davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times., 1898-09-25

With people like Edgar Davenport,
Georgia Caine, Eddie Girard, Marie
Dressler, Frank Mordaunt, Aubrey Bou-
cicault. Eddie Foy, Frank Aiken, Alberta
GalIatin, George Marion, Maude Ray
mond, Henry Norman, Mary Shaw, Una
Abel, Edward Garvie. Kate DENIM WI
son, La Petite Adelaide, Edna Aug, and
the Rogers Brothers evenly distributed
about the four leading places of amuse-
ment in the city, il may be understood
that last weeks business averaged higher
than would have seemed to be the case
had the houses been computed separately
A glance at the registers OF local theat-
rical hotels on Monday made one think of
actors colonies and all-star casts. After
a reasonable time, during which the mer-
curry had decided to give up its last strug-
gle and take to Winter quarters in the
bottom of the thermometer the public
began to understand that something rath-
er unusual had been provided for its en-
tertainment, and to fill the orchestra
chairs regularly. Some of the theateIs
suffered. but what was the loss of one
was the gain of another, and none had
any real reason TO complain. The busiest
treasurer in town was I. Arthur smith,
who. from his window in the NatlonaI
Theater, dispensed a goodly number OF
coupons nightly TO crowds of people VINO
believed in the beneficial powers OF laugh-
ter and "A Reign Of Error" Next IN or
der came the Mordaunt-Biock Stock Com
pany's beautiful production OF "Diplo-
macy at the Columbia, and after that
the Academy, with Eddie Girard's re-
vival of Natural Gas" Being new OF
fering. Hotel Topsy Turvy" did rather
poorly for the Lafayette after the open-
ing night, while Isham's Octoroons put
up an excellent show at kernans ana
reaped the reward of their ability.
Charles E Grapewin, Lizzie b. Raymond,
and Frank Bush hes led a good bill at the
Bijou playing to exceptional houses
While hardly equal to that of last,
the list of presentations for this week
shows number OF interesting events.
First among these, of course, Is the
formal stellar debut of Viola Allen In
Hall Gaines adoption of his own novel,
THE Christian, at the New National
Theater A number of notables, nclud-
ing the author himself, are to be present
and the occurrence should take place
under brilliant auspices. Creston Clarke
and Adelaide Prince come to the Column
bia with a repertoire of standard and
classical plays, giving The Marble
Heart on Monday and Friday evenings
and SATURDAY matinee: David Garrick
and "A Point of Honor" on Tuesday
sHThe Fools Revenge one OF Booth
greatest successes, on Wednesday; me
Last of His Race" on Thursday and
1.-The Bells" on Saturday evening. big
cast is to present Charles L. Blaneys
most pretentious effort, "A Female
Drummer" at the Lafayette, while John
Griffith and a select organization are
scheduled at the Academy with E. H.
Sothern's former money-maker, AN
Enemy to the King" Bryan and Wat
sons american Burlesquers" are TO be at
the Lyceum's attraction and the usual
vaudeville bill will be given at the Bijou.
Business may not be very heavy. but the
weather is getting both seasonable and
reasonable, people are coming back to
town and one may hope for the best.
The times., 1898-09-25
SationaI-.The Christian

