The times., 1898-02-06
NEW YORK'S NEW PLAYS
Wilton Lackaye Declines a
Vaudeville Offer.
WILL STAY In THE LEGITIMATE
William II. Crane Doesn't Know
Yet whether His New Play Has
Made Hit-GIace Golden and
Dorothy Morton as Co-Sfars-
Other Events of the Week.

New York, Feb. "a mere fifteen-ipch
snow cannot feaze tie New. York theaters,
and ali did good business last week. VIII
iau II. Crane is at present the chief object
OF interest Last week 1t was THE Tree
OF Kno Wedge" the latest daring play
prodGced al Mr.. Dan Frohman's LyceUm
Theatc1 This week, MIR. Crane has the
center of Now York's forty theatrical
stages. His Virginia Ceurtsi,ip,' already
seen in Washington, was given its first
New York production last Monday night.
1t is hard "a say whether il is a success
or failure. Mr. Crane mas been playing
il for three months and hasn't yet found
out. II has oaideXpenses all the way from
the Pacific coast into New York, but II IS
not scoring the immense returns he ex-
pected. Air. crane's strong personal pail
enticeslarge audiences tothe Knicke rbocker
nightly, but they go to So Mr. Crane
rather than he play. II will, however, run
three weeks Ionger in New York.
The chief event OF interest for next
week is the first appearance In America
for several years OF Nine. Modjeska, who,
supported 10y Joseph Haworth' viii appear
at the Fifth Avenue Theater in another
OF those everlasting historical COSTUME
plays, MARY stuart That natue tells
the W hole story, and it is needless TO touch
upon the tnouTnful subject further Every
one hopes that MoqgeSka VIII score a hit
in New YORK since she is powerful actress
and has not ibeen seen here for s0ne
wears But why did she not produce
novel MAY, ,r at least one that does not
deal in history. and give opport nuities
for rich costuuing and handsome and
elaborate scenic effects?'' John Drew
has always .ad 4 monopoly in that line
although his last play, "A Marriage OF
Convenience is hardly handsomely cos
tuned" and lacks soIue OF the rich scenic
effects" sou,e critics have alleged it pos
sesses.
There is tery interesting rUmor around
concerning he Castle Square Opera orn-
pany. playin-. here at the Aluerica n Theater.
Grace Golden is at the head Of ii now as
she has been aver since the company open
ed in Washington last spring. The TumoT
is to the eff .ct that singing the principal
roles in comic operas for ever eight months
is wearing her out , and that she will either
tie replaced ar assisted by a new pritna
donna, who is none other than Miss Dor
othy Merton, of 'Geisha' fame. Miss
Morton has been In financial straits
since her la 81 backer, W no sent ner on the
road with Miss Brevity," refused to act
in that capacity any more. Both lost
money and the company was stranded, and
Miss Morton came back to New York and
went into iiding in Harlem flat, TO
avoid damage suits brought by her stranded
chorus girls. 1t was reported at one time
that Miss sIorton had skipped out for
Europe, hut d week later she appeared on
Broadway again, clad in another OF the
handsome gowns she knows how to wear
so well. But her hacker was still re-
luctant 10 send his star on the road again
Hence Miss Norton is in bad straits, and
when she was offered position she ea-
Eerly accepted the new engagement.
She will sing leading roles, and will
probably share honors With Grace Golden,
who has endeared herself to the hearts of
New Workers too well to be lightly turned
aside, after her best period of usefulness
has passed. Miss Morton is expected to
sing in Martha" which Will shortly be
put on. Jeanw bile, Joe Sheetran, Raymond
Hitchcock, William Wolf and Lizzie Mac
niclIol are still winning new laurels.
Theodore 1abcock the Washington man
who made such good impression in The
Salt Of the Earth" with Annie Russell.
has been engaged to play the part Of Jones
i'll what Happened to JONES' to be
shortly put ON at the Bijou. Miss Russell
has been living in retireme mt since her re-
turn to New York after THE Salt OF the
Earth closed in New England 1t is said
that she VIII shortly appear in role
that will be radical departure from the
usual Annie aussell parts, popularity identi-
fled with whining girls In country dress.
As Miss Russell ha long wished to emanci-
pate herself rom Esmereida roles, she will
proba bly, do ler best to throw off the Meme
sis OF ill-lu1k that has lately been her
ia te in such parts, a nd make a hit in a new
kind of ing2lue work.
Anot her w W1shngton worker who is grad
ually coming TO the front in New York is
Miss Mande Allen, who is playing this week
in "Chimmie Fadden.r Miss Allen will
shortly be Senn in a French part in new
musical com ady on Broadway. Miss Kate
Latham, another Washington girl, will
proba bly, MAKE her Washington debut as a
singer very soon. Fred Kcppler, of the
Capital City, has signed to go out with
Sousa's new opera, '.The Bride Elect"
Wilton Lackaye is about'to try it again.
He has had several failures of late since
he found out that hypnotism was only
fad and not permanent feature OF stage
careers. He is in New York now getting
ready to produce later in the spring
cotaredy founded upon Charles Levers
celebrated novel, CHARLES o'Maliey. the
Irish Dragoon." OF course, Mfr, Lackaye
says he viii change the name. Such
maine might do for Charles Leonard Fletch-
er, but never for Wilton Lackaye. He is
thinking of calling it 1.-The Light of Love-
sl@,.q