The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-29

oLHltu russell, Olga NetherSOle, julia
| MarloWe, and perhaps some others dc
not recall at this moment.
1t will be seen that the new material
| in this lot is of an especially attractive
character, and it will be noted, too, b!
those who are familiar with amusement
a1alrs that there have been singuarly
| few fa1lures made by the leading pro-
| ducers this season. The most extraordi-
nary example of this condition of af-
| airs is shown in the case of Charles
Ffohman, who, with all his productions
mas had but one frost-"Little Miss no
| body. which he sidetracked as soon as
| it became evident that the piece
! wouldn't do.
| This goes to show either that the
quality of the material put forward ty
TINS manager and his colleagues is In
usually good at present, or that the
market for it is more eager than here
totore. Perhaps both conditions prevail
10 an extent, and in any case the fact
remains that Mr.. Frohman and the
other leaders in the field of manage
VIII nave still greater one next sea-
son, when they will be covering the rich
territory outside the metropolis and
getting the big end of the percentages.
James A. Herne's new play, THE
KEY. Griffith Davenport which was
produced in Washington a few nights
ago, Is solid success. For over three
hours and audience composed of the
leaders of Washingtons official and So
cial life listened to it at the Lafayette
Square theater unwearied except by
handclappfng. AT the end of the third
act the strength of the scene lifted the
audience from their seats. and the au-
thor-actor was cheered to the echo.
The play is free dramatization of
Helen Gardeners novel, AN Unofficial
Patriot Where he has deviated Mr..
Herne has strengthened. He has de-
picted southern life as accurately aid
truthfully as he did New England life
in Shore Acres
The play is not war drama, al
though the scenes are laid within tlat
stirring period. The subject of slavery
is handled in a mastery manner, and
the piece is called a new Uncle Toms
Cabin just as "Zaza" is a new Ca
mile
The cast contains 40 parts and 100
people are employed in the Washington
production. 1t is the most ambitious
production of the period.
Mr. Herne is great hit in the title
part, but Mrs. Herne divides the non
ors, and Sidney Booth, Robert Fischer,
John w. Bankson and Helen Robertson
stand out from the big cast.
The play is scenically mounted in an
exceptional manner. The cycloramic
tableaux in the last act brought rounds
of applause.
"A Prisoner of Spain will be a the
Grand for two nights beginning Sun
day. Feb. 5. The News Bulletin Of
Winnipeg has this to say about the
play and the company producing it:
The Grand opera house contained a
very large audience last night and
Sanford Dodge and his company had a
very suspicious opening.
"A Prisoner of Spain is drama
founded on thrilling incidents connect
ed with the Cuban war and tells a
most exciting story in which Old
Glory is exalted and the bIoodthirsty
Spanlards held up to scOrn and eXecra-
ton. Across the line in the sweet land
of liberty it can be easily understood
that such a play would arouse patriot
ism to the highest pitch. Even last
nights Canadian audience displayed
enthusiasm and heartily cheered the
stars and stripes and the sentiments Of
the play. The scenery was appropriate
The first act showed the office head
quarters at Fort Lee, the second the
American camp near Santiago the
third Spanish camp at Ell Caney and
the fourth the Ell Caney headquarters
During the American camp scene there
were a number of mer1torious special
ties, patriotic songs, etc, which added
to the enjoyment of the performance
A knife combat made.a very exciting
climax in the last act.
Mr.. Dodge has brought with him a
capable company. which includes Will
liam Lloyd, an old Winnipeg favorite;
Miss Switzer, Miss Muney, Mr.. Seares
Mr.. Fisher, Miss Bayley and several
others. The performance appeared to
give pleasure and satisfaction and an
opening so successful should insure a
good business during the engagement"
The Rlalto was rather startled last
when it was announced that
Eugene Blair was to be seen shortly
on tour in "A Lady of Quality" under
the direction of w. NJ. Wilkinson. The
name of Miss Arthur has only hereto
fore been mentioned in connection With
the play, and the fact that Miss Blair
is now to be seen in it, adds another
chapter to the interesting combination
of events that have figured in connec-
ton with the play and Miss Arthur
since the opening of the actress en-
gagement at Wailack's several weeks
since. 1t has been generally under
stood that Misc Arthur had the entire
rights to the play, which has been one
of the most successful productions seen
here in many seasons. Such, however,
is evidently not the case. Last week a
was drawn up between r.
Henry French, representing the au-
thors, Mrs. Frances Hodgson Burnett
and Stephen Townsend, and Miss Blair
and Manager Wilkinson whereby the
latter were empowered to present the
play in all territory except that in
which Miss Arthur is booked for the
balance of the present season. Eugeaie
Blair is most beautiful and talented
actress. Her work heretofore has been
even on higher plane than that of
Clorinda Wildairs in Mrs. Burnett's
play, and she has had the advantage
of schooling that few of the younger
actresses can boast Of She has been
sub-starred with many of our foremost
tragedians and has starred alone in the
standard classic and emotional plays.
The announcement of her appearance
in "A Lady of Quality is an interest
ing one. Manager Wilkins will give to
the play an elaborate mounting, as near
as possible like that seen at Wallack's