The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-03

a different bill every night. Manager
woodward says he has a stronger com
pany than he has ever had, and the num-
bers were selected with a care to their
abilities as versatile performers. Besides
Mr. Woodward who is one of the strong
est forces in the company, 1t includes the
following: Bessie Warren, May Belle
Eckert, Ella Wilbur N. Clayton, Charles
Middleton, Francis Money Guy Hitner,
Barton Thomas, William Van Elton, j.
p Wallis. William Neston, Charles Parker
and L. Hicke.
The performances will be enlivened by
specaties given by the members of the
company. Una Clayton the dainty little
soubrette, is sull with the company, and
has a lot of new specialties.
The theatrical season in New York was
inaugurated last week, when the doors of
several of the metropolitan theaters were
thrown open. The New York managers an
uoipate prosperous season and have pro-
vided themselves with plays new to this
country by both native and foreign au-
thors. They range in character from farce
to melodrama and they viii be interpreted
by men and women who have reached
high planes in the various branches of the
profession.
One of the great productions of the sea-
son will be the adaptation of Gen. Lew
Wallaces famous novel ben Hur."
Walker WhiteSide has been engaged to
play the part of Ben Hur. This young man
has had a peculiar experience. Along in
the early sos somewhere Hbout SO, as near
as the writer can remember, a young boy
in the West began to be heard from owing
TO his talent as a Shakespearean reader
He had scarcely dropped skirts when he
NAG 10 % Of 7
wealthy resident of Kansas City, and at
that time a member of the board of al
dermen Mr.. Ford became impressed with
the boys talents, and placed him upon the
professional stage. He engaged a capable
company, spent a large amount of money
in printing and advertising, and "the boy
tragedian" as he was styled, made his
metropolitan debut at the Grand Opera
House in Chicago, in a round of Shakes
pearean characters, which the great and
lamented Booth would have hestitated to
tackle on such short notice. The acting
Of the boy was marvellous, but the public
failed to take kindly to the innovation,
and Mr.. Ford retired from his first and only
attempt at theatrical management consid-
erably poorer in pocket but wiser in eXpe-
rence. Whiteside, however, persevered
and different managers handled him from
time to time. He began to make money in
a small way, and although he played in
men who saw his performances in the
smaller towns were much impressed with
him, and predicted a brilliant future for
the young aspirant. He Is now finished
actor, although probably not yet out of his
twenties. Wilton Lackaye, who as
3vengali in "Trilby" presented one Of the
best bits of character acting of the present
day will be another member of the Ben
Hur" Company. Judith Berolde has also
been engaged, while the others are we'll
known members of the profession. Ben
Hur" will be the third Jewish play to be
presented this season, or, beside this great
production with it's wonderful chariot
scene, and Children of the Ghetto, Jacob
Lit will produce another from the pen of
Edwin Arden, which deals with Jewish
peasant life in Russia
And sill the dramatization of popular
novels goes on:
Stuart Robson's dramatic version of
The Gadly." which that eminent player
is TO present, bids fair TO excel in point
OF splendor anything that he has pro-
duced during his long career on the
American stage. The novel has been wide
ly read and discussed and its sage de-
uut VIII be watched with interest. THE
Gadhy' offers unusual opportunities for
picturesque stage settings. The scenes are
laid in various parts of Italy noted for
their natural beauties, which, combined
with the architecture built in the time
when Italy led the world in the magnih-
cence of its buildings, affords a chance
for scenic display unequaled in any re-
cent production. The matter of amounting
The piece was taken up early last spring
and everything that could be done TO re-
produce upon the stage truthful represen-
taiiOns of the various scenes has been TAX
en- advantage of. Mrs. Voynich put into
the scenic artists hands photographs and
descriptions of all the places which figure
IN the drama.
One of the most interesting productions
booked for this season is THE Only Way"
IN adaptation of Dickens "A Tale of Two
llies," which Will be seen at the Herald
-quare theater. This play has been one
~ The create successes of the London
season ana was procured for Henry Miller
by Charles Frohman during the latter's
trip abroad this summer The part of Sid
ney Carton will fit Miller like glove and
the accessories are TO be of the most elab-
crate description. The dual role of lie
large" brothers win be played Temporal
riiy by L. J. Morgan, who, 1t viii be re-
sretted win be compelled to return 10 the
Lyceum company before the Herald
Square engagement terminates.
Mr.. Mansfield and his company are re-
hearsing "Cyrano de Bergerac" at the
Harden thea-ec, 1.sw York, and will pro-
coed presently TO Chicago to open their
season at The Grand Opera House there.
They will remain away from New York
until November, when Mr.. Mansfield is
booked for a return engagement at the
Garden. His New York season will start
orr with "Cyrano" as the play, but at
least one entirely new production will be
made before Mr.. Mansfield again takes to
'he road He is said TO have made more
money last season than any other attrac-.
ton hat travelled, barring Maude Adams,
who broke every record.