Miss Viola Aliens formal debut as
star tomorrow at the National, as Glory
Ouayle in Hall Gaines dramatic adapta-
ton of his novel, 1.-The Christian" is an
event which is attracting not a little at
tention among the theater's patrons. Miss
Aliens coming here. irrespective of the
Importance of the production in which
she will appear would be matter of
considerable interest, she being well and
most favorabIy known in Washington,
having scored several successes here
while leading lady of the New York En-
pire Theater stock company. Her local
debut as a star should be an especially
welcome event, and indications from the
advance sales are that she viii be greet
ed by fiatteringly large audience.
1.-The Christian" is a book rather orig
inal in fits construction as well as in its
theme. Many have considered it badly
adapted to stage treatment, and, there
fore. much curiosity has been shown as
TO the form in which Mr.. Caine will re-
late the story from behind the footlights.
and the aspects in which he will present
the characters of Glory Quayle and John
Storm.
These questions can only be answered
by the production itself tomorrow even
ing but the speculative curiosity of the
reader can be satisfied TO a certain eX-
tent by the statement that. while the
stage version viii be, in a sense, an in
dependent structure, the integrity of the
vital episodes of the story and most of
its characters have been retained. On
the stage, John Storm will not be the in
tense religious fanatic he is pictured in
descriptions of the writer. He will be a
personality of more than human interest,
his religious fervor being blended with
brighter coloring which should make him
more attractive without destroying his
identity. Glory Quayle viii be drawn
quite strictly on the lines of the original
light hearted and ambitious, superficially
frivolous, but morally strong. In making
his adoption Mr.. Caine has not lost sight
of the fact that a play is for amusement.
and therefore he has eliminated from his
dramatic version the distinctive religious
purposes which underlie the story in book
form
The play will be presented in a pro-
logue and four acts. The first scene oc-
ours on the fitting grounds in the ruins
OF Peel Castle, Isle of Man. The initial
act is laid in the saloon of the Colosseum
Music Hall, London; the second, in the
club room of St Mary Magdalenes
Church. Soho; the third in Glory's apart
ment at the Garden House, Clements
Inn, and the fourth act reverts to the
club room of the church.
These scenes are to be very magnifi-
cent and elaborate. They were painted
from photographs and drawings made
under the personal supervision OF the au-
thor, who came to this country two
weeks ago to assist Matter Clark Bellows
In the production and to be present at
Miss Aliens debut tomorrow night
The situations in the second, third and
fourth acts are said to be remarkably
The times., 1898-09-25
THE PASSING SHOW.

"A great fault in Hotel Topsy Turvy'
seems to be its singular evenness of bal
ance,' said last Tuesday mornings Times
of the latest Herald Square production
which had been given its premier on the
preceding night at the Lafayette. 1.-The
music is too heavy and the libretto too
light" Since then the writer of that line
has had time to see the comedy again
and TO think it over without the attend
ant Interruptions caused by inconsiderate
hurry-up messengers from the press
room. His opinion remains unchanged.
The initial offering of the piece was
greeted by very large audience, which
laughed uproariously through the entire
evening. For some reason or other first
night houses invariably do act as though
under the influence of gas But on-this
occasion the mirth was unusually nota-
BILE and exceptionally prolonged. Hotel
The times., 1898-09-25
Kernnn's-"Amer Ruriesquers.

kernan's-''Ame rican RurIesuuers.-
The attraction at the Lyeeum Theater
this week viii be the american Burles-
quers,'' headed by w b. Watson. the
comedian, known as the ''Klondyke Jew"
The organization is said TO be a leader
in this style of show for every reason.
Its work is new in every detail. The man
agement are mentioned as having spared
neither time nor money in bringing their
entertainment up to date. They have en-
gagged the best of talent and have secured
the fnest scenery and electric effects.
Each and every costume was imported
by Bryant and Watson especially for
their burlesque
jeanette Dupre. who heads the feminine
contingent. is comedienne of rare ability.
and mas often been termed the American
anna Held Her beauty taste in dress
ana histrlonic talent are still commented
upon fayorably by the press Which in
dlcates that she has firmly established
herseH IN the good grace of theatergo-
ers Her performance of the daughter of
the regiment in the travesty, Kosher"
Is considered specially strong, and gives
her the right to prominent place among
thte foremost condolences on the variety
stage. Among others to be seen on the
bill are Perry and Burns, in an original
act Mildred Murray, vocalist of rare
ability. Mr.. and Mrs. Kuzzins comedy
sketch artists; Leslie and Curdy. up-to
date parody singers, and the Monroe sis
ters, artistic dancers and change artists.
Before tomorrow's opening a special
concert will be given tonight at the I.y
ceum by Isham's Octoroons.
The times., 1898-09-25
Riinu-yaudoriIIa

For this week Manager Grieves has
gathered what it claimed to be an excel
lent bill. Among its features will be
Cora Rouett, bright and particular star
in her own line The grace, vim and
beauty Of this vivacious little soubrette
is well known. The wonderful Arabian
acrobats. Mazuz and Mazette, are also
down for a return, and Valesca, Queen
of the Air" will perform pleasing feats
on the flying trapeze. Hanley and Jar
Wis, two comical men who have made for
themselves a reputation for being natu-
rally humorous. promise a bunch of the
newest jokes interspersed with parodies
and songs. while the favorite comedian
and mimic, Al Stern, will endeavor to
outdo all his former efforts in the line of
pleasing his constituents Leopold and
Bunnell make their first Washington ap-
pearance in several years. For the femi-
nine portion of his bill, Manager Grieves
has provided the three Goldsmith sisters,
the Martelles, bicyclists; the Boston
Comedy Trio. and the ever popular Bijou
Burlesque Company.
The times., 1898-09-25

