The times., 1898-10-09
MANSFIELD'S NEW PLAY
''Cyrano de Bergerac" the
Event of the Week.
SUCCESS OF "TOPSY TURyY''
serhe Christian" to He Presented I'm
New York Tomorrow--Tini Murphy
scores u Success With ..Jhe Cnr-
petbagGer''-Ccntfn of the
Undrapcd Drama.

where no less than four new pieces
were produced Monday night. Af-
ter much preliminary newspaper talk
Richard Mansfield has finally given us
'.Cyrano de Bergerac.'' The play was
made known at the Garden Theater in
the presence of the actpr's many friends
and admirers, and created something of
sensation. An idea of the magnitude
of the presenta ton may be given when
1t is known that there are in the Offering
forty-eight speaking parts, seventeen "ad-
ditional' acting roles and 100 supernumer-
aries. The story Is a long and intricate
one, and contains several unusually pas
sionate scenes and incidents. Cyrano is
brave and quixotic; he is in love, but hes
itates to declare himself because of his
ugliness. The girl, not knowing of this
gets him to assist her III an affair with
another. This is the whole tale in nut
she'll Mr.. Mansfield in the title role
looked as homely as the author could pos
sibly have wished, and at such times as
his disagreeable mannerisms We're held in
check acted with much force and skill
The characterization is not the best that
he has ever given, but will pass muster
and cause his admirers TO shout once
more, Isn't he a great actor?" / know
that l shall be accused of heresy for saw
ing it, but for the life of me l can't see
where Mansfields greatness comes in
He is a good character delineator, but
to my mind. dreadfully incompetent in
what is known as a straight" or legiti-
mate part. One of the worst and most
abominable portrayals ever shown on our
stage was his Richard H." which was
seen at Wallack's six or seven years ago
However, he has made hit with the
public, and as it pays the freight" the
star need not care what yours truly thinks
OF him as an artist. "Cyrano" should have
long run. for 1t is "a splendid production
and carefully acted by all of the COM
pany-Mr. Mansfield included
Hotel Topsy Turry," another Frenchy
hurrah musical comedy. which has al
ready been heard in Washington. is the
new bill at the Herald Square The new
piece Is full TO the brim of fun song and
dance, with no dull moments from start
10 finish. The music is good, the situa-
tlons better and the acting all that can
be desired. The cast includes Eddie Fov.
Henry Norman, Aubrey BoucicauIt. Eth
el jackson, Marie Dressler the best ..Iovy
comedienne' on the American stage. and
other clever people. Both scenery and
costumes are handsome and the whole
snow. which includes a lot Of young and
pretty girls, Is fetching 10 a degree .'Ho-
tel 1opsy furVy Is certainly a success
Down at the Star there Is on viavy q
farce comedy. called Have You Seen
smith After sitting out the first and
second acts. L am forced to say that I
am more than sorry that | have seen
smith, for he Is a most vulgar and un
| interesting chap.
The old Third Avenue Theater is again
open and fairly good entertainment is
furnished twice each day at popular
prices. This week s"Monte Cristo'' is be-
ing given with f. r.. Mawson of Fair
Rebel fame. Rachel Sterling. Della
Clark. Emma BeE and other competent
players in the cast
The veteran Jack" Haverly has again
come TO the fore, and Is presenting an
| old-tine minstrel show at the Fourteenth
Street Theater, which he once managed.
His entertainment is a good one of its
kind. and large and apparently well
| pleased audiences are the rule at every
| performance
| At the Grand Opera House, where last
| week the Louis James-Kathryn Kidder-
| the legitimate drama with much success.
| the Byrne Brothers are giving perform
| ance OF new acrobatic piece called
| Going to the Races" The entertainments
| Is lively one and appears to please the
| patrons of the place
Thus far the theatre season in this
| city has shown more than the usual num-
Der of successes. The list of winning new
productions includes Francis Wilson s
Little Corporal at the Broadway; "A
| Brace of Partridges.' at the Madison
| Square; Alice Nielsen in THE Fortune
| Teller" at Wallack's; Sporting Life" at
! the Academy of Music: THE Marquis OF
Michigan" at the Bijou: f. H Sothegl
| and Virginia Harmed in 1.-The Adventure
of Lady Ursula at the Lyceum; Richard
| Mansfield in "Cyrano de Bergerac," al
the Garden, and Hotel Topsy Turvy" al
the Herald Square-all of them clean
| performances.
At the American the Castle Square
Opera Company is giving Gilbert and
Sullivan's Patience" to the usual large
audiences. Last Monday night, for the
250th performance of this organiza ton
a silver souvenir was distributed. Next
week there will be a revival of grand
opera. starting with Aida" Yvonne de
| Treville, Grace Roman, and William La
| vim will then make their first appearances
| as members of the combination.
| Undraped drama continues to flourish
| at the Manhattan. Casino, and Dewey
| There seems to be no trouble in secur-
ing women who will exhibit themselves
in apparent nudity for money. That this
fad is degradation to the stage, no one
| will deny, but the managers tell us thai
If the public did not want lewdity il
| would not support the theaters in which
such nastiness is exploited. So much fol
| the directors-but it is a fact that per
/ formances of this description are not per
| manently successful. OF course, there are
| enough FOUNDERS of both sexes in thi:
city to support such entertainments fol
a few weeks, but then business drops
and the play passes, into oblivion.
One of the most important events OF
| the season is booked for the Knicker.
booker Theater next Monday, when Vioie
Allen, q clever actress and eharminf
woman makes her debut in this city a:
a star, in Hall Gaines 1.-The Christian.
| Miss Allen is fresh from town, and con
| fident of its renewal here.
A telegram from Toledo tells me thai
Tim Murphy has made the expected sue
cess in his new play by Opie Read ant
Frank Pixley, entitled 1.-The Carpetbag
| ger" We shall see it at one of our
| theaters later in the sea son.
| Manager Pitou's Cumberland. '61,
company started its second tour Monday
| night in Jersey City
Paul Gilmore escaped from the Four
teenth Street Theater last Saturday night
after the farewell performance of The
Dawn of Freedom 1t is not believed
that he carried much specie with him
Paul is nice boy, but needs another
play If he expects to make money. Maude
Warrilow. a young, English actress
makes her American debut next week al