The times., 1898-02-17

| Shooters" the slavey girl. whose Mary
! James TOP Note has the effect OF
creating the greatest CONSERVATION: tho
German proprietor of the Hotel Schof-
fanberg' who declares -"it Is to laugh.
and numerous others who arouse the risi.
bes to the top pitch.
Digby Bell will hold the stage of the
New National Theater next week pre-
senting for the second time here a play
| in which he is conceded to have made the
| highest artistic success OF his long ca
reer Augustus Thomas is the author of
| '"rhe Hoosier Doctor" the comedy in
which Mr.. Bell and his versatile wife,
| Laura Joyce Bell, are appearing. There
Is much to amuse instruct and entertain
| all classes of theater-goers in this quaint
and delightful story Of Indiana. The
| chief beauty of the play is its homely
simplicity and everyday humanity; there
| are scenes which are said to make ones
| heart glow, and episodes which bring
! tears to ones eyes, though even the most
! pathetic parts of the play are punctuated
! with laughter.
| Mr. Thomas has drawn all of his char
acters from NATURE and to the dialogue
! he has given no little real wit. Although
! Digby Bell naturally occupies the princi-
| PAL position in the comedy, everyone Of
| the characters counts for something. Mr..
] Bell essays the role of Dr. Willow. a
| gentle, lovable, middie-aged man, who
has been dire failure in everything un-
| TIL at the age OF fofty-five, he graduates
at the head of a clstss in medicine.
Laura Joyce Bell is the Grandma, who
makes every body miserable by her scold-
ings and Margaret Dale Owen. who
plays Harriet. has made great hit in
the part.
Arthur Hoops. who last season went to
Australia as Nat Goodwin's leading man.
has the role of Il reformed drunkard, and
Emma Butler appears pretty widow.
whose secret marriage to DR. Willow
causes no end of trouble. Mabel Strick-
land as the doctors youngest daughter
is said to be artistic in her girlishness.
Frank Monroe contributes a characteri-
zation of a provincial grocer, while Viola
Miles Is another of the doctors daugh-
ters. and is praised highly for her treat
ment of the character.
The company also includes little Ethel
Vance. a child actress; Jeanette Wild
der. Estelle Maybury. Herman Hirsch-
berg, whose young Journey" printer in
love with the doctors youngest daughter
generally plcases; Gage Clarke Harry
S. Robinson is the ''Parson Moss" Joseph
L. Treacy and Bert Bayard.
There is no reason why Digby Bell
should not play a successful week. He is
Il pronounced favorite here, and from the
generous proportions of the advanced sale
Monday night will witness an audience
testing the capacity of the theater. In
addition to the regular Wednesday and
Saturday matinees. Il special afternoon
performance will be given on Washing
tons birthday.
Those who like good bright comedy
lively dialogue and catchy songs should
not miss the opening scene given by John
W. Isham's "Octoroons. which play at
the Academy next week. They who en-
joy the charming choruses of grand and
comic opera should not fall 10 witness the
closing thirty minutes of this musical
novelty. as several gems of the old and
new masters Will be Il feature Of this
part of the bill Among others will be
heard "Cavalleria Rusticana." ''Tar and
Tartar" al Trovator, Red Hussar,''
and El Captain" The opening farce will
be 'Darktown Outing" said to be filled
with fun and friyolity, dancing and
humorous songs. Then follows an olio
of clever specialties. and finally the thirty |
minutes around the operas
Altogether there should be enough Of |
variety and amusement to meet the taste |
of the most cosmopolitan audience and |
please il as well.
During this engagement the regular |
Wednesday and Saturday matinees will |
be given with an extra performance on !
birthday.
Hi Henry's Minstrels commence an en-
gagemeut of one week, beginning Febru-
ary 2S at the Grand Opera House. The
is strictly first-class. and the
patrons of the Grand expect revelation
in this attraction
\ number Of celebrated people are
among those booked for next week by
Manager Grieves. OF the Bijou. This en-
.erprisirg gentleman has been alternating |
Turing the last ten days between one and
another of New York's prominent vaude-
vile agents. and feels assured that he
can offer for the opening. Monday after
noon, such list of artists as has not
been seen at the Bijou for some time.
few Of the best people will be retained
from this weeks program, though the
greatest portion of the bill viii be COM
Dletely new.
The Rose Hit English Folly Company
will be Manager kernan's attraction at
the Lyceum next week. This organiza-
ton is said 10 be up to date in every de-
partment. The company comes direct
l
the public has been illustrated by crowd
ed houses. The program is made up of
superior vaudeville features. the first
number of which is an original burletta
entitled Gay Grass Widows and made
up Of witty dialogue and popular musi-
,al numbers. An exceptional olio follows
this. and is composed of the Casino Com
ady -Four. in their novel speciality; Cain
and Mack the comedians: Hickey and
Nelson. the refined sketch artists: the
Marinelias. acrobatic marvels; Blanch |
Newcombe. charming singer of catchy
songs. and Willard and Gebhardt. en-
-ertainers par excellence. The perform
ince concludes with an extravagant bur
esque entitled "A Wicked Town'-this
embellished with attractive !
scenery, costumes and electrical effects
Several novel features are introduced
here, including the Zoohoo Dance. Gu
Dids Quadrlle, the Amazonian Tug of
War and the Great Push Ball Contest.
Mary Marble, the bright particular
star of "A Milk White Flag Company.
las been attracting large and fashion,
lble audiences to the Academy this week |
Miss Marble is easily one of the daintiest
md brightest soubrettes in the profess
'ion, and her success is well deserved. |
n many of the songs made famous by
esta Tilley, she has more than dupli- |
'ated the worth of the original singer,
While her impersonaton OF the Orphan in
"A Milk White Flag" is singularly clev-
II. John Dunno and the remainder of
he cast are excellent, while a number
If pretty girls add greatly to the per-
0rnlHnCp 'T'hnSp n pt hn /