The herald., 1897-05-09

lpally through pity. Then Lux decides
to leave him and cast her lot with her
mother. The father, who has just COM
pleted his term of imprisonment, takes
the family to Monte Carlo. Dolberg,
unable to live without LUX, follows her
to Monte Carlo and tells her that he Will
follow her TO the end of the world. The
father loses his last penny at the gam
bling table and very considerably puts
himself out of the way with pistol ehot.
while Dolberg holds Lux in his arms
at the fall of the curtain. The supporting
company failed to scintillate with any
degree of briliancy when their acting
was compared with that of Frau Sorma.
A very clever one-act piece, entitled,
"By Hook or BY Crook" was performed
at the last matinee given by the Empire
school of acting in New York. The play
was written by Miss Alice Yates Grant
of San Francisco. An eastern critic says
that Miss Grant is to be congratulated
for the originality and humor shown in
her sparkling little piece.
Beerbohm Tree had over 10000 appli-
cations for seats for the opening nigh;
of his new theater in London, called Her
| Majesty's theater. On the opening niuht.
April 29th, an overture especially COM
posed for the occasion was played. At
its conclusion Mrs. Tree, attired in clas-
sic costume, appeared in front OF the
curtain and delivered rhymed address.
| The verses began with quotation from
"AlPs Well That Ends Well" Mr. Tree
being of the opinion that the first words
spoken on the stage of the new house
should belong to Shakespeare. The
opening play was THE Seats of the
Mighty"
1t is reported that Madame Melba will
not appear al the grand opera season at
Covent garden, the management having
refused to accede to her demand of $1,000
a night.
| Albert Chevalier has completed the
book and lyrics of his two-act musical
comedy. "The Land of Nod" which will
be produced in London. In it Mr.. chev-
alier will play Professor Peter Pinder,
changing later to a cockney butler, in
which character he will sing more of his
ditties. The music, which was COM
posed for Alfred H. West, is of catchy
character.
Brandon Thomas has written a new
comedy, entitled, "22 Curzcn Street,
Mayfair" which is said to be exceeding
ly. funny and strong in situation. Some
time ago a play called mo. John
Street Adelphl." was produced at the
Vaudeville in London, and another
named mo. III Arundel Street" There
is of course, no such number in Curzon
street, any more than there was num-
ber 81 in the same thoroughfare. which
was the residence of Becky Sharp Her
bert Standin will produce the new COM
edy.
"The Maid of Athens" has been chosen
as the title of Adrian Ross and DR.. Os-
mond Carr's new musical comedy short
| ly to be seen at the Opera Comique, Lon
DON AS is suggested by the title, the
subject is partly Greek, and the second
act will disclose many costumes of that
country An exceptionally strong COM
pany, comprising Lottie Veune, Ada
Reeve, Lottie Collins f, ]. Lonnen, Fred
Storey and Horace Mills will interpret
the piece. The date of production will
be the latter part of May.
Edward E. Rice has been having trou-
BILE with the management of the Duke
of York's theater regarding the play
Lost, Strayed or Stolen" The English
rights having been fully secured Mr.
Rice has returned to New York and the
piece will be produced this month.
John ]. McNally's new musical farce,
'The Good Mr.. Best" has proved sue
cess in Boston. The text is said to be
bright and the music catchy. The third
act has a genuine farce novelty. Best's
residence is so arranged that a person
can sit in the living room and by press
ing an electric button can see what is
going on in any room in the house. Best
tries the invention and Gees his wife in
her room, making her toilet. He also
sees young man enter the room, pull
down the window curtain and embrace
her. Later the wife sees her husband in
a situation which nearly drives her wild.
while the audience roars with laughter.
The effect is gained by the use of the
kinetoscope and projectoscope. and is
similar to the vitascope pictures, save
that in this instance the very characters
of the play are shown enacting scense.
which are part and parcel Of the plot of
the piece. This effect alone, judging by
the sensation it has created, will make
the success Of the new farce.
! A correspondent, writing from Italy
to the New York Dramatic Mirror.
speaks Of the decadence Of the Italian
stage and says that it is owing to the
present system of companies travelling
all over the world. Milan, Turin, Flor
ence, Naples Genoa and Bologna. which
We're once so famed for their opera sea-
sons, are now bitterly complaining OF
this universal travelling system, which
deprives them of their best artists year
after year AT the most they are allow
ed the privilege of hearing one of their
own great artists, say four times during
the year, Yet Italians will pay as lib
orally as other people when there is any
, thing worth paying for. Meanwhile the
great winter season of Italy is now a
thing of the pasta legend. Art has
become speculation--a hunt after wealth