Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-02-22

GRAND OPERA HOCSE-Last half Of
week In Mizzourl'. first half OF next
week, The DeacOn's Daughter
OPERA HOUSE-Thursday. Donnely
and Girard i'm My Friend from India {;
Friday ard Saturday, Prisoner Of Zenda. -
MY Friend from India" the new
farce comedy which will be at the OPP
era House Thursday evening, February
18th, is the leading success and sur
prise of the current theatrical season.
1t began its career in a modest way a
few months ago and made such an in
Simultaneous hit that it was eagerly
sought for by the managers of theatres
in all the cities of this country and in
the capitals of Europe. 1t is said to
be uproariously funny and quite orig
inal in theme and treatment. TIE
company which will present it here is
an excellent one and includes among
others Donnelly and Girard and Miss
Maud Granger. The two comedians,
than whom none are greater favorites,
are cast in parts which fit their widely
differing personalities, as if they had
been made TO order.
Beginning thursday night at the
Grand Opera House, comes the Ameri-
can play, In MiZZoura,' Augustus
/ Thomas best effort. This season it
will be an entirely new production, new
stage setting taken from life, as ii were,
as it is from sketches made on the spot
where the story is located, and COM
pany specially selected by the author,
each one for their peculiar fitness for
the characters they are to portray, ana
In MiZzoura' is particularly strong IN
quaint characteriZations Mr.. Thomas,
who reharsed the company, says that
he never before rehearsed a company
that was peculiarly fitted in every way
to the requirements and a most de-
lightful performance is to be antici-
pated.
Perhaps the most welcome announce
ment the local management have made
this season is that concerning the COM
ing presentation of The Prisoner OF
Zenda." the most popular play OF the
period. 1t enjoyed a run of two hun
dred nights in New York. where he
theatre could rot begin to accommo-
date the crowds who wished to see it.,
1t has been the sensation on tour
wherever ii has been presented, and 1t
is now the reigning success of the Lon
don stage. It is play OF love and ad-
venture. and its atmosphere is that OF
genuine romance in which the stage
finds pre-emineutly its proper sphere
if its province is to entertain. There
is little need to refer to the play IN
detail. for everyone is familiar with
Anthony Hopes delightful story from
which it was dramatized. The play
is produced by arrangement with Dan
iel Frohman. manager of the Lyceum
Theatre. New York, and sterling cast
and an elaborate production is assured.
Opera House Friday and Saturday.
The Town Talk Company left over
the Z. & o. at 2:40 a. m. for Gin
cinnati. where they opened with mat
inee Sunday.
"The Deacons Daughter" This play
is presented by one of the cleverest
companies in existence every one OF
them being especially selected for their
adaDtabilitv in nortraying the charac-
fer they represent. The star, Miss LII
liam Kennedy. is the brightest lhgehu
soubrette in America. and in TINS com
edv she has a role which gives fuli
scope to her wonderful versatility. MS
play comes to the Grand the first hall
of next week.
Who has not read Anthony Hopes
thrilling fascinating romance, the "Pris-
ono. Of zenda." than which there is not a
more nopular story i'm contemporary fc-
tom Very few it may be imagined. for
I'm addition to the enormous sales the book
has had. the statistics of the public IL
brar-v in most every city show that during
tho last year ii has been in greater de-
r,aud than any other novel, standard or
otherwise. If fl is interesting as novel,
how much more so when life and action is
given TO its delightful characters in the
form of play. Those who have seen the
play find its greatest charm in the happy
blending of old time romance. with tho
heroism and emotions of our own day. as
exempliied i'm the character Of the young
I.nplisbrnan. Rasserdyll. Ii is this feature
of the dramatizatiou that makes the illu-
sion so perfect and makes IL so much more
accountable TO modern audiences, than its
c,p,ous predecessors THE Three Guards
mon OIL. Don Caesar Ct al. which seem so
intensely theatrical by contrast The play
Is n no presented M the opera House next
Friday and Saturday. and II IS superfluous
70 saw that regular piay-goers will look
forward TO IL as one OF the great events
of the season. Mr.. Alfred Bradley. who
was here last year. with the SD fated
els.