The sun., 1898-09-12
CONCERNS OF THE STAGE.
ACTRESSES WORTH MENTIONING As
PRETTY STRANGERS.

A Device in Horsopiay That Is No More
Comic Now Than It Wns 25 Years
AFo-But the Same idea Makes Kiral-
fy's Ships Observation-Disclosures Posters.
An agreeable stranger is ever welcome on
the stnge. Jessie Bateman. who made her
American debut in "A Brace OF Partrldges,"
came into the play Immediately after the rise
OF the curtain. She was 80 pretty that all the
opera glasses In the theatre we're focused on
her instantly. Under that severe test which
so often destroys an Illusion OF the naked eye.
she looked even better. Her delicate face bore
the closest scrutiny. Its features wero SYM
metrlcally fine. and her coloring seemed hard
ly artificial. except as to her hair Her 1.-THE
figure and Rirlish grace were exquisite. I'm
der the circumstances. the accustomed spec-
tator did not expect her TO be anything OF an
actress. He regarded her as lovely incom-
petent-until. in the opening scene, senu-
mental passage, she displayed some ability.
At no other time In the piece was there a
chance to Judge Of her capacity. but IL it Is as
good as she briefly indicated. she is compare
BILE With the EfTle shannon of dozen years
ago. Considering the difference between
American and English salaries, 1t is not prob
able that Miss Bateman will soon bereave us OF
her presence. A second young woman in this
company from London notable for personal
appearance is Sybil Carlisle. because she Is
perfect example OF those tall, slim. but not
timber creatures that we're for years associated
with comic little men in the pictures, drawn by
conscious in manner as Miss Bateman Is not,
and there Is Just that difference In their speech.
interesting, and. as a relief from the minor
actresses whom we get over and over again
IL play after play. she Is also very welcome; welcome
with London for the sake OF variation.
recollection OF Willie Edoun. dating baok
quarter OF u century. is that Of strenuous but
futile effort to be funny. He was then the
low comedian in Lydia Thompson's company
OF burlesquers. and it was not often that his
comical intention failed. The play was Tho
Field OF the Cloth OF Gold." and one OF its
scenes was travesty Of q tournament. The
contestants pranced and capered as horses and
riders at once. the mems arms working above
and their legs below the pasteboard bodies OF
the beasts The device was not new then. and
probably it had never raised a laugh outside
circus; but Mr.. Edouin had evidently resolved
to make it succeed. His endeavor was fran
tic, but Of no avail. The spectators were like
their predecessors and successors. That
6s q NV was En msrS %Ss bfoash 9S
to mind at the first performance Of Hurry
Burly' the other night. In the burlesquing
Weber. Mr.. Fields aud Mr. waraeid, capable
stances. were the riders, They carried their
horses in the same old way. They worked
hard at their JOB. The enthusiastic assem-
thing that had been done became suddenly
silent, and sober. Not laugh was heard. Not
son smS Nas eF pain Fiat race
run again. It was sporting event ;t OF one one
in G1fn Nj
around his middle and operated its sails and
that once only, Antics that do not realize ex;;
pectation are quickly put out OF that Iovial
dSyee that with an aquatic form IN
place OF the equine 1t Is ludicrous enough in
the Kiralfy exhibition at the Madison Square
Garden. To be sure, the men who wade inside
the miniature warships are invisible. but the
spectators know they are there. and the skit-
tfsk eTo!utio1a ct the vessels dc not fail 70
make naval men laugh. however devoid OF
amusing value they may be to other folks.
The suppression Of indecorous posters in
Mount Vernon sets an example which should
extend from the borough OF thesBronx into Man
haitian. Indecent shows inside the theatres are
no offence to people who do not desire to see
themm. but the pictures on the billboards are
unavoidable. and they bring odium upon the
stage In general. The chief offenders are
those panderers to vice who manage the bur-
lesque companies at the outlying variety the
otres.
Charles Coghlan's performance in 1.-THE
Royal Box" at the reopening OF the Fifth Ave-
nue. on Saturday night, was much the same
that 1t had been last season. but at times he
was inclined to be boisterous, most noticeably
30 in the third act All the other important
characters has had new actors In them. Kath-
crime Gray had few chances as the heroine,
but played the part with the quiet sweetness
necessary. Her only opportunity. where she
Ing. was well aYailed Of. Some OF. the others
did not play with the ease, or finish OF their
predeeessors but that nay IN haye tS been @ because
The death Of Harry Woodson brings out the
fact that an Insane actor was still able to per-
gro. first in vaudeville. and later in plays.
His mind was un nbalanced DURING, several years
OF his stage employment. and at length he was
Chauncey 0lcott and Andrew Mack, sing
ing Irish comedians, played against each other
in Chicago last week, each with drama new
nd-tuck rivalry. to judge by the newspaper
reviews. with both actors gaining extra at
Jane Hading says It is not she. but Jane
also a119ther profession-who is to be mar lar
known roles Of her rGPertolre. >, -
SOQuelI Is pHyluR SyTduO u0 dL
the principal French watering places. He
will not act 1t again In Paris until January.
The German Emperor has employed an
other dramatist to write the glories Of the Ho-
benzollerns. and Ernst Won Widen brnch is no
longer TO enjoy q monopoly of the honors that
come from this dev2tionii Joseph iLanff drama.
written THE Iron Tooth" tho first Of three
plays to commemorqte the glorles OF the En-
peror's dynasty. He was author of "Ber-
graf" for which the Emperor acted as stage
manager on its first Periormance. and the
Emperor has promised his advice In any
more plays that Laufr may write about his
Majesty's ancestors. A similar play. called
''Hapsburgi was recently given IN Berlin be-
fore an audience Of the leading ViGnnese resi-,
Austrian family. 1t showed the triumph Of
the first Rudolph over Ottakar. and out
lined the future glories of the present reigning
family OF Austria.
Ellen Terry In her appearances alone as
Pauline and DeSdeHoHd has been acting with
Frank Cooper. remembered here from his
We've Ward. Ben Webster Louis Calvert and
Courtenay Thorpe are memberss OF her com,
sir Henry are due to the inability of the subur-