strong. especially In the third, where
Storm, crazed by jealousy and inspired
by a religious frenzy. attempts the life of
Glory, and in the fourth where his church
is attacked by a mob.
The company which will appear in THE
Christian" is undoubtedly one of the
best that has been organized in Ameri-
ca for several years. even comparatively
incorsequential parts being played by per-
sors Of wide experience. In addition to
the cast of principals here given, there
will be twenty-eight minor speaking parts
in the mob scene. which will be played
by actors and actresses of repute, and not
by hastily-drilled supernumeraries. This
should be in itself a very strong evil
dence of the unusual care which has
The times., 1898-09-25
TINY TALKS.

"Tell him that I'll be down in a mo-
ment,' said Alberta Gallatin, the other
day, when called upon at the Riggs by a
Times man. And, true 10 her word. al
though a woman. the clever actress her
self was in the hotel parlor something
less than five minutes afterward- "Do I
like stock work. she remarked in an
swer to a question. "Emphatically l do.
OF course, there are difficulties connected
with it, and one of them is in the fact
that a player hardly has time to settle
into her part when a new piece is staged
weekly, but we all do our best. and the
result in the present instance is some
thing of which I am very proud. Per-
haps, too, an excess of rehearsal Injuries
more than it helps. Joseph Jefferson
once told me. in his opinion, genius
prompted a portrayal before art perfect
ed 1t. and / am inclined 10 think fire.
quently that one is hurt by saying and
doing the same things continually. In
the case of the organization with which |
am connected people are continually engag-
ed especially to play parts in which they
have made conspicuous successes before
and therefore, many of our leading men
and women have been scholars in the
roles for which they were chosen. Of
course a certain nucleus is always main
tanned, and the temporary eomers only add
to that for the time beng. The plan is an
excellent one. and. believe, do much
toward maintaining stock companies. And
these organizationse have come TO stay
appearing jointly with road combinations,
but still to be an intensely important fac
tor in the amusement world"
Eddie Girard and Edward Garvie were
busily engaged in getting into a pair OF
unusually ancient looking dress suits
Wednesday afternoon when reportoriaIly
discovered but both appeared not at all
unwilling to talk about their work DO
you know" quoth the star, that there
is more art in falling down gracefully
and without disastrous results than most
The times., 1898-09-25
co1nmbia-creston Clarke.

One of the most interesting of this
weeks engagements will be found in the
appearance tomorrow night of Creston
Clarke and his talented wife, Adelaide
Prince, at the Columbia Tneater. Both
of the stars are people of exceptional
ability, and their work has always ex-
cited greatest interest in the dramatic
world. When, during the summer, Mr..
Clarke announced his intention of return
ing to the field of romantic drama, much
doubt was felt by his best friends re-
garding his ability to draw with class
of play the usefulness of which had
seemingly vanished. The actor stuck to
his colors, however. and is said to have
been positively triumphant in his delin-
cations Of roles in which men like Ed
win Booth, William Florence and the
elder Sothern made their regulations
The company with which Mr.. Clarke
has surrounded himself is said to be one
of exceptional ability. In selecting its
members Mr.. Clarke used every possible
discretion. and, as a result, he is spoken
of as having a support the like of which
has rarely appeared in the standard and
classic drama. Scenery, costumes, and
accessories all have been specially made
for these productions, and are said to be
as elegant as they are historically cor
rect
The repertoire to be done here has been
arranged that it may include the stars
most successful plays. 1.-THE Marble
Heart" will be acted Monday and Friday
evenings and at the Saturday matinee,
David Garrick'' and a ''Pont of Honor"
on Tuesday evening and at the Thursday
matinee, "A FOOLS Revenge" on Wednes-
day, 1.-THE Last of His Race on Thurs
day, and 1.-The Bells on Saturday night
The times., 1898-09-25
Aondemy-~An Enemy to the King.

