The herald., 1898-12-18
CALENDAR FOR THE WEEK

The Christmas, 1893, number of the New
York Dramatic Mirror, consisting of l24
pages, with an illuminated cover is an cx-
ceedingly fine specimen of typographical art,
and the picture gallery it contains is OF the
most interesting kind, even in these days
When illustrations seem to have been worked
for all they are worth The Dramatic Mir
ror makes a special point in this issue of the
fact that it celebrates its twentieth anniver-
snry. | have watched the paper from its
start and, indeed, value highly some of the
older bound volumes now in my library.
They are especially interesting, because at
that time the Mirror gave more space than
it can now afford to the aesthetic side of the
dramatic profession, and the essays it pub
lished were both instructive and entertain
ing.
With the growth of theatrical interests
in this country the Mirror has kept pace and
has itself grown to be the organ of the pro-
fession, a position in which it is without
successful rival It's weekly issue contains
an enormous amount of condensed news,
gathered not only from every part of this
country, but from all points in the world
where the drama is represented.
This Christmas number is exceedingly
valuable for the exhaustive and painstaking
review which it contains of general theatre
cal history during the eventful period COW
cred by the last twenty years and incidental
ly of the Mirrors own reflections during
that time. Under the guidance of its editor
ard proprietor, Harrison Grey Fiske, the
Mirror may be expected to continue its
prosperous career and to maintain its pres
ent distinguished standing as an independent
and outspoken champion of the actor and his
art.
Janet Waldorf is coming again to this city
and will be seen at the Los Angeles theater
next Thursday night as Rosalnd in "As You
Like It, and on following nights as Viola
in Twelfth Night" and later as the inevita.
BILE Juliet. On Miss Waldorf's first visit here,
about a year ago, she attempted no higher
flights than those of Julia in 'The Hunch-
back" and of Parthena in "lngomar" She
was at that time engaged in studying the
Shakespcarean roles in which she will ap-
pear now, and took much pleasure in testi.
flying to the promise of greater things which
she then evidenced Since that time her course
has been eminently successful in an artistic
way, II one may judge by newspaper notices
The characters assumed here are among the
most interesting in the Shakespearean roper
tious manner, of which there appears no
doubt, ought to attract all lovers of the
Bard. The opportunities for this kind of
indulgence are rare that not one of them
should be missed.
And now it appears that Blanche Bates,
instead of joining a distinguished eastern
company, in which she would occupy, at
best. but second-rate position, has bios
somed out as the full-fedged partner of the
.amiabe L. Daniel Frawley Miss Bates
mamma has purchased the interest formerly
held by Gottlob, Marx & Co. in Mr.. Fraw-
ley's theaterical venture, and has installed
her charming daughter as her representa-
tive. Hereafter the fair Blanche may be ex-
pected to take exclusive care of the center
of the stage.
Miss Harriet B. Freeman, formerly we'll
known in newspaper circles in this city, is now
member of the editorial staff of the New
York Dramatic Mirror Her picture which
appears in the Christmas number of that
journal, will show her friends here that she
has at least lost nothing in grace of per-
son since she quilted the City of the Angels.
o o o
The great interest that has been excited in
the performances of the translated versions
of "Cyrano de Bergerac" in this country in.
duces me to quote from the accomplished
critic of the Chicago Times Herald upon the
subject. Mr.. Mansfield is presenting his
production of the piece in Chicago where
every seat in the theater was sold out for five
weeks performances before the doors were
opened. Mr.. Mansfield is great favorte
~ ha NJ
Glovers remarks which l quote in part be-
low. He says:
One of the most favorable omens is the
complete and absolute triumph of Richard
Mansfield in a great production of play
which will leave its mark upon the century.
Although it has been believed for a number
of years among those given to thought that
this artist was the hope of the American
stage, the halting hesitating, ccensorous and
unappreciative disposition of those who
have persisted in keeping their eyes fixed
on foreign shows has prevented that uni
vcrsal recognition of this fact which should
have been made long ago. If any man from
abroad with the splendid ability and ver-
satilitv necessary to play Chevrial, Brum-
nell, Richard Bluntschli, Shylock and other
characters as Mansfield does had drifted
this way he would have been hailed as the
brightest star in the galaxy. But Richard
Mansfield, whose entire career had been on
the American stage, with an environment
of jealousy and inapprecation, was obliged
to bide his time, and the triumph that has
now come to him, although long delayed,
is the more significant in that it marks the
beginning of new ear for the American
actor.
1t only needed a great and spoch-makng
production by an artist of unquestioncd au-
thority and distinction to awaken the peo-
ple of this country to the fact that we no
longer need to learn or to borrow anything
from the European stage. As the Spanish
war opened the eyes of the world to our ma
terial resources, disclosed the ability of our
commanders. the valor of their men, and
excited n national pride and confidence that
was never before in existence, so this bril-
liant campaign with "Cyrano" has fixed the
status of Mr.. Mansfield as one of the great
est and most versatile actors of this genera
tion. The ten or a dozen characters which
he has created stand out each in it's own
proper form and aspect. No suggestion of
Chevrial is carried over into Brummell
Richard and Shvlock stand bv themselves,
and Prince Karl, Bluntschli, Dick Dudgeon
and Cyrano seem drawn from another store
of those infinite resources which this re-
markable actor Possesses
In Cyrano Mr.. Mansfield entirely departs