The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-02-26

of 1000 franc for his play. "une Famiiie
which was presented at the Theatre Fran
caise and the success of which secured MIN
admission to the French Academy. I'm
yisite," his next efscrt. was done at the
Sale Ponsin on January 80, 1882; lie
Prince d'Auree" followed on June l at the
Vaudeville; lie Nouveau Jeu' was offered
at the Bodiniere on April ,. 1891; the
Odeon saw the premiere of his Les DeuX
Noblesses" twelve days later; Au Temps
des Folies' was put on December 20. 1894
at the Bodiniere: lie Piano was onered
on October %, 1925. at the Mondain' thres
days after the ensuing Christmas Les
Croix'' was staged at the Bodiniere; vi
YOURS was shown at the Vaudeville, and
finally he wrote the piece in which MISS
Russell is now appearing.
Catherine" was originally produced at
the Theatre Franchise something over
year ago with Mile. Lara as Catherinei
Madame Pierson as the Duchess de Cou-
tras: Mile Brandes as the Viscountess de
Grissoiles: NJ. lie Bargy as the Duke de
Coutras; NJ. de Ferandy as Monsieur VAL
lon and other people of note in the minor
roles. It was an instantaneous success.
L. II. Sothern's revival OF drama
adapted from Dumas romance, variousiy
termed THE Three Musketeers" and The
Three Guardsmen." has proven matter OF
comparatively little interest. Even the
fact that Mr.. Sothern is using new YER
sion of the piece in the form of Henry
Hamiiton's 1.-The Kings Nusketeer." and
that Daniel Frohman has staged the offer
ing with lavishness that has not been ap-
preached since its historic production at
Niblo's Garden. will hardly suffice to bring
either play or player into more than tenn
porary notice among other than casual
theatregoers. The central theme of the
work is too familiar to provoke general at
tention or even critical discussion.
The three best known arrangements OF
the .Musketeers'' are those OF Waller.
Grundy, and the present one by Hamilton.
which has been and is being
used in England by H. Beer
bohm Tree. 1t differs from the
others chiefly in the introduction of a love
story in which Raoul D'Artagnan is made
to figure prominently and which has the
effect of giving unusual dominance to the
part. 1t is also more completely an act
ing extract than either of the others, being
presented in a series of well connected
scenes without the tableau result produc-
ed in the Waller and Grundy efforts. The
unpleasant sequence of front sets is al
most done away with, and other radical
changes are made, many incidents be-
ing introduced as to give the piece an IN
usually strong meiodramatic flavor.
The "Musketeer' war, OF which so
much is being said. began in England
when the success of 1.-The Prisoner of
Zenda'' and like romances established the
fact that return to the old chivalric
drama might be profitable. No less than a
! dozen actors of distinction took up the
work, with the unanimity often manifest
| ed under such conditions. Mr.. Tree being
| the foremost of those involved. When the
craze finally spread to this country it was
! first felt in the bigger stock companies.
Next Mr.. SOthern announced his revival,
and almost simultaneously the Liebler
firm. which had successfully managed
Viola Allen and Charles Coghlan. stated
that it would produce the play with cast
in which would be included James O'Neill
Wilton Lackaye, Blanche Bates, and other
nctables. \ race 10 New York became
imminent, and a search was made for
available theatres The Liebier people
secured the Broadway, and seemed for a
time to have discounted their rivals
But finally Mr.. Frohman made arrange
ments with his brother by which the
Knickerbocker was turned over to Mr..
Sothern. while Julia Marlowe, who had
originally held time at that house for her
initial presentation of ''Colinette" was
sent to Philadelphia Accordingly Mr..
Sothern will open in Gotham full three
weeks before Mr.. o'Neill reaches town.
1t is probable that the Broadway pro-
duction will prove the better of the two.
but one cannot prophesy as yet which will
do the larger business In all events the
war is on and a merry one it threatens
TO be. Meanwhile. the smaller fry keep
right ahead presenting the piece, and Paul
Gilmore has retained Paul Kesters YER
sion of it. So the Capitalization of the
battle in New York will not prevent the
remainder of the country from witnessing
the 'Musketeers."
George T. Parker has taken rooms in
the Metzerott Building and begun the pub
LEGATION of little magazine which he calls
the Washington Weekly Amusement
Guide" The issue. which in APP
pearance and design much resem-
bles the New York Amusement
Record was gotten out for the first time
last Monday in a most business-like way,
and already bears every mark of success
1t is in the form OF a neat pamphlet. five
and half inches wide. by seven and a
half inches long. contains twenty pages.
and an Illuminated cover. and is well
printed on fine paper. In addition to a
goodly quantity of advertising the PAM
phlet includes the name of the attraction
being seen at each of the local houses the
story of the play. and its cast of charac-
tiers. timetable of suburban trains leav-
ing after the theatre. and other useful in
formation. The venture is a practical one
and should be profitable
This week marks the coming to town of
Thomas E. Shea, who has already won at
tention here for his skiIlful and conscien-
tious work. Mr.. Shea is appearing in
repertoire, two of his vehicles being Of
variety that is most commendable for in
PRODUCTION into the popular priced houses
tst nl1
will finally accomplish the elevation of
the stage-if it is to be accomplished-by
educating lovers of the poorer class of
shows" up to a standard of better things.
not by quick endeayor but by graduation
and perseverance. Mr.. Shea is a clever
man and fully deserves the success that
undoubtedly awaits him in this city.
Richard Mansfelds recent illness
necessitated not only the cancellation
of the remainder of his Boston
time. but of every engagement
up to that in Baltimore, which
will be followed on March Is by the stars
appearance in Washington. The local date
will positively be filled and Managers
Luckett & Dwyer are already busy max
ing preparations for the advent of his pom
derous production. Two stores in front of
the Columbia have been rented and the
hIe partitions between them and the stage
of the house are being removed When
this task has been accomplished Mr.. Mans
field will be furnished with scene dock
covering practically unlimited space A
portion Of one shop will also be turned into
dressing rooms. in which the actors nr-
merous supernumeraries may transform
themselves into players, soldiers. Gascony
cadets. pickpockets.' etc. The stage ar
the Columbia is ample for the presenta
ton, and the new arrangements have
placed everything in readiness for what