IN i1hcfhy tO hhc NEHS.''
IAN Enemy to the King" the romantic
drama, by r. N. Stevens, in which E. II.
Sothern has had such great success. will
be presented at the Academy this week
in the hands of a company headed by
John Griffith
The story of the play is said TO be IL
lustrated by four of the most beautiful
scenes ever put on the stage. The paint
ings of the inn at Fleurier, the inn yard
at Ciochonne, the ruined chateau and the
old castle are mentioned as being so per.
feet in design and execution that they
might be replaced in oil with credit. Moth
ing is put upon the stage for mere scenic
effect, although everything is effective.
Thus the stage coach in the second act
becomes hiding place and a prison,
and the massive bed in the castle is used
as the hero's point of vantage in the bril-
liant combat that ends the piece.
In the third act there is a sweet song,
which is a faithful portrayal of the
strongest human emotions. Near the
court of the old abbey in which De Lau-
nay and his followers are hiding and to
which he brings the fair lady is an old
vine-grown dial, on which there is a
CCatrain scribbied by some monk, turning
on the treachery of womans love Mile
De Varion insists. despite De Launays
affect:onate protest, on having the lines
put TO music by wandering minstrel,
who has become attached TO the Huguenot
captains fortunes. The composer reads
the verse. picking an air upon his man.
dolin: then he moves about developing his
melody and passing now and then near
the lovers singing words which go
straight to the womans heart and con-
science.
This is one of the dainty bits of pictur-
sequences and delicate workmanship
which infuses Mr.. Stephens play with
the extraordinary beauty of sentimental
romance, while the dramatic cituations
are feelingly made by strong and frequent
action and thrilling, episodes.
Assurance is given that the company
meets every requirement of the play and
that success has crowned it at each per-
formance.
The times., 1898-09-25
The War.Granh

The first exhibition in this city of the
WarGraph will be given at lilo F Street
adjoining the Columbia Theater tomor-
row evening at $3.50. This machine shows
the moving war pictures, giving the same
views now being presented at Keith s
and Proctor's Theaters, in New York
The scenes are of the Spanish-American
combats. The realistic effect of the pic
lures is beginning to be we'll known, and
to see the battleship Oregon In full mo-
tion, troops landing at Cuba. the funeral
procession of the Maine victims at Ha-
vana, and many other famous incidents
of the conflict, is said to inspire ALL
The times., 1898-09-25

graceful for her extreme height, carrying
herself with an ease seldom seen in so
large woman. Her voice is of the kind
best described as 'low and sweet" and
has carrying power remarkably well
suited to the theater. Besides all these
personal charms, Miss Grahame is said
to be an actress of much ability, and
will without doubt make name for
herself in the profession. She Is also a
talented musician. and a sketch artist of
more than average ability. The interest
in the girl deepens when the fact is
known that her engagement with a New
York business man has been broken since
her determination to become an actress
has ripened into realization. But Miss
Grahames financial resources and talents
are such as to cause her no fear as to
the outcome of her intention to follow
the dictates of her own heart in the mat
ter.
The times., 1898-09-25

The successful popular novel, as the
foundation for a dramatic structure is at
once an alluring and a dangerous thing
Readers of the book form their own con-
ceptions of the characters and picture in
their minds eye each important person
ality. Attracted by their admiration for
the story, they go TO the theater with a
desire to see the people of the tale trans
lated TO the stage, TO study them in the
realistic atmosphere of dramatic represen-
tation, but involuntarily expect 10 find
them as they have thought, and are dis
appointed If they do not. Their ideas un-
realized, the piece becomes not what they
expected, and they say so. Herein lies a
danger-the conflict of opinion as to what
the dramatiZation of wideiy-read novel
should be, the changes TO which it may
legitimately be subjected for dramatic
purposes, and how the roles should be
drawn for stage use. In his adaptation
the author may meet with one of his
chief difficulties in trying to pander too
closely to the probable conceptions OF his
readers. for many a striking personality
of fiction. with the exact traits shown by
the writer in his descriptive work. might
not prove an acceptable or entertaining
character in a play.
The success of The Christian" as a
play. will depend somewhat on Mr..
Gaines dramatic John Storm. II is said
that the novelist has modified him and
made him more human and less of a
fanatic than he is represented in the book.
Considerable ingenuity must have been
exercised in turning Storm into sympa-
thetic parsonage, while maintaining his
identity. established by the story. in the
conception of the auditor
Another difficulty, too, is that the book
reader usually looks for the introduction
into a piece of men and incidents which
seem to him important, but which the
dramatist cannot utilize, even though they
may seem essential to the integrity of
the story. An adapter must confine him
self to the especially strong and conspicu-
Gus occurrences. perhaps. necessarily in
terweaving them with new material TO
make them coherent and natural. 1t is
quite probable that Mr. Caine has had to
do this in arranging The Christian for
there is much in it not usable for theat-
rical purposes. This is probably what is
meant when it stated that the play will
be, in a sense, an independent structure.
The times., 1898-09-25

