The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-06-08
THEATRICAL ADJUSTMENTS.
TWO SARDOU COMEDIES LMONG THE
WEEKS PLATS RENEWED.

WEEKS PLArS RENEWED.
TIVE Operas and m EnGlish Drama AISs Brought
Ferward-The Annual Rieotlsn OF the Dram
alto Fund-A little nit or - Vocalist.
Two of viotorien SArdou's old comedies are
newly brought out this week. While they do
not and cannot DO made to take anything like
an equal hold with the Sardou melodramas upon
theatrical audiences. they arc excellent examples
OF the French playwright's work in a lighter
vein. Diplomacy" with its social Adventures
enacted forcibly and f~eolinEly by Blanche
Walsh, and fits maiden very Bwectly by Una
Abel, IL presented with generally good effect
by the stock company at tho Herald Square.
Mr.. Davenport, Mr.. Boucicault. and Mr.. Nor
daunt are the male mainBtays In tho cast. Dl-
vorcons," which is tho nearest that:Sardoue YER
came to writing n farce, 10 in use at the Fifth
Avenue, with Minnie Madden Fiske repeat
ing her portrayal of The heroine. Mrs. Fiske
does not in the ~taintest suggest a Partisan
woman of fashion in polish Of manner or ele-
Ganco Of dress, nor does she develop any distinct
individuality In the place Of tho ono created by
the author. 1t must bo sat down, therefore. as
IN inartistic performance, though doubtless
satisfactory TO those who are willing to accept
Mrs. Fiske'B whimsicalities without cavil. Mr..
dc Belleville, az tho husband, Mr.. Figman as
tho lover, and Mr.. Lang as the waiter, who in
this version becomes an Italian. are admirable.
Tho Strauss operotta, "The Bat" is being
played in English by the Steindorrf company at
tho Harlem Opera House. Unreadiness was
manifest on Monday night, but there was an
improvement last night, and during tho rest
Ct the week the really ~frst.rate cast will be in
good working order. The opera current at the
American Is The Bohemian Girl" This In
the closing week Of Tho Little Minister at
the Garritk. and OF Shenandoah" at the Acad-
aNnr nf httai fEl AInNh vi thA lnWNNA d
continued at the Lyeeum, Way Down East"
at the Manhattan. and 'Erminio" at the Casino.
this week i ED'F !cslpiain swift" wv With EdwIn
MabnI S A. tho SnS 1oc Hnrn.r nf man Tor and mo T With
time In employment there.
Vaudeville shows ARE plentiful and divert
ing. Standing out for stirring vocalism in the
ts Helene Mora. and here Charles Kent and
Eleanor Barry are interpreters OF an Augustus
rist Of novel method. The Pleasure Palace has
Lottie ellison for its chief balladiSt, Laura
Joyce Bell being concerned in a musical sketch
Downing, mirrored dances from Papinta, and
double service from the Rvssows. Pastors en-
CdSaa MNuo mcintyre ana James f. h0oS among
headed by Caiccdo and John Kernel for the
Harlem. and q new musical review for Roster
S 8 RlnfSi wh "Wsr are Su t5S E9s Is IN 0 c0atiGsa aHs
at the. Olympia roof. and hero Imro Fox is
specialist In chief. SpeciRlties, burlettas. and
the bill at Sam 7. jacks. The finest Of the wax
exhibits ct the Eden Musee are the newest once.
the Casino Roof Garden. Which viii be Controlled
this year by L. f. Rice. A beginning Is set for
one week from Saturday night.
The Actors Fund of America had its seven
teenth annual meeting at Hoyt's Theatre yes.
terday. The election of officers was the chief
business transacted. Tho regular ticket was
elected. This retains Louis Aldrich as Prcsi-
dent. Frank Sanger is Vice-President, and tho
other officers are: Second Vice. President, John
Drew; Secretary, Daniel Frohman; Treasurer,
Andrew A. Mccormick, and trustees for two
years, W. H. Crane, Al Hayman. Harrison q.
Fiske, F. F. Mackay, Frank G. Cotter, William
A: brady, Edwin Knowles, and Eugene Tomp-
kins. There was a good .sized gathering in tho
theatre. and many. OF tho prominent mombers
was supposed that there would he decided oppo.
sition to the name of II. @. Fiskc, as he is tina
editor of a theatrical trade paper that has re-
Gently attacked most OF tho prominent and sue
cessful managers of this country. AS these are
s saS ' 70 hSyye iit 81 m ssSp StthhSre Win Sle 6 Rho mssHod IS
which have led to his arrest on the ground of
libel. as we'll AS to the action of the Grand Jury.
which last week found an indictment against him.
tits known that his presence on the Board ofTrus-
tees Is obnoxious to some OF his fellow members
Frohman,, ! Hayman, and Daniel FroLmen.
three of the largest producing managers OF this
Souulry.. were submitted .Oy- marry mann, Dlr.
Hnyman's brother, who had been authorized
to take this action in case Mr.. Fiske was elected.
It was decided to hold an extra meeting on
Dec. 20 to consider the question of building or
buying a home for tho use Of the charges of the
fund, II was announced that tbs assets OF
the society arc now 5000. 600. There are 900
Iearly members and 80 lie members. OF those
200 yearly aud 35 life members haY Q joined dur.
ing tho past year.
Vaudeville d6butants nre In two sizes al
Keith's. Robert Downing, stHlwart and robust
was one beginner. and Charles Rossow was an
other. He is the smaller of two tiny dwarfl
who copy the featS Of athletes and Rcrobats
and who end their inning with a lively boxing
bout. Besides his share in this speciality, be
hold the stage alone as a comic vocalist, ap
p0aring as an imitator of Sandow just before
Downing in the programme. and rs n diminu.
tive counterfeit OF the short skirts sisterhood
Immediately after him. A wig OF yellow curls
q short pink dress. flesh .colored stockings. and
baby shoes mado.the serious faced little singer
an odd sight, and there was enough clever
ness in his song acting to warrant his now en-.
ploymnnt. First, he bold a doll and sana
Stanzas with the refrain. My dolly's bigger'I
your doll" With the statement that his toy
closed its eyes when it went to sleep, tho tol
soberly pulled one of bis eyelids down. and
with. the catch line he pointed into tho audience
as Il indicating an individual, speaking with
childish positiyeness with which his old manner
contrasted oddly. Another Of his three mum
bers was q coon" song with the oftcrepeatet
and was, accompanied by q cake walk stru'
that made tho wee mite a comic figure. III,
voice was a thready pipe, so light that it helt
tho house In a hush, but the tiny singers no
rule that gives approval TO yocGlists proportion
at6ly with tho volume of their tones.