The sun., 1897-11-25
AFFAIRS OF THE THEATRE.
A GOOD PIlY or ANY GLASS rs AC-
CEPTABEE AT AMI TIME.

Kxhibits or Arctic Ezpisratien aua New York
Crine In wax works at the Eden Musee
Many experts in theatricals do not believe
that such thing as fashion in tho drama ex-
lists. In their opinion q really good play Will
always succeed, whatever the style may DO. 1t
IL q significant feature Of the present prosperity
Of what are known as costume plays that,
dating from Tho Prisoner OF Zenda," the
examples have been good dramatic art. They
had something else besides their pictur-
esque clothes and their romantic atmosphere to
recommend them One such play has been act-
ed uninterruptedly for long time. That Ia
Tho Three Guardsmen," which in any change
Of popular taste has always held its own. II
"Under the Red Robe" had not been strong
work, It would not have drawn large audi
ences for such long time. Castle Som.
bras" was romantic, and so was "ChanEo Alley"
but that did not save them. Surely New York
was not pining for one Of the older Dumas's
earlier trines, a charade 30 slight that 1t can
be only with difficulty stretched through four
acts; yet "A Marriage OF Convenience" has
proved an exceptionally powerful attraction at
the Empire. There could be no better evidence
that public taste does not run to certain direc-
tons than this comedy's success. There has
been no revulsion from the liking for the dramas
Of chivalry and romance. "a Marriage Of Con.
venience" has pleased tho public simply be-
cause 1t Is an agreeable work of kind not fire.
uently represented But its character could
not have won acceptance for It II 1t had not Of
itself been good. The experience Of "Rose-
mary" was somewhat similar. When that COM
edy became popular We were told that the pub
lie was ready for the idyllic and the simple. But
"Under the Red Robe" came attcrward, only to
provo that melodrama was as puissant rs ever.
The men who hold that the good play always
bna fta Vvhntayar ita atvla or ita
period may be, seem to have the better side OF
| the argument
The manner Of the acting in "a Marriage Of
Convenience" is modern, Of course and possi.
| bly, Elsie Dc Wolfe more than any Of her asso.
ciates has q touch of just the necessary arti.
hciality. which IL the essence Of the play; She
| has rarely been moro beconingly dressed, and
the white wig which oyerwhelmed Miss Irving
is an adjunct which Miss De Wolfe is lucky, to
that as well we'll i as the rather excessive draperies
of the time. Her performance like all she does,
in the first act. when Marion is speaking to her
| OF the Cherdtier dc pdtctos. and, with pretsnco
shs aeGtS not to listen than 70 her
scenes Of complete charm. and these can bo best
indicated by calling attention to her acting in
the parting OF Fiaria was delicate and pathetic.
as well as to the more brilliant episode Of the
There are bits of her acting us the MdrQufss do
| Cdnddle quite equal to any Of those earlier Of.
French m besu Sse aSfs iSo s
which leads one to think that, even with his
and the proper top hat are better suited to his
methods. but his rare finish as a comedian and
his nicely shaded art always have their value.
Frost has settled deep on the space in the
Eden Musee that was once filled with life-like
images Of Japanese acrobats, and that later
had the Prince Of Wales atop an elephant and
indulging in rifle practice at q tiger hungry
looking enough to be right from Africa's jun
giles or furrier's window. Now all is as II
West Twenty.third street were within the
Arctic Circle. Peary, accompanied by the
only uneaten dog of his pack. trudges along over
glistening snow toward the spot where Nansen.
with his back turned but merely to signify
that he is many frozen miles away, is meeting
Explorer jackson on the floating ice pack.
Still further around the circular group Greely
and Lockwood arc seen in company with Bic
derbeck and Brainard Here Is q native sledge
drawn by dogs, and within the circle that the
figures of the explorers make are Esquimaux
hbo1e al IS the OF
balloon, and IN 1t that, explorer is seen as he
is designed by Albert Operti, who has made
three trips to arctic regions. Another large
view yesterday. afternoon. It shows dance
and merrymaking BY Esquimaux In Danish
| Greenland.
Downstairs in ono of the dark dungeons Of
tho Chamber of Horrors is q new blood curder
It IL supposed 70 show the bathroom Of u The Is, cot
Gieldsensuppe met his death, but the act OF Kill
ing was altogether too mild for tho gropI
feet and legs of the naked corpse. its shoulders
being at the bottom of the tub while the fee
Martin Thorn bends over a small table. HI:
coat and vest are on and his % sleeves & are S rolief
Thorn "a banda and SleAvRa r hloof
stained. and bis fingers are thick with mas
OF plaster OF paris. with which he has begun t
ereepy Sn0 suSject DONE WITH E greater eater realism
than IS usual with the downstairs exhibits Be
ts1sn be- iard to % picE W the ] more shTsry one. "'
Every effort to put Passion Play on tn,
American stage has been defeated by tho oppo
sition of Mayors and Aldermen. Last yeal
Prof. Cromwell reproduced the Ober-Ammer
gau performance partially by means of picture
| and descriptive lecture. and even that treat
} ment of the subject for amusement purposes ex
cited some blame. In Philadelphia the cinemato
graph Is now being utilized to show the Ger
man peasants' representation Of the tragedy o
tho cross and an eocutionist reads appropri
, ate matter.
The press agent never gets line into tn
Sun, but he is by no means useless employe
In some places. Our readers will understand.
: says tho Herald OF Sauk Center, MIMI, tina
r what we publish about shows Is written by tn
l showmen themselves, and We assume no re
: sponsibility."
= Here is a vaudeville appeal to contemporant
o GUS human interest. An actress In Boston call
a herself Goldie Klondyke, and describes her &C
: : as native Alaskan skirt dance.
r The revival OF stock companies In Wesrer
: cities has not been generally prosperous Thos
|; have disbandedd The weekly change OF 81
a casts often assign actors to unsuitable role
/ the mountings are mGkeshift, and. although th
admission prices are low, people do not feel the
they get their moneys worth.
Julia Marlowe contompates the male role {
Nero. the Roman Emperor. Agnes Booth wi
q not do any acting this season. Elizabeth Tyre
i Is too i'll to appear in The Princess and u
|. company soon. Julie Opp, the siy.foot beaut
who y playing the principal role in that piec
r has been done in London. Mary ManIeri'.
= Daniel Frohman's company Maud OdelI he
!. been loaned from, the Lyceum 70 take part
. the Earth" Julia Iierne, daughter of Jam,