Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-02-21
BEHIND THE FOOTL|GHTS.
Excellent Attractions Booked For
Local Theatres This Week.

The Past Six Days in the Play
Bouses-Nothing on the Boards
Until Thursday in Either House,
General Gossip on People and
Things Pertaining to the Stage
OPERA HoUsE-Thursday Donneii ~
and Girard in MY Friend FROM ihu J -
Friday and Saturday, Prisoner Oh Aehua'
GRAND OPERA HOUsEE,L1asst nan de% OF
week, I'm Missouri" first nan u liza
week, 1.-The Deacon's Daughter
The coming of 1.-THE Prisoner of zenda'
70 the Opera. House next Friday and sat
urday can hardly fail TO arouse more Vi
less enthusiasm among Wheeling play
goers. for few plays in recent years nave
earned such widespread fame ana eali'eu
it so quickly. 1t found just as en'husids-
tic reception in London. where II ran lot
nearly a wear. as it did at the Lyceum
Theatre. in New York; and in both Eng
land and the United States it is conceded
to be the most popular play touring the
provinces.
All who keep in touch with current MS
tory are familiar with Anthony hope
delightful romance from which the pay
was dramatzed; so it is almost needless
to say that the play, which follows the
book very closely. is as interesting, eA-
citing and fascinating as brilliant i'm
agination can make It. A general idea
of the piece. however, may not be aiiilss
on behalf of those who do not happen 10
have read the book.
The play is preceded by an exciting pro-
logue, the scene of which is in LONDON
the time being 1873; a hundred and fifty
years before the action of the play. when
we are introduced to Prince Rudolph, the
Red Elphberg. so named on account of the
color of his hair and heir of the throne of
Ruritania, who became intimate with the
wife of the Earl of Rassendyll. Their SIN
is discovered through the insinuaton OF
the Princes vengeful cousin. a duel iol-
lows. and Rudolph falls wounded TO death
by the wronged husband. BY this it Is eN-
planned how in each succeeding generation
there is a Rassendyll with red hair End
the features of the Elphbergs.
The first act takes place in the forest
near Zenda in 1894, Rudolph the Fifth Is
about TO be crowned King Of Ruritania.
His cousin Black Michael Duke of Sire
sau. has designs upon the throne as well
as upon the hand of the Princess FlaVia,
who is betrothed to the Prince. BACK
Michael drugs the Prince and prepares
for a coup d'etat. But the arrival Of the
rich. accomplished and indolent young
Englishman. Rudolph Rassendyll, bearing
the most striking resemblance TO the
q =, ,,,.ffe J, &c MD
The faithful followers of the Prince per-
suade Rassendyll to impersonate the King
and allow himself to be crowned in his
stead. The drugged King is hidden by
Michael, who also tries to destroy the
young Engishman. The Princess Flavia
and the young Englshman fall in love
with each other, but honor compels the
Princess to wed only the real King; and
the same exalted motive compels the Eng
lishman to rescue the imprisoned monarch.
This is what they do. and not what they
would have done, IF love were all.
Every assurance Is given that the play
will be deliberately staged and be presented
by sterling cast. Among others may be
mentioned Mr. Edward R. Mawson, En-
NETT Corrigan, Ben Hendricks and Miss
|
direction of the well known manager. Mr.
David Hayman. of New York. The en-
gagement is for Friday and Saturday eve
ming and a special matinee on Saturday.
The attractions in the local theatres dur
ing the past six days, ranged as TO quality
from mediocre to good. Hoyts "A Bunch
of Keys" held the boards at the Grand the
first half of the week. The difference be-
tween its production last week, and its
first production here, is the difference be-
tween first and third class comedians.
With a competent company, this farce
might still be a money-maker. Jerome's
Town Talk" company was a somewhat
different. and much more meritorious en-
tertainment. possessing many novel and
original features. clever specialties and
rough comedy. The Illness of Clay Glenn
ent may have kept many persons from the
Opera House Thursday evening. but it de-
tracted very little from the merit of the
production of The Bells, as Mr.. Glenn
ent's understudy, Mr.. Craig, gave very
artistic rendition of the principal role. The
company will probably cancel all dates I'M
til Mr.. Clement has recovered sufficiently
TO take his place in the stellar roles. Mr..
John Griffith gave a very pleasing produc-
ton of Richard Ill" Friday night, APP
nearing TO even better advantage in that
difficult tragedy than in the part with
which the public has associated him for
several seasons. that of 'Mephisto." in
Faust"
Farce comedy has had its day in the
cities" said VIM. Jerome to the Register
dramatic editor last week. "A funny
farce. with a good cast, will continue to
be money-maker for many years, per-
haps. but l mean that the rage for theat-
rical entertainments of that nature, has
given way TO a popular demand for vaude-
willie. Tragedy and melodrama were sue
ceeded by light comedy, and'now 1t is the
continuous performance. The continuous
performance theatres in New York are
practically monopolizing the business.
They get the cream Of the vaudeville pro-
fession, and pay big salaries. II is this
matter of big salaries, which is attracting
prominent actors and actresses from the
legitimate to vaudeville. a man who looks
at the profession from a dollars and cents
standpoint. can readily be induced TO eX-
change one night stands at salary Of
S35 week for a city engagement at $50
a week. 1t is a sad thing for the 'legiti-
mate actors to contemplate, and it may
be a sad commentary on the public taste,