Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-11-08

s MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.

Grattan Donnelly. who has been success
full as a writer of melodrama and farce.
has never cared much for consistencies.
but has a pretty good eye for the effective.
He works on broad lines and puts lots of
dynamite into his climaXes. For these rea-
scrs The Woman in Black" which was
given at the Grand yesterday afternoon
and last night. is likely to prove a profit
able melodrama. even if its relation to real
life Is extremely remote. 1t was promised
that the play should depict scenes in
Gotham never before attempted on the
stage. There is really little new in the life
represented. but the manner of representa-
ton Is surely novel. Even Tammany could
hardly be accused Of such a system of ward
politics as is shown in Mr.. Donnelly's play,
S %heTe kni We MP pistols !Sa,s and i hyP %a9ss, i ARE
opponents. TIL effort to exploit Il woman
Svtngali is not anything like SO effective
as it was evidently intended to be. But if
the construction is queer and many of the
happenings highly improbable. there
seemed to be sufficient merit in the general
manipulation of the scenes and characters
TO thoroughly interest two large audiences
yesterday.
this city since she starred in a repertory
some nine years ago, turns up In this play
looking quite like her younger self and
without the loss of the repose and emo
! large degree. Her opportunities are limit.
ed. but she improves them Well. Our old
III a.. W.. LIN VI ioNrA sNoNh ,olA
pany experiences. who used to be cast for
villains only. plays the hero of the melo-
drama m;rn n With sppropri late force tore and AND np nfa u
many farce comedies. is introduced for
vaudeville purposes, but uses a. pistol ef-
by Miss Stacy and John McVeigh are ex-
ceedingly clever and made Il decided hit
yesterday. The company is one of general
excellence as melodramatic companies 20.
Charles B. Hawkins, James Lackaye; Will
lam McCready. Mildred St. Pierre and Will
lam Shier being among those who do cred
liable work.
a new play and new specialties were put
on at the Auditorium yesterday afternoon
and the audiences, both afternoon and
evening, completely filled the theater. The
Play is Forgiven" a drama of consider
terest the patrons of this theater. 1t Is
especially well suited to this company and
the performance is one of the best yet Civ.
en- by the Woodward people. Many recall
the remarkable success achieved in the
rart of Jack O'Diamonds by Frederick, Bry-
ton, a picturesque actor who had a large
sens. This part is very well played by
Mr.. James Fulton. who has shown great
joined this company. Others in the cast
who deserve mention for creditable Woik
are Mr.. Livingstone, Mr.. Rush.. Miss Ern-
est and Miss Carleton.
The specialties are varied and interesting.
The three Franklin sisters are a taking
Song and dance team. The Racket Broth
out of almost any old thing. and who have
besides considerable comedy appreciation,
make a big hit with their novelties. The
late of the Ringing circus, form one OF
the most talented troupes of this class
ever seen on the local stage. Some of tksir
and their turn" alone is worth IL a visit to
the Auditorium. The cinematograph
shows a series of animated pictures; mrca
sum m name n The s1 novelty cit oh has 81 not sns yet ea worn of Of
this wonderful feat of photography, and
these pictures are sure to prove a strong
afifa aSe Week lne r fpee daralmnsaatitea ff bin VIII viii fI be
charged Thursday evening to THE Black
Flag"
Darkest Russia. was given at the Ninth
Street yesterday afternoon and last night.
The theater will be dark the remainder of
this week.
The audience at the Academy of Music
yesterday afternoon was an evidence of the
increasing popularity OF the Philharmonic
er, every seat in the hall was taken, an
attendance that exceeded Professor
Busch's. sanguine expectations. The Phil
harmonics are not, strictly speaking. a So
cial or dress function; the people who at
tend go to listen to music; they expect
something good are enthusiastic in
their appreciation.
The programme contained distinct novel
ties-not a number was ever played before
by this orchestra. and only two had been
before given in Kansas City. The grace
full style of Leo Delibes, who writes such
charming ballet music. was shown in
three movements from "Coppelia;" the
first. the dainty Waltz of the Dolls. was es-
pecially we'll received. Miss Mabel Haas
sang the cavatina. from "Freischutz."
delightfully."-. n with such favor that she
was recalled and sang 1.-The Postillion." a
much more difficult selection. The other
s%oloist. Signor Antino Masino. played most
effectively, a composition by Professor
Busch. "Aubade." 1t is one of the COM
poser's best works and has been played by
many prominent flutists. but was never
before given here with orchestral accom-
paniment.
The wedding march from Nessler's opera
of "The Ratcatcher of Hameln.' with it's
exquisite melody and thorough orchestra
overture from Auber's "Damino Noir."
the INTRODUCTION and quartette from Yer
dis "RiGoletto." and the overture from
Won Weber's 'Precioso" completed the
thoroughly enjoyable programme.
Many persons keep Carter's Little Liy-