The record-union., 1898-05-01

a somewhat risky experiment is TO
be made in the shape of an English
version of particularly disreputable
| French farce, nightly enjoyed in Paris,
called lie Controleur des Wagons
Lifts" The temptation to adapt con-
sists in one scene, where an GRANT hus,
! band is frightened out of his wits
through the agency of a phonograph,
| which is said to be excruciatingIy fun
ny. This notion, or course, could be
utilized in perfectly innocuous theatri-
cal material.
George Alexander of the London st.
James Theater has acquired the acting
rights in new sentimental comedy of
modern life, in four acts entitled THE
Ambassador" by John Oliver Hobbes
| The subject Of the poetic drama on
which Stephen Phillips is engaged for
Mr.. Alexander is taken from the story
Of 'Paola and Francesca"
Phyllis Rankin, who is seen in The
Belle of New York as Fifi, the French
candy girl, is a daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Mckee Rankin, who are both we'll
known to theater goers Of the past two
decades
Henry Jardine, for several years
identified with the profession in Bos-
ton, New York and Chicago, has had
a play accepted by Miss Ellen Terry,
for production at the Lyceum Theater.
London. This is the second play by
Mr.. Jardine placed in England this
year.
THE Fortune Teller is the name of
the opera which Herbert and Smith
are writing for Alice Nelson The
scene is laid in Hungary, and the plot
deals with the Hungarian war of in
dependence. Miss Nelson is to play
the part of the gypsy fortune teller.
A railway car appointed with a lavish
disregard for luxurious precedents and
blaZoned circuswise, a horseless car
riage, and a four-in- hand equipage, are
made much of by active press agencies
in behalf of actresses who would thus
be thought to need artificial aids
Very soon after regular perform
ance at the Solodownikow Theater,
Moscow, where Marie Van Zandt was
playing a brilliant engagement, fire
broke out in the auditorium The stage
was preserved by means of the iron
curtain. Two firemen were killed.
"Jalouse" Bisson's latest play, has
met with great success at the Pare
Theater. in Bruxelles This play is be-
ing adapted by William Gillette, and is
to be produced by Charles Frohman
next season in this country. This will
be the third Bison play that Mr.. Gill
lette has adapted.
The rowing life of an actor is inimical
to domestic relationships, and that is
all there is in his life, or his profess
sion, that is prejudicial to matrimony
with a nom professional. The same is
true of the travelling salesman. Actors,
as a rule, behave themselves quite as
we'll as other people.-Baltimore Her
aid
It appears that Ella Wheeler Will
cox says that Denman Thompson's
Sunshine of Paradise Alley is rest
full. This would seem like a very
warm recommendation of her good
taste and we might add resounding
advertisement It would be difficult
to imagine any sweeter task than Civ
! ing Ella Wheeler Wilcox a -; but
| there -.
| PATHS REIMBURSEMENT of the S1OO,OOJ
left her by Nicolin is only piece OF
! Justice. Nicolini-whose real name was
Nicolas-deserted his wife and children
| for the great soprano. Patti is only
doing the right thing. By the way, the
lady may pay US a visit, and in widows
weeds.-New York Telegraph.
| Albert Carre. the new director of the
| Opera Comique. has accepted lyric
comedy based on Shakespeare's Much
Ado About Nothing" set to music by
/ Paul Puget 1t is interesting to note
! that the contemporary French men OF
letters all profess a great admiration
for the immortal bard.
Lillian Burkhart's new fairy play,
's,The Lady of the Rowan Tree" has
evidently made the biggest hit of any
piece yet produced in the vaudeville,
says the Springfield Union" The
Philadelphia papers devoted an un-
usual amount of space to a consider
alton of the little play, the consensus OF
opinion among the critics being OF the
most favorable character.
JEANNE Winston is to play the part
of Mrs Carthew in E. E. Rice's pro-
duction of Monte Carlo"
George Enesco, sixteen-year-old
composer and violinist, is the musical
Of tho bo1,r Paris
John l.. Sullivan and his big company
of vaudeville entertainers is an early
attraction at the Star Theater.
Edna May has ambitions which point
to legitimate comedy. The Chicago
Dispatch" says she is the daintlest
soubrette since Rosina Vokes.
Lillian Russell, Nat Goodwin, Mans
field and Sousa's Band will be among
the attractions at the American The
ater at the Paris Exposition in l9oo
Plays that the Elizabethan Stage So
ciety are to revive are Middleton's
spanish Gypsy" Ford's Broken
Heart" and Ben Jonson's Sad Shep-
! herd"
| Maria Guerrero is appearing in the
part of Sans Gene in Madrid. The IA
nous Spanish actress has bought the
rights of d'Annunzio's Dead City"
One of the best bits of character act
| ing seen on the stage for a long time
| is said to be that of Dan Mason as Pro-