The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-03

here were two very good attractions
at Sweeney g Coombs' opera house during
the past week--Mathews q Bulger in by
the, Sad Sea Waves on Thursday and
walter e. Perkins in Du souehet's my
Friend From India" yesterday. Both
were of such a nature as to leave little 90
be desired and both We're Thoroughly en-
joyed THE Stowaway," which appeared
on Tuesday. was decidedly Oft color ana
the fourth attraction of the week. Joshua
Simpkins,'' which was seen at reduced
prices on Wednesday, would do well to
coniinc itself to the smaller towns.
The coming week promises genuine
treat in the shape OF the annual appear
ance of the James Kidder- Hanford COM
bination, which will be seen in grand
scenic revival OF THE Winters Tale" on
Wednesday night IN THE School for
Scandal on Thursday afternoon and in
Macbeth Thursday night Messrs
wagenliale & Kemper have what Is prob
ably the strongest organization of its
kind on the road and no one who appre-
ciates true dramatic art can AFFORD TO miss
its performances.
The other attractions for the week are
Lincoln j. Carriers The Heart of Chiea-
GO on Tuesday. The Hustler on Fri
day and The Hottest Coon in Dixie on
Saturday.
II has been sometimes said that "Tha
Winters Tale" was OF all Shakespeare s
plays the most difficult TO render salts
factoriiy upon the stage The principal
obstacle undobtedly is the fact that It is
really two plays rolled into one. In the
play. nerm!one distinguished by her mag
nanimity and for;itude in the hour OF
trial, a splendid hgure--illustrating at
its best the dignity OF woman-is the
heroine. She is the wife OF Leontes. and
though in the prime of beauty and wo-
manhood is not represented TO be In the
frst bloom Of youth Her husband on
slight grounds suspects her OF iniideii'y
with his friend, ,Poixenes; the suspicion
once admitted and working on q passion
ate and yindic4iye mind becomes set
tied opinion Hermione is thrown iuto
a dungeon; her new born infant ~ taken
from her and by the order OF her I'D
band. Leontes, who is frantic with jeal-
o,isy, she is exposed TO death on desert
shore. She is then brought 70 puniit
trial for treason and inadelity, fsfends
\ herself nobiy and is pronounced tnnceecl
by the oracle, hut at the very momen'
when she is acquitted she learns OF the
death OF her only son. She swoons away
with grief, and her supposed death con
cludes the third act.
The last two acts are the ote- play
in which Perdita, the exiled daughter o.
Hermione, il the heroine. and not Until
the last moments of the play does Hermi-
one appear again TO complete the dramatic
harmony of the scheme IL Is no idle UNI
dertaking for an actress TO assume hotl
roles. Miss Kathryn Kidder who ar
pears in Wagenhals e. Kemrer's mag
niflcent production OF The Winter q
Tale has shown herself extraordinarily
gifted by achieving Il success in the dual
role. The last time--and as far as history
tells ns--the FIRST time Hermione and Per-
dita were played by the same actress was
when Mary Anderson produced the play
more than a decade ago. Since then -
actress has been found with the curious
combination OF talent and courage requir
ed to ASSUME the part. 1t is claimed BY
those who ought to know that this pro-
luction of THE Winters Tale" will
compare favorably even with that par
licularly gorgeous one which Charles
Kean gave LONDON In 1856. The necessity
OF strong actors in the leading roles OF
this play is so marked that 1t has prob
ably deferred many a manager from at
tempting its production. Louis James viii
be the Autolycus. and never before. 1t
is said, have his remarkable powers as a
comedian been 30 delightfully."- demon
strated Mr. James, of course, has been
chiefly known for his ability in the seri-
Gus drama. but Autoiycus is Just the sort
of character In which all the arts OF a
thoroughly trained actor can be, most
fitly employed The stern. harsh Leontee
now finds powerful exponent in Charles
b. Hanford, whose experience in the
classic drama has given him the highest
standing in this field o: work.
1t is necessary in THE Winters Tale
to- satisfy the eye as well as the ear, and
the production In this regard is more than
satisfactory The qauintness OF the an
tiqus costumes and the magnificent back
ground OF temple palace and lanasSaoe
together make up series OF pictures,
the like of which the local stage has
probably not seen before. The engage
ment Is for two nights and a special natl
nee on Thursday. 1.-THE School for Scan.
dal Will be the matinee bill, and "Mac-
beth" will BIO given Thursday night
Thirty-seven people are employed In the
productions TO assist Mr.. James, Miss
kidder and Mr.. Hanford. and two cars
Of special scenery are used.
-
Lincoln J. Carter's 1.-THE Heart of Chica.
CO. said TO be an unusual comedy drama,
wilt 81 the attraction at the opera house
Tuesday. December 5. matinee and night.
- 49, ~-~ss ~ eAS pay optao VI 4lhc
night Of the great Chicago FIRE, and thus
Affords q brilliant opportunity for the in
PRODUCTION OF IRE scene this oppc.tu-
nifty. II p said. Is not wasted. The cor
ner Of State and Madison streets before
K and after the fire Is shown. The next
important scene represents the roof OF the
Masonic Temple and also shows piano.
rannig vtew Of the city to the south and
veat. showing Michigan avenue, state
street and Wabash avenue az far az
Twelfth street and the cross streets almost
- the river Tho roof garden scene at
4 fogds opportunity for tho introduction OF
number Of clever specialties. What ID
< clAlmad 70 b an absolutely new railroad
scene Il also feature OF the play. The
scene y laid near whiting, Ind, and Z
trsin u seen approaching In the distance
q ~ headliGht being 1t first merely bright
spuek IL The darkness, gradually increas.
! ipg II size &c Il draws nearer, Just a
~ harpine * ~ play adjusts the Sig
4 ~ liohAn AZ tho open drawbiidEe the trair
\ 16xo6 06Wn 70 tho fooflights ard comes
q : lnll htop Thla eject. 81 Is said, Is no.
6aaeap,isAedby mssns Of pictures. Ths