ago, that
Is the menace of the theatrical business
Give the public good plays and they'll
find the wherewithai to see them, hard
times or no hard times. But where are
we to get the good plays? Personally, I
haven't single play decided on for next
season. Lots Of playwrights are at work
for me, and on August 1,when return
from Europe I expect to find a number
Of manuscripts awaiting decision. Out
of the batch may secure several good
plays, and then again may not. While
am ON the other side this summer may
find something worth producing, and
then again I may not. If don't. what
am to do?"
And that is the question great many
managers are asking themselves, "What
are We to do for good plays?"
=
Mrs. Fieke gave representation of
Sardou's "Divorcons'' at the Fifth Ave-
nue. theater in New York on May 9TH.
The occasion was a matinee given for
the benefit of charity. The performance
has been pronounced a superb one, and,
according to a New York critic. Mrs.
Fiske as Cyprienne, in her lucid alb
solutely consistent and thoroughly con-
vincing picture Of the whimsical. roman
tic and imaginative woman-a very in
genue in matrimonial bonds, if this be
not paradox-and her piquant and
perfect realization Of the incompatible
possibilities Of the part for delightinr
comedy, rose to artistic heights that no
other actress has reached; and the play
has been presented here by distinguished
actors in English, in German, in French
and in italian.
= y y
Frederick Warde, assisted by Miss
Ellen Rowland. played the Merchant OF
Venice" at special matinee perform
ance in the Knickerbocker theater, New
York, on the 18th inst. The occasion
was the debut of Miss Rowland. who is
st. Louis girl.
Green Room Gossip
The largest spectacular production
ever seen in this country, 1t is said, Will
be new piece called Mature" which
will open at the Academy of Music, New
York. In the fall. The company will
number 500 people.