If there are any local wits whose living
has been helped by writing for the comic
papers of fre-proof buildings that have
been destroyed by the careless dropping
of a cigarette, those humorists must have
had a severe blow dealt them in the big
blaze of Monday night. The Robinson &
Cherry building was directly across the
street from the Columbia Theater, and
ii was in the direction of that structure
that the wind blew the flames Firemen
were unable to get near enough to wet
the cozy little place of amusement be-
cause of heat so intense that the wood
work of the windows shriveled up like
rubber. Stores and offices in all directions
were burning and shop directly next 70
the Columbia was completely gutted. But,
with the exception of some broken Win
dows and charred scroll work the thea
ter itself was not injured in the slightest
degree No ten buildings in the city
could have stood the test, and those who
go to Luckett & Dryers house hereafter
may feel safe in leaving their rabbits
feet behind.
The times., 1898-09-25

he SAINT care VIII bc ODSSi Nch Ia Us
tuning the characters as in other fea-
lures of the presentation. 1t will be re-
Imembered by readers of THE Christian
that Mr.. Caine most elaborately describes
the dress of Glory before she leaves the
Isle of Man to become a hospital nurse
in London. and in the prologue Miss Al
len will wear this attire-a knit sailors
cap, a white ManX Jersey" sailors
''reefer'' coat, short skirt and sea boots.
In the four acts of the play itself Miss
Allen will apear in several beautiful
gowns The dress in the first act. where
the success of her debut as a star in the
London Music Hall is being celebrated,
is to be especially gorgeous, BETTING the
character and the incident.
The times., 1898-09-25

In their greeting to the patrons of the
house. Managers Nixon t Zimmerman
say in the programs of the Lafayette
Square, THAT this place of amusement
stands today pre-eminentiy the foremost
playhouse in Washington, If not in the
South, is a fact that practically the whole
public point to with pride" And in the
bills of their Academy of Music in Balti-
more, the same line occurs. Remark is
unnecessary. Messrs. Nixon & thinner
man are merely to be congratulated upon
possessing two theaters, each of which is
probably the finest lin the South
Another first production is promised
Washington within couple of weeks in
Charles Frohman's latest importation,
"On and On" An excellent company Is
being engaged for the entertainment,
The times., 1898-09-25

Charles Grapewin, once the Hans of
Louis Mann fame, was at the Bijou last
week dealing out some very laughable bits
of dialogue from his old characterizatio
The sketch in which he appeared with
Anna Chance had been taken from many
sources. but il was nevertheless one of
the best things of the sort that has ever
been seen here, and merits commendation
accordingly. The work of both comedians
was excellent.
The times., 1898-09-25

been observed in making the production.
The following is the cast of the prin-
cipals, Mr.. Morgan appearing as Storm
through the courtesy of Mr.. Daniel
Frohman, manager of the New York Ly-
The times., 1898-09-25

One of the faults of big productions
must ever be that in their Interpretation
many capital people fail TO find the op-
portunities they deserve. Frequently these
men and women have been engaged mere
iy because of the drawing power pos
sessed by their names. and when this is
the case their regulations are likely 70
suffer severely in the result. While Geor-
gia Caine found a sufficient number of
possibilities in her part of "A Reign of
Error last week TO make an emphatic
hit the reason was emphatically more in
her own ability than in any wide scope of
the role itself. Miss Caine had very few
appearances and outside of her three
specialties did absolutely nothing, besides
which fact she suffered in having worn-
an of less pretension if almost equal abiI-
1ty featured over her. All of the turns
she introduced were in themselves enough
TO have qualified her for better chances.
but by her confinement TO them she prac-
tically announced herself as being a vau-
deville performer. All this cannot help
being injurious 10 a woman who has been
featured more than successfully in such
pieces as Lost. Strayed or Stolen and
The Girl From Paris Miss Caine has
no end of brightness and vivacity. chic
and magnetism. which, coupled with an
excellent voice and capital stage appear
ance. qualify her for any position in mu
sical comedy. Her work is essentially
pleasing to her audiences and the Rogers
Brothers should manage somehow that
they shall see more of her. II is too bad
to hide the light of such a woman under
bushel even when that measure is filled
with people as capable as those carried in
"A Reign of Error"