The times., 1899-08-27

NEW YORK. Aug. 2s.-These are lively
days and nights with managers. Tors, cad
actresses. Rehearsals are in active prog
ress at every local theatre and in many
halls. preparatory to the opening OF the
season Next Monday wallack's viii offer
the first OF the premierss in the Smyth aud
Rice presentation OF an English comedy.
entitled "A Little Ray Of Sunshine" The
original London cast, which includes VIII
lam Elton, who has not been here since
the demise OF the old Wallack Stock Com
pany, viii be seen almost in its entirety.
The piay has been running for six months at
the Royalty Theatre. and Is likely to be-
continued there during al Of next winter.
II IS supposed to be legitimate farce en-
tirely free from borsepIay and vulgarity
The piece promises to repeat here its Eng
lisa success.
On next Tuesday evening Charles Froa-
man begins his year at the Criterion, fer
merly the Lyric, with The Girl from
Maxims, an adaptation OF a French ef-
fort, which, il is said. will be far more
rIsqGe N dialogue and action than anything
before seen on our stage. There are up
feTing, and those who have seen il in the
original tell me that each Will require able
representation The cast viii be headed by
W. ]. Ferguson.
The Manhattan Theatre opens next Sat
urday night with Willie Collier in his own
creation, MIR. smooth" Smyth & Rice
tried this work last spring in Boston AMI
the verdict of the bean eaters was most
favorable. IL is described as being a NUN
batter play than any in which Mr. Collier
has before appeared. The same evening
Manager Augustus Pitou starts in at the
Grand Opera House with Blaney's sensa-
tional Chinese American melodrama. "Ths
King Of the Opium Ring which viii Ia
followed on September II by a revival OF
James A. Herne's old timer. Hearts Of
Oak.
Manager RoSenqueSt's rejuvenated Four
teenth Street Theatre will throw wide its
doors next Thursday, when will be tried
~. X. Tillotson's drama. "A Young Wife,"
in which the leading roles will be assumed
production are laid in this city and yicin-
ity. Manager Williams tells me that no
sensational mechanical effects viii be used
in the presentation.
John Drew has returned from his vaca-
tion in Europe and with his company is
rehearsing The Tyranny OF Tears, which
will be on the stage OF the Empire Thea
tire at early date. There are only six
characters in the play. but for all that it
has been successful in England 1t is be-
lieved that this is the enly vehicle in
which Mr.. Drew will appear this season.
II il does not catch the public there will
probably be a different story to tell.
Another of Charles Frohman's stars
booked for an early bow here is Henry
Miller. who will be seen at the Herald
Square during September, in THE Only
Way" an adaptation by Freeman Wills OF
"A Tale of Two Cities" This version OF
Dickens story is different from any be-
fore placed upon the stage and makes a
hero of Sidney Carton. who has not fgur-
ed prominently in other plays founded on
the novel. Mr.. Miller, who has the part
of Carton, viii have To work hard in order
to keep up with Edward ]. Morgan who
will be seen in the dual role of the De-
1argeS- Mr.. Morgan is a much better and
more magnetic actor than Mr.. Miller. and
it would not surprise me TO see him carry
OFF the honors of the premiere. Margaret
Anglin has been engaged for the part OF
seamstress which like the character OF
Carton, has been increased in Importance.
Over at the Grand Opera House Wagen-
halls and Kemper are conducting rehear-
sails OF the Louis James-Kathryn kfdder-
Charles B. Hanford combination which
starts on the road September is at Pitts
burg and reaches New York on Octcssr 8.
A great deal Of interest is being manifest
ed in theatrical circles in the revival OF
The Winters Tale" which this firm viii
make the chief feature of it's repertory.
The production viii be staged with much
scenic splendor and is certain to prove a
most important revival. The chief settings
show the gallery of the god Apollo and
the Repository OF Art in the Palace OF
Leontes. Both are remarkable examples OF
the painters skill, being rich in c0loring.
adu Of a4b
this city are showing much interest in her
assumption of the dual role of Hermone
and Perdita. She is an intelligent actress
and 1 believe will fully realize the pOssibiI-
tiles OF both parts. Louis James, as Au-
tolycus, and Mr.. Hanford, as LeOntes,
should give a good account Of themselves
The Augustin Daily estate Benjsmin D.
Stevens and Edwin H. Price. have arrang-
ed to send out The Runaway GIL"
musical comedy which had a prosperous
run at Daly's and the Fifth Avenue The
atre last season. James T. Poxers and
nearly every member of the original cast
has been engaged, while all the original
scenery and costumes viii be used. This
piece was the most successful Of al the
Girl comedies produced in this city rec
emily. 1t should make money on the road.
During the past few weeks much gossip
has been printed about Julia MarOwe and
her husband Robert Taber. Some say
that the husband will rejoin his wife i'm
mediately, while others inform their
friends that there is a deep and yawning
gulf between this once devoted couple.
All sorts of scandals are limited at, but
take my word for it-there Will be no real
scandal and no divorce. Robert Taber
will go his way and Miss Marlowe viii
continue as a star on her own hook
Joseph Buckley, Otis SINNERS manager,
is in town actively preparing for the next
tour of his popular star, who will be seen
in The Liars" comedy which has the
record of a long and successful run ia
New York. Mr.. Skinner will have the as
sistance of an excellent company of actors
and actresses, several o{ whom are well
known and competent The jaunt begins
September IS in Washington
Last season we had ''The King Of the
Opium Ring" at the Academy The piece
ran for several weeks 10 excellent bUsi-
ness and was so much of a success that
now we are likely to get a surfeit of the
Chinese-American plays. At the Star The
atre there is on view dramatic night
mare called The Queen Of Chinatown" in
which that once-popular actress. Jeffrys
Lewis, is posing the Queen. Later we
are promised "A Chinese Romance
work said TO have been written by a Mon
golian of this city.
The death of Lizzie MacnichoI. the con-
traito of the Castle Square Opera Com
pany. has created a huge void in that or
ganizstion- AS local favorite Miss Mac
niehol stood head and shoulders above
every other member of the troupe, and in
her private life she was universally be-
loved. She was not wonderful singer.