The herald., 1897-09-19

| professional hints and suggestions that
Mr.. Belasco may have given out Of his
| own wide knowledge, must still main
tain that Mrs. Carter il az. actress OF
superlative merit more in spite of rather
/ than because Of the professional assist
ance of her tutor. What preceptor, nc
matter what his skill or how much time
he might devote to the lesson, could
teach that wonderful climax in the Sec
ond act in "The Heart of Maryland
| where the tortured girl In the midst ol
her denupciation Of the spy, while rack
ed with the news that her brother has
| been shot under cruel circumstances and
! anxious to avenge his death and save
his honor, finds suddenly that the sup
posed spy she has been denouncing is
her own lover. The agonized cry with
which she recognizes him and falling
PROSTATE sobs out, "Allan, I didn't
know. didn't know" is a master stroke
Of dramatic genius and as fully proves
the artist as the great scene in the third
act where she turns upon the villain and
almost annihilates him.
Following out the thought that q GER
tain elevation of style is required for
melodrama, 1t follows that Photographic
accuracy is not to be desired even in
the matter Of costume, If, in SO doing
the result should prove likely to be dis
pleasing to the eye and taste Of the au-
dience. For instance, while the uniforms
Of the soldiers Of both sides in 1.-THE
Heart Of Maryland" are so accurate
that they are actual uniforms that were
used on the field, it would never do for
| Maryland Calvert as the heroine Of the
piece to go on the stage in the fashiona-
BILE costume Of 1863. I am not aware
that this idea has occurred to any of the
numerous critics who, during the lasl
few years. have passed upon the per-
formance, but 1t is fact nevertheless,
that If the much lauded accuracy in
matter of costume and general detail
were carried out in the heroine's case
the resulting spectacle would be undig-
| nified in the extreme. Maryland Calvert
climbing those belfry stairs encountered
by an enormous crinoline, her auburn
locks surmounted by turban hat and
finally swinging out into mid-air on. the
clapper Of the huge bell, Is picture not
to be thought Of without shudder. Mrs
| Carter surmounts this difficulty in he
roic fashion by simply adopting a cos
tune which is perfectly becoming to her
style and pleasing to the eye Of the be-
holder, and the fact that it is chrome
| logically inexact is not at all disturbing.
| 1 simply bring forward the instance to
show that there may be occasions when
realism might be carried too far.
That Maryland Calvert is good girl
| according to Mr.. Belasco's idea is proved
| by the fact that she quotes scripture,
but at least Mr.. Belasco might cause her
| to quote 1t correctly. He makes her say
"Out of the deep have cried unto Thee,
| o Lord" for deep substitute depths, -
which gives it another and more signifi-
cant meaning, particularly as applied
| to the condition of the hapless heroine.
The current issue Of the New York Dra-
matte Mirror contains the first INSTALL
ment of the theatrical roster for the sea-
son Of 1S97-9S, and states that:
"In the first installment of the Roster
for the season of 1S96-97 there was total
of 203 American companies. The list pub
lished this week shows 273 American COM
panies, an increase of seventy over the
showing at this date year ago.
when the list for the season Is COM
pleted, a comparison of value will be made
| with the list of a year ago. In the mean
time it may be said that there is much en-
couragement to be derived from perusal
of the present list with that Of last season
at this time. The increase in the number
of stock companies devoted to good drama
is notable; the increase of dramatic COM
panies, or companies dealing with the more
ambitious and serious Of plays. as distin-
guished from those of lighter and more
| ephemeral character, is remarkable, and
the new productions are apparently to be
| more numerous and more elaborate in plan
than for several seasons. The Mirror con-
| tinues this season the publication of a
| Roster of English companies, feature
original with this paper year ago."
| + +
| Stage Manager Millward tells a story
of the big boots he wears while playing
the part of the jailer in 1.-THE Heart of
Maryland" The boots are of enormous
size and extremely heavy, so Mr.. Mill
|
part, has to be all over the stage, d.
recting the lighting, the supers, and see
ing to the setting Of the scenes, thought
it would be good idea to have the boot
soles covered with rubber to prevent
needless noise. He accordingly left the
boots with disciple of Crispin for that
purpose, and calling again to get them
had the satisfaction OF seeing a gaping
crowd admiring his old trotter cases
which were displayed in a window and
labeled in large letters, Just From
Klondike."
| At 10 o'clock tomorrow evening the
patrons Of the Orpheum will have an op.
portunity Of listening to the strains oil
the Knaben Kapelle band, the music o.
which will come by telephone wire direct
from the Orpheum in San Francisco
The band iscomposed of forty Hungarian
boys from the military school of Buda
Pesth, brought to this country under &
special government concession granted
to Manager Walter, who had to Civ,
heavy indemnity bonds for the safety
and good treatment Of the lads. Thei
music has aroused wide interest in Sar
Francisco, and the name of the band viii
be on the Orpheum bills here in very
few weeks. In the meantime the man
agement has undertaken q novel and in
terestinp exnerfm emit the first OF tn e. kim