The times., 1898-11-13
MAY IRWIN IN GOTHAM
"Kate Kip, Buyer" Finally
Reaches the Bijou.
GOSSIP OF THE THEATERS
Nancy Sykes Does Not Like ''The
Finish of MIR. Freshn-Thirteen At
fractions Doing II Big business In
New YOrk-Joseph HawOrth Re-
places L. ). Morgan.

New York, Nov. 12.-"Kate Kip, Buyer"
with May Irwin as Kate, was made
known Monday night at the Bijou The
ater in the presence of a large and, at
times, hilarious audience. The piece,
which has been touring the country for
several weeks, is about as absurd dra-
matte product as can be imagined, but
the droll humor of the fat and fair come
dienne saves it from popular condemna-
ton. There is thin plot. and a great
deal of Miss Irwin-in fact, May is On
the stage, and pretty near its center, al
most all of the time. The story that
there is tells of Tom Kip, poor lawyer
in a Western city called New Rome,
which is competing with another town
named New Athens for the honor of be-
ing made the permanent State capital
/ Tom is in the midst of financial trouble
when his sister Kate, a commercial trav-
eler, turns up Unexpectedly and starts in
TO rescue her brother from his dilemma.
Among those who are won over are three
/ Western politicians. She convinces two
of them that she is their long lost daush-
Ter and promises to marry the other.
From this there arise numerous anus
ing complications in which Kate Kip,
Buyer" gets almost all of the business.
| Miss Irwin is a popular favorite in this
! city and will draw large and apparently
well pleased houses no matter what
her vehicle may be. In this case she has
a part which permits of the usual conf
dences with the audience and the intro
duction of several songs. The engage
ment promises to be long and prosper
( Gus one.
Saturday night "A Dangerous Maid
1 will be produced at the Casino. The man.
4 agement announces that in the new work
I they have made q departure from line
! of entertainment to which their theater
/ has hitherto been devoted. One of the
! important features of this burlesque is the
| introduction In one act of Il sword combat
between two women, called, in a certain
/ famous picture, 'L'Affaire d'Honneur.'
! The duel will in this case be fought by
Laura Burt and Madge Lessiag,. who are
! to appear upon the scene stripped to the
/ waist. 1t promises to offer an Interesting
| anatomical exhibition and one quite equal
| in iasciviousness to Sadie Martinot's dis
| robing episode in The Turtle" Both
! young people have hosts of admirers and
| on Saturday evening they will probably
| fill large number of seats at the Casino.
| Look out for the usual press agent stories
/ In connection with this Burt-Lessing COM
bat. Last week Bailey Avery, the p. y.
\ of the Casino sent out a circumstantial
| tale that at a rehearsal Miss Burt had
| been run through the arm by sword in
/ the hands of Miss Lessfng. Next week the
! public will probably be startled by the
/ story Of n quarrel between the two and
fight almost to the death. Bailey is a
'-fakir." and at times pretty good one.
The mysteries of n manicure establish
ment, with its pretty hand and toe
| manipulators. is being exploited at the
| Star Theater. The piece is called THE
Finish of Mr.. Fresh" l. is an idiotic mix
ture of stale jokes. old songs and other
paresis- producing incidents. The plot Is
dimly outlined and would require the
services of a Philadelphia lawyer TO un-
ravel it. There are several good people
in the cast, which include the Stewart
Sisters, Charles B. Ward Al II. Wilson
| and Fanny Bloodgood. The finish of Mr.
| Fresh ought to come soon.
Chauncey Olcott is at the Fourteenth
Street Theater, where he is making hi: