The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-07-18
SUMMER E%XTRAvAGANZAS.
NONSENSE IN CASH GIRL" AND
"THE MAID Dr. MANILA"

"
The Hot weather Stage at Brookiyn's Ber-
gen Beach md staten Islands Midland
B~ench-The Art Not High Nor the Morals
Very Low-Drnma mt Home and Abroad.
Bergen Beach Ia Just now n show centre.
Continuous vaudeville holds the auditorium or
lts pier; aquatic sports, the blowing up of the
Maine, and the sea fight at Manila occupy its
large inclosure. and q play OF musical folly Ia
given In its Casino. This pleco Is entitled
1.-THE Cash Girl" and its author. John Saun-
ders. plainly planned 1t for Brooklyn use, as its
local hits are many. II Ia q nonsensicnl
hodge-podRe. At the beginning its chorus
women are in a dry goods store. The
wares are painted. but the counters
are practical. and 50 are the rlacards on
the walls. for they are the advertisements OF
real tradesmen. Half OF the chorus women are
behind the counters and the others are in front
as shoppers. A floor walker Of tragic mien and
An untidy servant arc In contrast with comely
buyers and sellers. A Long Island rustic. n
German policeman. a confidence man" and a
concert hall director are the characters put
forward TO supply comicallty. A cash girl con-
tinually finding pockctbooks and jewels Ia q
newer parsonage. Following an opening chorus
there Ia some semblance to realism in the rus
tics ludicrous endeavors to execute his wife's
commissions. but the relationship of ac-
ton to surroundings Is not enduring.
and the second act is in a concert hall at Daw-
son City among whooping rcdmen and quick
shooters. These specialties are introduced In O
novel way. Within a frame at tho back Of the
stage is a Autograph poster bearing q picture of
some well known performer. A speaker calls
attention to the portrait disclosed and the
specialist stops forward to copy it. Vesta Tilley.
Lew Dockstader. Anna Held. May Irwin and
Peter +. Daley are thus presented. the imita-
tons in most cases being confined to singing a
song with which the origlna. has been asso;
each sS.iHS Vocalist ais waving u a Gag. Hiapris.hEab%Io% device;
is an accompaniment TO an air sung by six
sTI 9@S""t wo 1T tiny yi nHc;gfrSo'csS6fiHldren 1ii IN hPig RaS SfSs.
one bearing, a light. walk sobcriy across, the
policeman. whose blue uniform, has. given way
TO white, and whose clubis replaced by a flick
The actors have had n free license. George
Leslie. who can make himself appear to be
composed almost entirely of slim legs, may
and his INTRODUCING a variety pair as the
at Pastors. The author plays a part, and tells
Of his experience as a transformer in Hamlet.
f SHq Tsr Ees 4 in the he R 5Gs' R aS5 6% G al " o3ef. and Aha hid
how, was In the second act 7" You were
E isG. E al i IS sT p%Icntij ~ 1nS i cIean rs% and hs nTitS i nonai
10 the demands Of folks who are also in touch
with ocean breezes. The costumes. too. are to
10 COulHlNiNANu vi hNtNSN SuC Ia
an entirely respectable resort.
Staten Island is also supplied with n theatre
cal centre this summer. Midland Beach has a
theatre which is now in its second season of
burlesQue. The Maid of Manila" is the
timely title Of the work. The theatre draws
mainly on Staten Island and the n%eighboring
Jersey towns. although the ride from New
York Is an agreeable combination OF sail and
railroad journey. The popularity Of Midland
Beach is that other pleasures than those to
be derived from the stage performance are
accessible within the space OF the theatre build
ing. The burlesque is the thing. But the in
oidentals are carefully provided. The place
makes its appeal only TO persons in search of
decent and clean amusement and seeks only
patronage OF that kind; Its efforts to meet that
demand are successtully carried through.
The Maid OF Manila" considering that she
comes from such q remote region, is not unlike
by an American in the time of danger. The
first act passes, in Manila. the second in, the
i i1s an &me a%a 'e cRa 1a'ro eR with sht tHc four ci nR ?
that have become so popular in musical farce
S S%TiEs recent essstn ssi%sC.s' and there maric are V2 sdons
Si6S. i i %5 So SaSSs Of foE The Ks seSs5iSS:
taet9tum Of the United States Consul. bears the
itare an unusually comely lot and they are vi
yacious enough for summer burlesque. JohnF.
melodies - are AZ As Supplied Il" By p' William az BATE aatteShUe,lEiear s
although the current supply of popular songs
tor,hass a part of the music. n the natter q
Manila" does not suggest the real distance
between Midland Beach and Broadway. The
age. and at this season Of the year. when not q
tneatre in town is open, The Maid Of Manila"
over a larger region than Staten Island.
Sir Henry Irving has recently lectured in
England on State aid to theatres. and he seems
TO favor such u plan, although there Is
little probability that action OF the kind will
ever be taken in London. There commenced
recently an agitation to secure municipal aid
for an opera house. but nobody expects london
to give financial aid even to opera. which is
nearly always dependent on it. London in
reality needs State aid less than any other
Enghsh-speaking city" said q manager. THE
Lyceum Theatre represents the traditions Of the
English stage as efficiently almost as theThehtre
Francois accomplishes that purpose in Paris.
Ihe French theatre is more liberal than the
lyeeum to the works Of modern writer's. and
Fr iGT That R Eeas9H mo Trd typical f G Fl the stage n
ftfhSeaaStTFe; and Reef George rI Riexa an aor rep Mesestty.df
Almost as well the best principles OF the Eng
sSd ssfaSG Geb Az ,Juli hSoS G1ssrt given by Mr.; Tree s;
Nj, Alexander were achievements that rank
With no best 9fsir HenryIrviing's and represent
ScarnaiSS III u nraiha IN InoSt nohoIuDiS IaSliion,
view IN London some such performance. and it
Is WITH these productions Of Shakespeare's
pays that younger actors and managers seek
" gain recognition. 1t is Sir Henry Irving.
n course. who stands for the, English
easy ssS''t to m seS 6 s9RSp tSs Lycea anq cetouII ia f be-
greater credit to the English stage.
fven II 1t were, supported by the State.
testing plays which are less likely 10 receive
popular patronage, but it is doubtful 4 they
would repay the trouble. Even at the Theatre
tianca!s the plays which do not seem to- in
tt ofSs ne public are withdrawn from the roper
oolre whether they be classical or not. II they
are not interesting to the people. the theatre
makes no attempt TO keep them in view.
ltis possible for Sir Henry Irving as well as
NJ otheT actors 70 produce the shakespeare
gisys IN England because they are popular and
Then well known draw large audiences. Here
prOlmntlnns az thaan niunn In Inndnn IunIll