The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-11-20

Houston theater- goers were afforded the
rare opportunity last week of witnessing
three performances by the James Kidter-
Wardc company, one of the very strongest
combinations ever before the public. On
Wednesday might magnificent revival OF
Sheridan's masterpiece, THE School for
Scandal, was the bill: Julius Caesar
was presented on Thursday afternoon and
the engagement closed Thursday night
with "othello." The exquisite work of
the three stars was set off to the best pos
sible advantage by the use OF rich and
costly costumes, handsome scenery and
artistic accessories which were complete
in every detail. Messrs. Wagenhals q
Kenper. the clever young managers OF the
attraction, realize the value OF these things
and they have made the surroundings OF
their star triumvirate" worthy of the
artists who comprise it. The School for
Scandal" is featured above all the other
plays in the repertoire, and the performance
OF that brilliant old comedy was witnessed
by the largest audience OF the e1g5ge-
ment. The pgoiuatiom left absolutely
nothing to be desired, yet the statement Is
rcntured that the company appeared 10
better advantage in "Othello." with Miss
kidder as Desds mona, ALE, James in the
title role and MIR. Warde as Iago. IL was the
universal opinion of those In uhe audience
who had seel Booth, Barrett, Mccullough
and Others of that school Ia the piece, tha5
none OF them had ever Furnished u pr
torrance as smooth. as finished as tnor-
oughly artistic that OF Thursday night.
The strength OF the three stars was further
enhanced by the good work OF che support
ing company, Messrs Langdon, Cooke,
Clarke. tombstone and Hackett beng cspe-
eially deserving OF praise. in THE School
Tor Scandal Mr. Langdon and Mrs Van
denhoff gave delicious rendition of the
raIis OF Slr Peter T.azle and Mrs. Can
dour. respectively.
In this connection the public may be in
teres,ed in knowing that Messrs. Wagon
halls y Kemper originally engaged Mile
Hortense khea to occupy the posiuicn which
Miss Kiddcr now fills so completely and
so we'll. The contract with the French
tragedienne was signed, but she WIS taken
Ill prior to The Initial performance by HE
company, and, acing on the advice OF her
physicians. went TO Paris Under theze
circumstances Miss Kidder was engaged.
With all due respect to the French actress
aud her unluestioned genius eau not re-
frain iron saying that 1t would have been
great mistake 10 have placed her between
James and Warde. Mile. Rhea is an ARTIST
in the fullest sense OF the word, aud is one
OF the best women, personally, his. ever
graced stage yet IN the paris wnen
would have been assigned 10 her sac would
certainly have scored nothing like the per
feet success which attends Miss Ilidder
efforts. Mile. Rhea is getting well al Jng
in years and then, too. tho sens bic por-
tion of the American theater- going puoIc
does not care to listen for three hours to
the broken French which is NJ, near to the
English Language as the trd.celienne can
get. Imagine some OF those delicious
speeches of Lady Teazle's put in the mouth
OF Mile. Rhea!
There were two other attractions during
the week on Monday uight Frederic Bry-
ton presented the romantic play, For
given This was repeated AT matinee
On Tuesday, and on Tuesday night the en-
gagement was closed witA THE Ticket OF
Leave Man" Mr. Bryton Is a strong actor.
but he is handicapped by his yolo,, which is
by no means us good as II ones was.
Yesterday afternoon and last night
company headed by Katie Putnam pre-
scented "a Texas Steer" one OF the nun
niest OF all the Hoyt comedies The COM
papy is hardly as strong as the one with
which Tim Murphy appeared, but 1t sue
ceeded in pleasing the audience immensely.
They are telling funny story about
Stuart Robson up and down the Riato in
Gotham. Ut seems that MIR. Robson built