The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-11-19


OF which has not been altogether in favor
OF THE Song oiii the Sword
| The day following its initial perform
ance MIR Gunter called upon Daniel Froh-
man, Mr.. Sothern's manager, and stated
that the plot OF the play is similar IN
many respects TO that of a novel. The
Gift OF Bonaparte," and that. as be owned
the dramatic rights to the book, he nat
urally felt disposed to protect his inter-
ests. Mr.. Frohman Immediately wrote 10
Mr.. Leo Ditrichstein. the author of Soth-
ern's play. setting forth all that MIR. Gun
ter had said, and asking for complete IN
formation upon the subject. He received
reply, saying: Il never heard of Mr..
Shortz or his book. The Gift of Bona
parte.' II there is any similarity between
my play and his book 1t must be the fault
of various memoirs written by contem-
poraries OF Napoleon"
~
Louis James is believer in Shakes
peare. He says: II find always that the
legitimate actor has certain clientele. a
recognized tragedian always enjoys good
patronage and while the light frothy style
OF entertainment draws we'll, people soon
return to more solid llays, There are
changes every eight or nine years; people
take to something as fad, but they can
NOT exist forever on wind pudding; they
want something more substantial. One
great thing which | consider a good sign
Is the fact that all our schools and col
leges are taking to Shnkespearian read
ing, and 1t begets an interest in young
people towards the drama which will have
q good effect. No matter how blase the
theater- soers may become as regards the
legitimate drama there viii be new
generation coming up which will MAIN
tain the interest In it. l find always
growing interest in young people for
good plays, and that interest is in great
part maintained until they are relegated
TO the background and new genera
ton takes their place"
"Chauncey Olcott was once in my com
pany.' said the veteran Jack Haverly the
Other day. "He was young lad when he
was brought to my notice and he had the
sweetest voice had ever heard. | asked
him to sing for me, and he sang some of
the old fashioned songs, / think 1t waG
Robin Adair.' and Sally in our Alley,
but they were new 10 me as he sang them.
/ had heard them sung many times before
but never so sweetly or so touchngiy /
Will confess. that old at the business as
] was they brought tears to my eyes.
did not waste much time over making
contract with him, | can assure you. HI
was a success from the first night he APP
Feared. think one OF the most admirable
traits about Oicott is his love for his
mother / have never seen such devotion
in all my life They are more like a
couple of sweethearts than mother and son
and all the flattery he has had has not
leSSenpd the devotion 20 her.
The newest theme to claim the atten-
ton of the playrights is the fashionable
sanitarium when, after a whirl of
gayety by the smart set, the leaders HE
themselves away to recuperate for less
important functions to follow. This sug-
gestion has been utilized by Mathews
and Bulger In the new version of the
big vaudeville operatta by the Sad Sea
Waves" and how well they have worked
over the incident VIII be illustrated at
the opera house soon. when this latest
version will be seen for the first time
here.
There are some theatrical attractions
that are not affected in the least degree
by the ghifting public taste. One of these,
fl is claimed Is THE stowaway," which
has done uniformly large business for
the past six seasons and which is booked
for an early visit to this city The man
ayers claim 10 have equipped it hand
somely this year. Spike Hennessey and
Kid" Mccoy are still the safe breakers
of tho company.
Travelling actors strike some queer
hotels. Tim Murphy now in the West
with THE Carpetbagger," has a unique
collection of the odd names of such places.
From Minnesota he reports the Hotel Mix
and the Buncombe House; from Iowa. the
Lawless House and Hotel Greenwood;
from Kansas. the Red Dog Tavern, the
Green House and the Sheriff House. In
Missouri, he found the Hotel Hurt and
he says 1t nTst have been struck by
cyclone.
Mr.. Mansfield at tho end of last season
discarded every particle of the scenery
and costumes used during the perform
ances OF "Cyrano de Bergerac," and this
year he carries an entirely new equipment
OF scenery. costumes and furniture for
this production, and also for THE First
Vioiin' HIS company numbers nearly i25
~
Sadie Martinez is preparing for a star
ring tour. She will be seen In a version
OF "sapho" by James L. Ford and Lorimer
stoddard. The piece Is said to be exceed
ingly frank.
The eight horses used in the chariot
race OF Ben Hur" have been In training
Tor TWO months. The appliance which en-
apies them to run at full speed within the
space OF their own legnth required the re-
building OF the entire stage OF the Broad
way theater, New York.
willard Holcomb, late dramatic editor
OF the Washington Post has been engaged
by Liebler & Co. as the newspaper repre-
sentative for James A. Herne In his new
play Sag Harbor.''
Dan Quinlan. who for some years past.
mas acted as business manager and inter
locuter for AL G. Field, will take out a
company OF his own next season.
~
PLAYS AND PLAYERS.
Emile Bergerat. author OF more Than
Vueen, has completed for Sarah Bernhardt
new historical drama called MADAME. .
~ deals with the adventures OF Naundorff
supposed by many TO have been Louis