The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-04
NOTES0 ON STAGE SUBJECTS,
THE DOUBTFUL, TALUE OF
As COUNTERFEITS OF ZEN

let That Atone for the Prcscnc" OF alr" de
Observation-Disclosures of Joscph Proctor
s,opo convention which fingers actively Is
that which puts a woman into the part OF a ooy'
In all the numerous plays that have been
treated In this way probably not QUO osc@pou
damage thereby to some extent. lherc was
never a woman who succeeded FOR a moment in
creating a complete illusion OF mascuiihlty'
,ynder al. circumstances ;he sex is plain. Some
OF them have failed less than others in their
limitations, but spectators are always conscious
md never forSetful that II is a woman
,-bo IA mAsuuerading. A few actresses, even
In serious roles, can make YOU forgctful IN
that respect. Such Il one is Grace Boswell
whose sympathetic and human acting as the
Christian boy In The Sign OF tho Cross was
40 highly commended last year. 1t is difficult
TO see how her share in the plays effectiveness
could we'll be improved nnon. No mtn could be
more pathetic or stirring, and this one roie
makes Miss Boswell a striking exception among
the women who attempt to play men on tho
.tase. There are several instances TO be seen
on the local stage at present which ere by no
means such parallel examples. At the knick-
erbocker, where the play is an extravaganza,
!. Claire Romano appears as an impudent call
boy at the Gaiety Theatre, and an exception
ally clever sketch she makes of 1t. There
Is genuine humor in what she does. and usually
her sex is almost entirely concealed. Every
trait OF the character Is artistica!lyc composed.
But, with all her ~neatness and finish. the farce
suffers from her presence in II. With a co.
@ seenes w " ieSSf present. n1aaS Miss Romaino, be moro
enlivening. The bad effect is caused solely by
the fact that in a male role no woman can ever
he a perfect substitute for a man. In the same
play Florence Lloyd as 4. youthful aristocrat
looks charmingly masculine in her evening
dress. But IT is doubtful IL a young man in
her place would not work TO the advantage
4 OF the burlcsque. In THE Golden Era" ut the
}5r rsspSS es r nnS :t q sin. pi nnd a a xe PsG ABSURD Tpi thin IN
1t is to expect AUDIENCES to look upon her as
anything but a girl. There would be greater
Good young actors are to be found on every
eide. and for all roles in which the part is not
talents Of a man are far more adapted 10
strengthen a play. Only in roles of the piotd
and Rosaiind sort. where the deception was
meant to be patent. is the appearance OF women
MS men desirable from the art point Of view.
The liberal expenditure of money on our stage
Is more frequent than discriminate taste in tho
outlay. C%ostuming was less pretentious four
or five years ago. and for that reason its artistic
failures were little less conspicuous. But now
adays there are to be seen on all sides UNI
doubted proof Of large cost. and the results arc
comparatively Disappointing. Unframed judg-
ment defeats the excellent intention and eS-
hibits chiefly the mistake Of allowing money to
be spent by persons who don't know how 10 do
it The professional costumers. with their linn.
ited horizon. and the wardrobe women. who
do SO much OF the work for our the
eatres. are no match for the artists
who de ign the best costumes OF Paris
and London, notably Of the English city. Evil
dencc Of the superiority of the London costumers
over most that we have here is seen in Faust"
at Roster & Balls. Ballots from the Empire
80 4, p,rofn ball ~ haar taIInl ~
in New York before, and the assertion made
that New Workers would not care for them.
Ordinary ballets have failed here. but this one Is
Q different affair. New York has never seen,
either at the opera or in the most lavish spec
tacles, such o beautiful production as this pam
tomime founded on Gounod's play. There are
three important scenes in the piece-the square
in N%urembnrs, the home Of MarSutrite
t&e subdaed, mellow tones that English scene
several hundred costumes displayed. and among
these there is not one suggestion of crudity in
the colors. which blend in g way that makes the
sight always harmonious. There Is in the design
of the clothes as much taste and artistic Judg-
mcnt. Most OF those worn in the earlier scenes
the opera. but in shape and colors they are about
AZ different from the average garo provided for
,h sanS' Even N @ nHls e Seau thSsn' sfe he can fsnt %she
CARDS, of the final scene, in which the scheme OF
color is rssulated y only a suggestion o OF the
AIRY s~pangled ~velvets or satins stiff with en-
oroidery In colors that swear at one another.
costumers matinee would be a graceful act on
the part of the management If the COS pc
tional in their skill and variety. Our mas
tiers OF the dance migtt. be asked to
something besides the lines OF skipping women
is possible in ballet. The manu.uvres are a
stance OF this production, is the use Of much Of
Gounod's music. with which New York audi.
, ences arc moro familiar than with any other
opera.
The play called "A Puritan Romance" an
nounced by Isabelle Everson, turns out to be a
dramatization of Augusta Campbell Watson's
novel, Dorothy, the Puritan" 1t Is described
as giving = more cheerful view OF early New
England life than is usually shown on the stage.
TWAS too long and slow. but has been improved
for this week in Philadelphia.
Another new piece which is being worked
o7er radically. in order to rid 1t of curablo
faults, is My Wife's Husband" the latest OF
Mr.. Du Souchels farces. The one which Mr..
Hroadhurst wrote for May Irwin. The Swell
4 Miss Fitzwell," developed weaknesses, too. but
, no doubt it will be sufficiently strengthened by
the time it gets into New York. One trouble
VIII It was a lack Of the comic singing, which
wv q lhlol u maj VI WIDE II
Robert b. Msnten Is using a new drama called
a Secret Warrant" and Wilton Lackaye is to
5ring out one entitled The Royal Secret
Were the names suggested by Secret Service T.
The advance agent TO laud a coming company
~ over plenty. but enc who goes forth on n
mlssi9n OF detraction is a novelty. Such a one
ssaid TO be travelling ahead of 1.-THE Geisha ="
the interest Of Augustin DAILY and against
mat OF William Jardine. This Is an outcome
y the controversy over the rights TO the play in
ms country, and does not affect the merits Of
the piece or it's performance.
THE annual entertainment for tho Actors
fand will be given at the Knickerbocker on tho
ntst Friday afternoon In December. Daniel
stohman has it In charge, and II 10 understood
mat nearly all the city managers will cooperate.
.lhe hard work one-niRht stands Is some
uMes less than that of rehearsing daytimes in
Hne cii. nd olay ing Mt night in "nother. viii
pntm j. Ferguson has TO make the journey from
rhilHdelphia TO New York and back every day
Lns week in order to be amusing in "A Bache-
= Cumberland '6l."
Eugenia Blair. Downing. hitherto the leading
i Scttess, with her husband, is out START Q alone
a. camille" and other emotional PLAYS. Bessie
Sonenill, whose tour enGed pfeniaturely last
week Joins " The Widow Jones'" not to assume
sny roe In that farce. but TO be introduced as a
!, Speel0iist Harriet Webb. the dramatic reader.
' sto go into vaudeville at Keith's. Mary Mar
%oTe, a sister OF Julia Marlowe. is an actress in
me French DOLL" but just now she is inca
baflI "A o ~ hU n ILL., -lrI-