The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-03-03
INCIDENTS IN STAGELAND.
THE SIXTH THEATRE THAT OSCAR
HAMMERS TEN HAS BUILT.

There was much ado at the southern end OF
Long Acre last night. But u could hardly be
set dow as much ado about nothing" The
sixth theatre that Oscar Hammerstein has
built in New York. The Victoria, was densely
crowded by people manlfestly friendly to
the man whose successes in the show busi-
ness had been edualled by his failures. The
plain exterior Of the new building had not pre-
pared them to see so handsome n place
as they found within. Tho auditorium.
with its spacious pronenndes, had been de-
scribed In The Sun az viewed by daylight
In a confusion OF hurrying artisans. It's good
looks came out far more effectively when COM
pletcd and illumined. Polished marble bal
ustrades. painted p%ictutes. stntuary and q
white and red scheme Ipf decoration pro-
duced q brilliant appearance. Everything was
in complete order. A little OF uncertainty
in the electric lights and IN the ushers was
the only indication Of hurried newness.
Mr.. Hnmmerstein. when called out. was as
calm and smiling as though nothing I'M
pleasant had ever happened to him. The
audience demanded n speech. and he made
one in a serio-comic vein. " 1 have only Just
now finished a theatre he said. in apology for
hoarseness. land l think that some iron grid
ers or marble blocks are left on my chest" He
Jovinlly mentioned the theatres which he had
erected. and the fun rs he called his failures.
which they had made for him. He said that
he hoped for final victory with the Victoria,
and, anyway he would remember the friendli-
ovation was surely enthusiastic. There was
some INDIGESTION as to whether tho hpuso wa
to be regarded as n theatre or as a music hall.
the fact, that a play was p~erioTmsI. hut
drinking that was melted BY the ,ptesense
OF uniformed walters in all, parts OF, tn. audi
everywhere. except in the p%arauet,. where the
pshers politely forbade cigars; The asSem-
on SrHF FSa h'a are m sSen Ti9 S first - GaS t tSeestr reg 9 Bus
it was a typical gathering OF theatricaI IRE
officials were conspicuous, in a box, and Wien.
in the play, an, actor explained that the Rat.
railway was going to be fred of. there Mas
laughter. applause. Kisses and focus OF EYES
Oh T fn9 f hsp% play e SpSStSdi at the Victoria wass
t yia,HTd SEinfod iar rfg,i a Reign Re { no OF F E iIdSfion ana M m IL.
51sPPdisdT viii Msy,i %Or n q ak 6Isso '6 b TONY By
ran clearly through al the nonsense:no matter
yncht boSHa K for Bra BrSz aFF2 T6e 9 ySshts Sn a E S1sa ON
RRtoS h Sdy in to G,ai% with I t HSs' pr rSyfs9'ii that Th' Sa
must marry a certain girl whom he had never
operate engagement. In the company were
stowaways were discovered. and one Of them
the Gh"S ProspectiVe NJ msii il The misunders
standings never ended until a satisfactory ex-
P n a tho m MEAS Tseehe fbe at pla h.0 ,an slaff
had visited New York. and. It's passen-
sess nn6 had h fho t al f b@ians Fl t to the i SIts
itself was terse, witty and colloqulal, There
w y6na ne tba sttfa 1sd min 5miG9 0f 4 rsr lf gsbaliSlfis sr be
and therein consisted one of the reasons for
the value OF the work.
Mr.. Mentally wrote "A Reign OF Terror on
an order of Klaw & Erlanger for a play in which
to employ Gus and Max Rogers. well known as
q pair of particularly amusing German dialect
comedians. The effort OF the playwright
under such circumstances Is. OF course. to
provide all the things for the actors to do that
they are capable of doing well. The training
and popularity of the Rogers brothers had
been in vaudeville, and it would not do to
make too far a departure from their specially
OF repartee and anecdotal dialogue. At
the same time it was desirable to
carry them UP to. II not quito into.
a legitimate grade OF comedy. In both
these respects the author was successful.
The two actors responded to oil the de-
%funnier than ever with their Dialogues full q
rapid jokes. their clever narodics q senti-
They had a new companion in Maude Raymond.
who quite held her, own with them IN negro
anu llll ilIiuS anu III UPS "a
BHH this is was Dsf ike a New YORK i' dGbSt for her. s.a and
t%aneoTs humor, and her frst:rate talent. Ada
Lewis was another actress who made M, trio
Miss Lewis Enacted. a seasick passenger, a
variant Of her familiar tough girl" She
utes. and afterward appeared. to the sur
prise OF some Of the speetqt9rsi II the gulse
GAME a eT %as there ere as is' Z r roRaish PsrtGi 1Y prima
donna. John Parr was a revelation rs q good
I ES}sd fo %n .si sGSiginaHGG sG9s4 actor +, M Si}6 a H 1lns
versatile in various disG sRi Petite Ade-
Gerry society. i vas ! large COMPANY,
f S9iIjinH e. : Ben sishTt aSl, G aIonE Win I'D m sSllft;
periormapce smooth and swift. Many
We're given With a Vim that. resronsiye to the
audiences demonstrations; made them go
mirable. at least in the estimation of those who
can enjoy t VIatoI kind or Of ddiyGGrsdI onirJ It t Sho, nc
I mainder OF the season.
1t Is a curious coin cidence that George Ed
gar, Emma Waller and Sara Jewett died In the
same week. The lives OF these three had been
curiously related. 1t was George Edgar who
! discovered the talents OF Margaret Mather
and Mrs. Waller was the teacher to whom he
first lntrusted her education for the stage
Mrs. Waller acted with Miss Mather in mail
towns Of this State before Mr.. Edgar's protegce
was placed before the public In the elaborate
; fashion that introduced her first in Chicago
= Up to Miss MatheI's death. Mrs. Waller moi
: only tutored her in e%iocution and other
! branches Of stage arr. but POLISHED her az
2 well in such rudimentary accomplishment
! as reading and writing. Mrs. Waller had been
3 the teacher Of many actresses. Mary Ander-
! son was at one time her pupil. In the days Of
her popularity women were accustomed to act
: mems roles in the serious drama. She played
Ia0o,, and she was accounted as, an admirable
7 Hamlet. Other characters with which hei
t Merilies and Marina. Her last appearance
were made with George Edgar and Margaret
Mather. Sara Jewett and Mr.. Edgar were
= united in an effort to give at one of the Broad.
way theatres an ambitious series OF shake;
: In loss for them. After that, Miss Jewett re.
Q tired permanently, although II was. her dc.
J sire to return TO the stage until a short time
|. before her death.
. The concentration Of the circus business In
u L. I.-l. lnn.onnlnl nu - II.