The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-03
THIS WEEK ON OUR STAGE.
THE r VIEW PLAYS Will BE OF
UNCOMMON INTEREST

Most singular among the five new plays TO De
.o,.1 In Now York this week, no doubt, Will DO
"ThsF First Born u drama OF lie ana dcatn III
tho Chinese quarter Of san FRANCISCO Inc
title Ia pertinent in n double sense on account
- ,bo co,,roversy over priority, as this piece
,yas the first born Of its kind on the stage All
readers of theatrical news know that II was
written by Francis Powers. that David Belasco
found IL in use in great vogue in the faclho
r,tv. that he and Charles Frohman bought
a. and that IL is to DO performed at the
Manhattan next Tuesday night. IL de-
ricts with explicit force. and n nat.
nraIness that Is said to bo profoundly impress
awe. A fathers v~engeful murder OF the man who
has stolen and killed his child. Tho untheatric
fidelity OF the representation OF Chinese man
pers and attributes seems to have equalied any
thing ever done on the stage. Mr.. Belasco has
handled the work for its production here, and 1t
may be that he has put some Of his own genius
into 1t. The company will be the same that
acted 1t in San Francisco, "The First Born
is short, and about half the evening will be dc.
voted to A Night Session.. a farce newly trans
fcrred from the French Of George Foydeau.
Tho fact that May Robson, Paul Arthur, f. NJ.
Holland, and Maud Haslam are in the cast OF
the jovial play indicates an intention to make
II hold its own in the bill with the tragic one.
Edward S. Willard will take possession Of the
stage at Wallack's tomorrow night, and pre-.
sent for the first time in America a drama by
Henry Arthur Jones entitled The Physician"
Mr.. Willard ia one of the masters OF character.
~ization, and Mr.. Jones is one Of the able writer's
OF metaphysical fiction. This conjunction OF
actor and author should be productive Of solid
results. The play has been used in London. Its
chief parsonage is n physician who, at the out.
set OF the action. is morbidly weary of his pro-
f,ratnn He 10 induced rnthpr apninst hiR will t0
take as 4 patient u young man zealously engaged
In advocating the cause of total abstinence. The
physician ascertains that the cause of the
patients nervous malady is not too close appli-
cation to his reformatory work, as his afaanced
bride believes, but is due to surreptitious in.
diligence in alcoholic stimulant. from which he
canrot abstain. Then the physician falls in love
with the woman. and soon finds himself con-
fronted by the question whether to expose the
truth against his sentimental rival. The treat
ment OF this proposition is in Mr.. Jones's best
vein, and very likely 1t will also prove to be in o
line with Mr.. Wizards best ability.
Richard Mansfield will play his annual en-
eagement this season at the Fifth Avenue, and
begin 1t as usual with q new drama. This actor
Invariably piques curiosity in advance OF his
productions, because his ventures are never
other than boldly and riskily artistic. In the
present instance he has taken the work OF an
author no less noted than himself for whimsical
genius. 1t is THE DEVILS Disciple" by George
Bernard Shaw. that will have its first represen-
tation on any stage tomorrow night, excepting
q public rehearsal yesterday in Albany. 1t was
Mr.. Sha " who wrote "Armsand the Man" which
puzzled and amused us, and it was Mr.. Mansfield
who interpreted one OF its characters in a vein
which made it singularly satisfactory. although
he was said to d~isplease the author by his serio-
comic treatment OF it. 1.-THE DEVILS Disciple"
Is American in theme. 1t illustrates an event
in our war Of the Revolution. The scenes are
partly in New Hampshire. and the action is as
Bociated with the surrender of Burgoyne. Mr..
Mansfeld's role is that of a man condemned to
be shot as a spy. His conduct in the face OF
death on the scaffold is q principal dramatic
element. This actor is now under the manage
ment OF A. NJ. Palmer. Beatrice Cameron
Mansfield remains at the feminine head of the
company.
Time has been taken at Hoyt's by Charles
Frohman for English versions OF French farces,
and the first in the series will be offered to-
morrow night. 1t is called THE Proper Caper.'
and is derived from lie Paradis." by Henne-
quin and Bilhaud. The novel idea in the piece
seems to be the putting forward of q Partisan
artist who, contrary to common usage, has in.
dulged in no liaison with the girl who serves az
his favorite model. He is about to marry, and
the father Of his prospective bride takes upon
himself the duty Of breaking off the imaginary
association. To humor and fool him. the artist gets
an actress to impersonate the model, and to re-
cite in seeming earnest the separation, scene
from Camille" Out of this conccit OF humor
the farcical complications arise. and 1t Is ex.
pected that they will. prove. amusing. The
Frohman policy Of assigning fully competent
appears to have been followed in this case, for
the cast names Thomas Burns, Kate Meek,
Henry Bergman, Alice Fischer, Amelia Bing-
nam, and other COmDetent Dlayer6, Thew ara
called, upon to figure mainly in comic scenes,
The doors Of the metropolitan Opera House
week from next Friday. night. Tho Banda Rosa,
one Of Europe's musical organizations. will
Is being imported by the Rosenfeld brothers. 1t
10 composed OF sixty Italians, led by EugeniO
Among the: vo sni sG aiso broSSgh e'g from s aSrop:
for these concerts is Margarete Won Vahssl, a
court opera singer for the King OF Saxony.
Among the plays without hgureheads among
their actors. but depending successfully upon
general merits in the piece and its representa-
ton, The Sign OF the Cross" is maintaining
Itself finely at the Fourteenth Street. Audiences
OF notably high character are witnessing the
performances Of this drama of carly Christian
faith and martyrdom.
A play that retains its name from year Il
year, but becomes annually a new entertain
ment 10 a considerable extent. is Eight Bells,
as given by the Byrne brothers company o
comedians. p~antomimists, acrobats. singers. anc
dancers. The mechanical scene OF the revolving
ship remains, Of course. and the story OF tn,
HONEYMOON journey is told again. but the inter
pol lie spccialties arc changed.
This is the final week OF Mature" ut tn,
Academy OF Music, where, during the past 81,
weeks. it has displayed its wealth of spectaculaI
glorlcs. As an example of the kind Of b llet ri y
tha' WIS first exploited notably here In 18th,
Bl'ck Crook" this piece IL interesting. Mucl
ingenuity, ns well 40 n heavy Investment O
money, Is manifest in its lavish mounting, IT.
toncIildlnt nights are 10 have fresh vaudevill,
Intersections.
Tomorrow will be moving day for "what
u opened 10 Jones" 1t will he taken from hi
Manhattan, where il has had a prosperouI
month, two blocks down Broadway to the Biiou
: Mhcrc II can remain as long AZ its vogue lasts
y Nrst performance there will be its dftieth 4 In
TINS rltS, AMI what are announced AS +" cold.te
bp9ven rs, the real nature OF which is NOT di
vn,.gcd' viii be distributed. Tho company vii
mot lie changed. We
Tho chem rtographir bathing scene in "Th,
rlr IN Midgcttown" has proved so amusinI
ann' i IS to no given IN an ampliticd form. II Il
ohe o! IN" many funny episodes in the extrava
shhiN winch cngrosses the unique personalitie
o. lhc Lillputians nj the Star, AMI which look