Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-02-12
THE STAGE
IN GOTHAM.
Icopyright, 1901


been frequently printed concerning the
affairs of Sir Henry Irving and Miss Ellen
Terry, it is now announced in what is at
least intended to be an authoritative
manner that the great English actor and
his long time leading lady, Miss Ellen
Terry are not to separate after all. Be-
sides this, Sir Henry is not to be wan
derer on the face of the earth, permitted
to play at his own Lyceum theatre in
London only by the grace of some sympa-
thetic manager.
Irving is to appear at his own house I'M
. der his own management, supported by
Miss Terry, during the approaching
spring in new play entitled 'Robespi-
ere Sardou Is the author, and as that
consummate master of stage detail and
theatric effect was under contract to sup
ply the English actor with vehicle ex-
act1y suited to his purposes there is little
doubt that he has made a good fit and
that Sir Eenrys long streak of bad luck is
shortly to be broken. The projected
American starring tour of Miss Terry has
necessarily been abandoned. The rela-
lions of that lady with her principal it
i may be stated, have all long been pleas
ant, except in regard to A few minor mat
tiers. There have never, however been
any serious disagreements, and even
when there was talk of professional
separation the subject IS said to have
been discussed by the two parties most
interested in the most amicable manner
Imaginable. There was never any recrim-
ination, and the only phase discussed was
the expediency of the proposed step. To
the wellwishers of the pair the outcome
has been most gratifying
Julia Arthur has made a lot of money
with Frances Hodgson Burnetts play, "A
Lady of Quality" and she might have
made much more had it not been for the
ambition to shine in the more classical
drama. The latter does not pay quite so
well, however as Miss Arthur was not
long in ascertaining, but she hung on
with a persistence worthy of the cause
That is all very well in it's way especially
if the old person be an actress whose
husband is so rich that he is obliged TO
pay storage C his money, but managers
of theatres re inclined to take a cold
blooded bus ness view of the drama, and
these very necessary gentlemen are apt
to insist upon the production of those
plays which draw most money into the
"A
Miss Arthur is one of the best paying
stars in America but in the classic drama
she is not lone, two, three" Not that she
Is incapable of playing it, for play 1T she
can, but she is not transcandant in it, In
the class of work called for in the Burnet
play Miss Arthur is transcendent, just
as she would doubtless be in certain
tragic roles. Until some one comes along
who is Julia Marlowes superior in such
roles as Juliet and Parthenia, they are
not likely to prove profitable investments
in a pecuniary way, no matter how salts
flying they may be in the artistic sense.
Miss Arthur has at last concluded to
divide territory with Eugene Blair on
"A Lady of Quality" The latter will be
seen in the south in the piece, while Miss
Arthur will confine herself to the places
already booked. Miss Blair is an actress
of somewhat melodramatic methods and
/ woman of rather mature charms, but
she understands, by reason of her long
yexperiehce, every. trick of the stage, and
/ there is little doubt that She will give a
reasonably satisfactory performance of
the title role of "A Lady of Quality" es-
pecially as she will be seen only by those
persons who have not seen Miss Arthur
in the same character. The reason for
this division of territory is said to be the
fear that the piece will come to be re-
garded as a trifie old before Miss Arthur
is able to get around to all the places
which she intends to visit during this and
next season.
The most interesting phase of this deal
is that it would seem to indicate the in
tention on the part of Miss Arthur not to
depend entirely upon "A Lady of Quail
ity, despite the idea which had become
general that her recent experience at Wal
lacks theatre in this city had the effect
OF temporarily Sitting her ambition to
demonstrate that it is her work and not
the play which attracts the crowd What
ever may be said of the business judg-
ment or lack of it which has prompted
the actress, it cannot be denied that she
is entitled to admiration for her pluck and
staying qualities.