The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-24

Nine. Melba returned to New York Sat
urday and will go at once to Philadelphia
TO begin rehearsals with the DamroSch
Opera Company.
E. II. Sothern has put Mr.. Anthony
Hopes new play, 1.-THE Ladies' Duel" into
rehearsal, and will produce it during his
philadelphia engagement. 1t is likely that
the title Will be changed.
James F. Hoey, the comedian known as
Young Mule" the brother of the late "Old
Hoss'' Hoey, who has been suffering for the
last two months from a severe attack of
nervous proStration and liver complaint, is
row almost entirely recovered, and in a few
weeks will be able to take up his work on
the stage.
Mr.. ]. D. Leffingwell, Otis SINNERS rep
resentative. presents the following from his
note book: 1T is 237 years to-day since
woman part has been played by woman
on the English stage. Prior to that time
all the female parts had been played by
young men or boys. The woman in ques-
ton was a Mrs. Huges, who appeared as
Desdemona, in "OthelIo," at the Den-street
Theater, Claire market on Nov. "a, 1860.
Comparatively little is known OF Mrs.
Huges, save that she afterwards became
the mistress of Prince Rupert, and that
she bore him a daughter, who married
Lieutenant General Howe and who died at
Somerset House. De Grammont speaks of
Mrs. Huges in his memoirs. He says that
she had a great deal OF influence over the
prince and the liason was a very good
thing for his highness. for he became ;bet-
ter tempered under the influence OF the
gypsy as he called her. Many OF the boy
actresses during their enforced idleness,
the theaters being closed for ten years UNI
der Cromwell, joined the Kings forces, and
some of them gained commissions
New plays are most uncertain quantities.
and it is not until the public has passed
upon them that either the actor or the
manager can tell whether or not it is a
prize or a blank which they own. After
Otis Skinner had finished his new romantic
comedy Prince Rudolph" and it repre-
sented many months Of hard work, the
question of its success or failure stared
himself and his manager, Mr.. Buckley
square in the face. A great deal depended
upon the success of the play. The public
seemed to have tired of the plays of Shaks-
peare, and new romantic plays were very
difficult to obtain. Then came the night
of the production. The audience was a
friendly one, but there was no mistake
Prince Rudolph" had made a great big
honest hit. The next morning the cap
tious gentlemen of the press declared in
favor of the new play and its success was
assured. There were, Of course, many
without delay 91 and the he play started on its
travels. In every city in which II has been
presented Prince Rudolph" has been the
best thing Skinner has brought out. The
action of the play takes place in the early
years Of the present century. the scenes be-
ing located in one of the smaller German
prfncipalities, and it is said that from the
first to the final curtain the action never
for a moment flags. 1t is to Robert Louis
Stevenson that Mr.. Skinner is indebted for
the theme Of the story, for it is from
Prince Otto" that he has taken it, but
the play can hardly be called an adapta-
ton, for there is more original matter in it
than there is borrowed, and the character
of the principal character, the prince, has
been entirely changed.