The herald., 1897-05-16
tEdited by George A. DobInson.,

gagement last night marked the ter.
mination of a very pleasant season
during which the star and his accom-
plished wife have presented five Shake
spearean plays and three romantic
dramas, two of the latter being entirely
new productions SO far as this city IL
concerned.
So much industry and painstakins
deserves a fuller recognition on the parl
of the public than has been accorded
One good sign, however, has been, that
the audiences have actually increased
in size as. the season progressed, and
there seems every reason to believe that
Mr.. Skinner may receive on fie next
visit the larger welcome to which he is
really entitled by virtue of his histrionic
abilities.
A review Of Mr.. Skinner's work but
confirms the impression previously re-
corded in these columns as to this ac-
tors place in the dramatic stellar hfma-
ment. He is to all intents the best actor
of romantic parts on the American stage
today. Had the younger Salvint, who
was Fechters direct successor, lived.
he might have disputed this. high posi-
tion. but there is no one living who can
rival at once Mr.. Skinner'e Romeo, his
de Grammont and his Claude Melnotte.
In personal appearance and trained elo-
cution, in the gifts of voice and eye,
together with a cultivated, quick intel
ligence, Mr.. Skinner has advantages
which place him in the lead and will ul-
timately enable him to attain a high
position in the ,grander characters Of
classic tragedy. His Richard the Third
Is already a fine Characterization, and
is entitled to more than ordinary praise
for the skillful manner in which the ac
tor solves the long standing difficulty of
the proper Interpretation Of the scene
between Gloster and the Lady Anne.
AS for his Hamlet, he has a grasp Of
the character which time will render less
rude; and while it is impossible for him
at present to play it without high color
ing and melodramatic effects, it is easy
to forsee that with a larger experience.
his quick sensitive nature will expand
to the influence of the subtleties that lie
concealed in the master production OF
the master mind of literature.
Some nonsense has been written to the
effect that the part of Hamlet is not a
difficult one to play and that no theater
goer can remember an actor who was
really poor in the role. This remark has
been made before, but evidently by peo-
pie who had not suffered under Louis
James or Wilson Barrett, as the Danish
prince.
Maud Durbin shows great promise
also In all the varied characters she has
played not one has been unsuccessful.
and her Ophelia, decidedly the best OF
her roles, will be remembered as worthy
to stand alongside the best interpreta-
tions Of the character seen in many
years. In strictly emotional passages
belonging to other characters, her chief
fault is in a tendency to the use of a
perpetual portamento in the manage
ment of her voice-a dangerous habit
which, if not checked, may become a
fatal blemish upon an otherwise delight
full delivery.
John Ernest McCann pays tribute to
some favorite actresses in few grace
full couplets in the last Dramatic Mirror.
We reprint them, as follows:
MINNIE MADDERN FISKE
Daughter of sun and air, of wind and mist,
BY Ariel, Puck and their creator kissed.
MAXINE ELLIOTT.
When Nelson died, Art bowed her head
and wept;
Then smiled, as from the wings you softly
stepped.
MAUD ADAMS
Dame Nature dipped rosebud deep in dew,
Then kissed it, till it blossomed into you.
MARY MANNERING
Two liquid ox-heart cherries are thine
eyes:
st. Tony glares and gasps; then smiles,
then sighs.
ANNIE RUSSELL
Art thou Ruth Pinch. or dear, quaint Dolly
Warden?
Or, just rose, blown from Grecian gar.
den?
JESSIE BARTLETT DAVIS
"A nightingale sang on thorn,
OF life and love, when thou vert born.
A dramatic authority attributes the
falling off in attendance at the theaters
throughout the country this season to
the gerat popularity of the bicycle, rid
ing being said to divert the attention CT
the public from indoor amusement. But
is not this theory far-fetched one? 1t
has become fashionable to make the
bicycle scapegoat for various ills.
falling off in the sales of pianos is due
to the popularity of the wheel; also that
stagnation in business is due to the same
cause, the manufacture and sale of BIZ
cycles injuring many other departments
of trade. But the reasons for falling
off in theater attendance, as we'll as any
real stagnation in business, must be laid
to a deeper cause, viz: The financial!
depression, which is felt more or less
throughout the United States.
Louis Jamee9 closed his season in Kan
sas City on April a. after Sc weeks Of
uninterrupted playing, during which
some 10000 miles were covered. AS
Spartacus, James has added another le af
to his bright wreath of achievements,
Mr.. James has been seen also in success
full revivals of "Othello," Hamlet" "Ju-
Illus Caesar" "Romeo and Juliet and
liking John" Mr.. James has in view a
scenic production of Ernest Lacey's ri
raldo," and like revivals of "The Rob-
bers" and "The Fools Revenge"
4. Daniel Frawley has completed HE
stock company, which includes Blanche
Bates, Grace Henderson, Gladys Wallis
Georgia Busby, Phosa McAllister, Madge
Carr Cook, Mildred Fitzgerald, Frank
Worthing. J. NJ. Colville, Theodore
Hamilton, Harry Corson Clarke, Wilson
I1nos, Thomas w. Ross, William Lowers