The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-06-26
THIS WEEK ON OUR STAGE.
THE SERIOUS DRAMA NOT YET DEAD
FROM 1HE SUMNER HEAE.

neat, "uhb tnoEo 10 VI ilo lolb III H. hOWtNoIS
10 due In part TO tho vitality of the Two Nor
daunt-Block stock companies, neither Of which
consented to die at the time appointed. Tho
Ragged Regiment " is to be continued u while at
the Herald Square. Tho first performance OF
Ir. Stephens play at this theatre was its first
Rnywhere, and tho adjective in tho title was
applicable TO some Of the acting. But repetition
has cured that fault, and the representation is
now sufficiently rapid. so that things move
along smoothly and spiritedly to the really
thrilling climax.
The Harlem half Of tho Mordsunt-Bl
forces will hold the Columbus another week
and devote 1t TO modern native nolodrama of
the kind known as sensational. Eagles Nest
was written by the late Arden Smith for HIS
con, Ed win Arden, who enacted its hero during
several years OF tours. Its scenes are on tho
Western frontier, and its characters arc men
and women OF the borderland. MIR. Arden heads
the cast, of course, and with him are Marian
Abbott, Bijou Fernandez. Sheridan Block,
Werner Charges, and others of quite sufficient
ability to insure an adequate performance.
The entertainments to aid and honor Oscar
Hammerstein promise to yield n good amount
Of money to him. and relatively n far larger
quantity OF amusement to those who attend
them. They are to occur next Wednesday night.
The one In the Garden Theatre will begin with
an ~old-style first part in negro minstrelsy. for
which o dozen celebrities in that line of diver.
sion have volunteered. That will be followed
by a long vaudeville show, which is bound to be
novel. as those " no give it are all of good reputo
in burlesque, comic opera, and farce. In the
roof garden OF the Madison Square a fine and
friendly company of specialists from the vari-
ETY. stage will carry out an independ-
emit programme. In the an,phitheatro there
will be athletic sports, chiefly pugilistic,
and in these several illustrious opponents
will box one another. In the concert hall a
billiard match will be played. After those
three shows are over. n fourth will take place in
the amphitheatre, accessible to all who have
bought an entrance to any part OF the establish
ment. 1t will be n cakewalk by a numerous
party Of stage and other weIl.known people in
competition for a prize. Harlem will have its
independent affair for Mr.. Hammerstein at the
opera house which he built. The programme
there will contain music, specialties and por-
tions Of plays. The names Of the performers ad.
vertised for all these entertainments make a very
long list, and represent n vast deal of talent.
Indeed. there is such a host of volunteers that
the services Of all cannot be utilized. except in
that exceptional cakewalk. in which the ex-
hibits will be remarkable in number and at
~tractive in individuality.
Another tragcdian has enlisted for vaudeville.
and Proctor's Theatre will have his first per-
tormances among specialists tomorrow. This
hew continuous actor is Frederick Warde, who
lhus keeps in condition for travel next fall in
bhakespearean dramas. when he will have Louis
James and Rhea for his companions. For his
vaudeville start he has chosen the forum scene
rom Julius Caesar. This will be played with
he same scenery and costumes that would be
ased were the full drama to be done, and his
mob will be a stageful of dramatic school pupils.
The leader Of the specially forces will be Billy
Rice. a veteran mirth provoker of the negro
minstrel half circle, and the other contributors
are a capable lot of vocalists, jokers and sketch
folk. The latest Of the wars progress that gets
into moving pictures will be shown by the war
graph, whose views are rousers. Among the
pictures that are not doublc.shotted, one of the
surface Of the ocean in a storm, taken from a
boats deck. il a fine sight.
J. II. Stoddart will shift tomorrow to the
Pleasure Palace. there to give twice daily his
admirable representation of the aged father in
zone Touch of Nature" In this there is, of
course. no trace of anything that is not of the
best legitimate standards. and he makes the
playlet stand out as q thing in, but not of, the
variety shows. Next to his inning in conspicu-
business is that of the war-graph, a feature
whose life in the continuous shows was eX-
tended by employing 1t at picturins war scenes.
Already 1t has gone a step beyond showing
soldiers posed or parading. and views are had
~ $1,000 NtS 'AN 'hA 80 -
Bponsive missiles explode. 1t is shown how
fighters drop with hurts as well as deal them
out, and all with faithful realism. The special
lists will be Cook and Sonora, Josephine Gass-
man and her colored youngsters, Fields and
Lewis, Williams and Tucker. the Romalos.
Edwin Bennetto. Fialkowsky, Harlan and Yost.
and Harry Watson.
To-morrow's top-line item at Keith's that is
not in the specially way will be a comedietta
anfitlad '' The nnchauS ~ noyopSbir, - ,rbS,l
has been played here before. and which proved
well worth repetition. 1t engages Francesca
Redding, the first OF the star players to leave
the legitimate stage for vaudeville employment.
Her companion in this tiny costume" play
will be Carleton Macy. First of the specialists
will be Papinta. whose fourth consecutive
week it will be at this theatre. Her SER
pentine dances are illumined from below,
above, and about the stage. and by new
uses OF lights and ingenious costumes she
has made each weeks display different from
those that went before. To-morrow's steps will
have now framing. Among the others will be
Al Leech and the Roscbuds. three women who
aid him in a musical farce. the Glccsons, the
Coulson sisters, the Rossis and Sweet.
Tony Pastor will be heard in parodics at his
own theatre, and will company them with
frlsky stepping as practice for his coming cake.
walk contest. Among his companions will be
ben IL. farney, benarO ana BAILEY, Dean and
jose, C. w. Williams, Mulvey and Inman, the
Painter trio. the Freeze brothers. Lydia Trcna-
man, the Coliinses. the Brownings. Silbon and
Emerson. George ID, Melville and the Fords.
Two showings Will be made to-day at the Eden
MuSee of n score of new cinematographe views
from our war camps. and for the rest of the week
these will be displayed hourly. Coupled with
the new wax groups that show our half naked
Beamen, at their guns and that present the fea.
lures of our best known commanders. they sup.
ply tho Musee with features OF timely interest
h.plenty. Resides them are band concerts and
the rest of the wax show.
Roster & Balls now has the music hall field
TO itself. and responds with a bill that only a
large field could make profitable. Cooks
Tour" continues, and at the hands of the capa,
bio fun makers and vocalists it engages has be.
come n diverting offering of nonsense. Prcced,
ing II Ia a variety performance by t~rst-class
specialists. and after the performance, as dur.
ing It. there is band music to be heard on the
music hall roof.
Outdoor vaudeville is not as plentiful this year
as In recent summers. but its quality compares
well with that of the, indoor shows, The variety
show with n boat ride TO it was n satisfactory
diversion last summer, and is to be repeated
The Grand Republic, one of the largest pleas
ure boats of the local fleets. viii DO put to this
service, beginning next Thursday night. After