The times., 1899-12-10


"a horrible inward sinking" 1 had never
met either of the two gentlemen and never
had seen any of their compositions. save
those shown on the billboards about town
But the manager who writes vehicles for
his star is person to be dreaded, and the
sinking" continued The piece was done
recently in the provinces" and the custo-
mary favorable reports reached the local
papers. Then I thought of investing a
few dollars in what might be termed a
sinking fund" and. seeing the attraction
on the road My impatence was checked,
however. and on Monday l was rewarded
by finding that my prophetic sense had
been in excellent working order,
OF course. Mr.. Daniels could not be other
than funny in anything. I verify believe
that diminutive comedian might sing The
Dreams of Eugene Aram' to the funeral
march from Saul" and convuIse the av-
erage audience Placed where he can sim
ulate fright and indecision, Frank Daniels
will make passable the worst possible
book. But. despite his efforts, the Ines
and lyrics of THE Ameer" are so pooy
their favor by Gotham's critics. The story
is a compilation of all the antiquated
episodes that have worn out their copy
rights while the situations evolved so
apparently We're manufactured for the lit
tie entertainer that their humor is for
gotten. Altogether, The Ameer' would
be quite a dolefuI successor for THE Wiz
ard of the Nile" and The IDOLS Eye"
were it not for Victor Herbert's music,
which is in the catchy, brilliant strain
always attained by that melodist. The re-
viewer cannot help regretting that Mr..
Herbert's charming airs should be set SO
badly.
As has been remarked, Mr.. Daniels still
is the inimitable chap he proved himself
to be years ago in "A Rag Baby and The
Princess Bonnie" He is excellently sup
ported by a cast many members of which
were with him last season. VIII Dan
forth, Helen Redmond Norma KOpp, and
Kate Tart are among these, while the re-
mainder of the company includes W. f.
Rochester, William Corliss. George Devoll,
J. j. Martin Frank Ranger, Sadie En-
mons Harry L. Arthur Robert Delius,
Howard Lawrence, Mae EmmOns, Jane
Vaudeville, Virginia Karroll, and Tennie
Leslie Three handsome scenes are shown
while the costumes are adequate and the
chorus well trained The Ameer' will be
! followed by Olga NethersoIe in "SaDpho."
We have had one and are to have an
! other travesty on Julia MarIowe's Bar
! bara Frietchie." The second of these is to
| be revealed shortly by the Rogers Brothers
| at Hammsrstein's Victoria. The first was
| produced on Thursday night at Weber and
| Fields Music Hall where it was cap
! toned Barbara Fidgety." Mabel FentOn
was offered in the title role while Pete
I Daley portrayed her father Dave Warfeld
| was her crazy lover, and dainty Irene Perry
was the Sue. The usual handsome lot Of
| girls was distributed about the locale and
| the rendering went on smoothly. "Barba-
ra Fidgety' probably win enjoy quite a
vogue.
| over at the American Theatre. taat
standard organization, the Castle Square
| Opera Company, this week, is being heard
| in a double bill. ''F'idelio'' and "Cayal' e-ia
| Rustcana" are the works sung and they
| are admirably sung. the lighter effort prov
| ing a more than acceptable substitute for
| the Gilbert and Sullivan products usually
| staged prior to the performance of Mas
cagni's music-drama. Barron Berthald,
| Harry LuckStOne, Selma Kronold, Bernice
Holmes, Della Niven, Mary Linck, Marie
Mattfeld, Clinton Elder w. II. Clark, and
William Mertens are in the casts. The
Castle Square people still are very popular
| locally and the American has become a
| mint
! Leo c. Teller. one-while of Weber and
| Fields, is running Sam T. Jacks cid thea
| tre as what is called a combination"
house. He is booking the best of the bur
leTques troupes, giving them their first
opportunities for appearances on BreadN ay.
Mr. Teller informs me that he will tolerate
| !, ysrpio oh i. IN
direct opposition to the policy laid down
by the late Mr.. Jack, who made his fortune
out of obscenty.
DR.. George W. Purdy, has very pretty
little story apropos of the selection of a
title for Fanny Rice's new play. 1t may
be remembered that DR.. Purdy asked for
| suggestions on this score and proNaised a
4 prize of 500 to the successful contestant
| Replies came pouring in and-Dr. Purdy
| says-the award was given to widow
woman" with seven small children. The
caption selected is a Wonderful Woman
and its lucky inventor was kept from staCy-
| ing-Dr. PuTty says-by her ingenu ty.
| Which is beautiful and touching-if true.
At the Madison Square next Monday we
! are promised production Of Charles Froh-
mans latest London importation, Wheels
! Within Wheels" The piece is three-act
| comedy. written by R. C. Carton, who also
is responsible for Lord and Lady Algy.
/ II originally was done by Dion Boucicault.
Arthur Boucher. and others with great
! success at the Court Theatre where it
provoked some comment on the score Of its
| risuueness. The local Interpretation will
be entrusted to John b. Mason, Grant Stew
art. C W. Butler Hilda Spong Grace Ell
| Iiston. Mrs Eva Vincent Charles Giblyn,
J. Lester Phillip Cunningham. Robert Hill
lizard. and Graham Henderson.
The Gunner's Mate" the new naval
drama. seems to be an unquestioned hit.
II has been drawing the biggest kind of
/ houses in Philadelphia, where twelve cur
tain calls followed the celebrated iire-room
scene on Friday a week ago. The offering
really is admirably staged and exceedingly
well acted Probably it will be brought
I to New York during the winter.
I Chauncey Olcott is playing his annual
/ fortnight engagement at the Bijou Theatre
in the borough Of Brooklyn. Hundreds are
being turned away at every performance
of "A Romance Of Athlone.
/ Corona Ricardo, handsome young wO-
man. who has a leading part i'm the Broad
! way Theatre production of Ben Hur. Is
a graduate of the Stanhope Wheatcroft
| Dramatic School Apparently, these in
stitutious which have been scoifed at are
20 take a prominent position in the re
CruiUng of our stage.
When Sarah TruaX is seen here next
March at a series of special matnees, she
viii be making her debut as a star The
/ Merchant of Venice" will be the first work
presented. Miss Truax appearing as Portia
and John AIbaugh as Shylock. The ac-
tress will be remembered in Washington
for her work opposite Otis skinner, some
years ago.
On Christmas day. "The Village Post
master a rural comedy drama, by Je-