The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-19
NEWS OF THE STAGE LAND.
THE THEATRICAL. SEASON TAKING
ON a BRIGHTER ASPECT.

sen ana Frank TanuehIIi, Jr., in
Nancy Hanks Bancroft. Herr
mann's Successor in Legerdemaim.
"1492' at Three Performances.
The Same old Devils Auction"
Maud Adams n Star-SIIIe. CIeOe de
MerOde, From Gay Paris, the lat
est New York Fad.
The Devils Auction" which was given
at two performances yesterday, was the
only attraction last week THE Widow
Goldstein" was booked for last Wednesday
night, but Cancelled the engagement on
account of the illness of the leading man
of the company.
The Devils Auction" is the same old
show that it used to be when many of
the baldheads who sat in the front row
last night found it necessary to use a
brush on their hair 1t did not even have
a new dress, though the old one was
patched up a little. To those who have
never seen it before it may have gone all
right, but to the theater-goer who has
listened to the hackneyed lines and
watched the same scenes it palled. Still,
when the show comes next year-which it
found there.
Miss Mayme Mayo, who plays the lead
ing soubrette part, is as clever as she is
pretty, and her specialties were decidedly
the feature-the only good feature-of the
performance. Some of the specialtes
were fair, but most of them were worn
out.
The Phantom brothers act on a trapeze
would be good if it were not for the coarse
jokes and suggestive gags" which they
get off. Some of them were nauseating,
they were SO pointed.
Notwithstanding the weather was bad,
both the matinee and the night houses
were good.
The theatrical season will take on a
brighter aspect this week, and from now
on the attractions will come more freely.
The theater will be open every night, but
one this week and there will be two matt
nee performances. Nancy Hanks mu-
steal comedy, with Marie Jansen and
Frank Tannehill, Jr., will he here Monday
and Tuesday nights and Tuesday matinee.
Bancroft, the magician, will give one per-
Torrance Thursday night. 1882 musical
= Il
and Saturday nights and Saturday matt
nee. There will be comedy, legerdemain
and extravaganza, and every one of them
is said to be good attraction.
A pretty little story is told of how Frank
Tannehill came to write Nancy Hanks
1t seems Mr.. Tannehill bought some stock
in a gold mine in Colorado when he was
younger and less inexperienced than he is
now The mine was so we'll salted' that
it has been kept fresh in the memory of
Mr. Tannehin ever since. He lost so
much in the venture that he conceived the
idea of writing a story of Il in order to
get some of his money back. With the
irony of sarcasm he makes the stock in
his play become fabulously valuable. The
play is a bright, sparkling comedy, full
of humorous complications and situations.
Marie Jansen has the reputation of be-
ing one of the prettiest and cleverest
commediennes on the American stage. She
is one of the many favorites of the Ca
sino in New York, where Della Fox, Vir-
ginia Earle, Theresa Vaughn and Lucy
DAILY made names for themselves. Miss
Jansen has never been seen here since she
has been a star Two years ago she came
here with "Delmonicos at Six" but was
called away the night of the performance
by the news of the death of her mother.
Frank Tannehill, Jr., deseends from a
family of actors, and inherits his ability
from his father. who is a successful CO.
median. He has appeared in some nota-
Bile productions and was well received in
London.
The field of magicians has many expo
nents but Bancroft who claims the mantle
of the late Hermann is one of the fore
most. Bancroft is a young man but his
success in the black art has be IN rapid.
He spent long time in India studying
black n
east, who are known to be the most Won
derful in the world. His slight of hand
work is quite clever, while his mechanical
illusions are both wonderful and pleas
ing.
The scenery used by Bancroft is said
to have cost a large fortune. A magnif-
cent scene is the "Court of Enchantment,"
in which Bancroft bewilders, mystifies
fascinates and entertainS with battling
feats of sleight of hand. THE Miracles of
Chunder Hula" and the Mystery of Mes
rour" are two of his great illusions Black
art Is presented under the title of the
Mystery of the Yogi" and this scene is
said TO eclipse anything that has ever been
done by magicians that have copied the
magicians of the east.
''1492" is satire on the time of Chris
topher Columbus and the episode of that
gentleman discovering America. 1t was
brought out in 1892 and ran for two years
in New York. The first act shows the
court of Ferdinand and Isabella in Spain
surrounded by the courtiers and court
ladies. This scene permits of a lavish
stage establishment and the act closes
with a beautiful stage picture and tableau
The second act is in Madison Square, New
York, and the shade of Columbus appears
to see his America of 1892. The last act
is back in Spain with the imperial house.
hold 'in hook"
1t is a combination of comic opera,
vaudeville and farce. 1t is filled with
amusing jokes and the mingling of fif-
teenth with nineteenth ideas makes gro
tesque situations. Stuart, who is known
as the male Patti, takes the role of Isa-
bella and Miss zelma Rawlston has the
next principal female part. The company
is said to number seventy people.
Maud Adams made her debut as a star
in Washington last week. She appeared
in 1.-THE Little Minister" a dramatization
of the well-known novel Of the same name
by ]. NJ Barrie. Miss Adams was lead
ing lady for John Drew for several years,
and is considered one of the most talented
and natural actresses on the stage.