The times., 1899-09-18


weeks letter to The Times do not find 1t
necessary, as usual, TO cast about in my
mind for a beftting first paragraph. Not
only has Gothamtown been busy during the
past few days, and not only have premieres
abounded, but there is at hand matter
in which all American theatregoers must be
interested-Mrs. Fiske's presentation of
Becky Sharp last Tuesday at the Fifth
Avenue. Becky Sharp, as the world and
his spouse know by now, is an adaptation of
Thackeray's Vanity Fair. AS such, its
plot and incidents are not SO new as TO de-
mand reteling. Suffice it TO say that the
role of Becky Sharp has been made extraor-
dinarily dominant, that the star has a deal
of difficult acting to do. and that she does il
as only she could. This country has prob
ably never seen more capable woman than
Mrs. Fiske, and her work throughout the
play bears out what one might have ex-
pscted after having noted in her perform
ances Of Tess of the D'Urbervilles, "Di-
vorcons." and like offerings the cultivated
germ of genius. Excellent support is con-
tributed by Maurice Barrymore William F.
Owen, Robert " Ferguson, and Mary Mad
dern. The settings and costumes used are
exceedingly elaborate and the entire rem
dering is huge success. The. Initial rep
resentation of the story was, witnessed by
one of the largest and most distinguished
audiences ever gathered in this city.a There
was much enthusiasm and the average
number of curtain calls.
Next in Importance. perhaps. was the
yester evening production of "The
Ghetto" at Jacob Lifts renovated and inn
,lF( cd Proc Thsa haC
widely doomed" in every direction and
enjoys the reputation of having scored
run in Holland that it never did score
and never could have. II was also shown
recently in London by Mrs. Brown-Potter
and Kyrle Bellew. Staged here hastily in
order that it might forestall the coming Of
Israel Zangwills Children Of the Ghetto,
from your burg, it is nevertheless well put
on and well acted by a company in which
are included such people as Joseph Ha
worth, Sydney Herbert, Emmett Corrigan
Sam Edwards, Robert McWade Grace Fill
kins, Mrs. Mckee Rankin, Bijol Fernandez,
Robert Patton Gibbs. and w II. Pascoe. The
story of THE Ghetto" tells not too tersely
the tale of young Jew who marries
Christian girl There are the customary
parental eursings and the remainder of the
matter one expects under such circum-
stances. 1t would be impossible 10 prophe-
sy this early whether the Offering will
go or not.
OF the triumph OF The Tyranny OF
Tears which John Drew enacted last Mon
day at the Empire, there can be not the
slightest doubt. Charles Wyndham made
great hit in the piece last season at the
Criterion Theatre in London, and the role
he assumed then fits Mr.. Drew as though
made for him. The plot of the comedy was
told, notice, in last Sundays Times, but
~ "a II
who is, strangely enough, in love with his
wife, who rules over him by means of an
exhaustless supply OF saltine fluid. He gives
in TO her for some time, but finally chooses
to take issue with her on the case of a fe-
male secretary whom the spouse has caught
kissing his picture. This disagreement
leads TO the temporary separation of the
pair, but all are finally united or reunited
and "the band plays on" an exit march.
THE Tyranny of Tears is delightfully."- hu-
morous and spotlessly clean. 1t is pre-
sented by cast numbering only six players
Mr.. Drew, Ida Conquest, Arthur Byron,
Harry Harwood, a young man unknown to
me, and Isabel Irving, who is as artificial.
as impossible, and as fascinating as of yore.
Last CT the quartette of productions TO
which / made ailusion is THE Only Way"
dramatization of "a Tale of Two Cities"
which Charles Frchman got from Martin
Harvey in London and which Henry Miller
is to give US this evening at the Herald
Square. In my next Letter / will write you
what remains 10 be written concerning the
work, which is said to be the best vehicle
Mr.. Miller viii have had in years. His
company at the Herald Square will in
clude Margaret Anglin, ]. H. Stoddardt,
and John Storm Morgan.
Two other openings of the week were
described TO you last season. these being
second time engagements. The stars are
Mrs. Leslie Carter, who resumed her work
in ''Zaza" on Monday night at the Gar
rick, and E. H. Sothern, who, assisted by
Virginia Harmed, again took up THE
Three Musketeers' on Wednesday at
Daiy's. Mrs Carter. will remain here until
William Gillette has done Sherlock
Holmes" in Washington and brought ii to
New York Mr.. Sotherns date is indef-
mite
A deal of interest is being taken locally
in the forthcoming production Of Peter
Stuyvesant, Governor OF New Amsterdam, !"
Of which Brander Matthews and Bronson
Howard are the authors and w H. Crane
the sponsor. Matthew'S Howard Crane,
This is a combination of names with which
TO juggle, and there is small reason to
wonder at the fact that New York is
eagerly awaiting an opportunity OF criti-
cising the efforts of all three. Few doubt
that the presentation will be success
Both of the authors are intimately ac-
quainted with Mr.. Crane and with his ca
pabilities. Mr.. Matthews once fitted him
capitally with piece. called "On Proba-
ton and everyone knows how wen Mr.
Howard gauged the actor in "The Henriet-
ia. which was written for Stuart Robson
and Mr.. Crane. The new play will have
an added interest from an historical point
of view. AS its title suggests. the work
deals with Peter Stuyvesants S rule as the
last of the Dutch Governors in New York
Peter, the Headstrong' is one of the most
picturesque characters described IN the
early colonial annals of the country. He
was free eating, cross grained, sturdy old
fellow, who refgned over his little domain
with an iron hand He brooked no inter
ference and persisted in treating his pee-
pie a father would his children Peter
Stuyvesant lived in stirring times. He was
harried by the English in New England
by the Swedes on the south, and by the
Indians at all points. The British cast
covetous eyes on the small stretch of land
and many were the intrigues set on foos
for the purpose of creating dissatisfaction
among the Governors subjects. The
drama treats OF the period which ended
with the surrender of the place to His
Majestys men in 1864. Ii should prove
immensely interesting to Gothamites, for
it will have for locale this island in its
infancy. One scene will show the resi-
dence of the Governor-a mansion called
Whitehall, said to have been the first
stone house built in New Amsterdam, and
namesake Of the street which runs now
where it formerly stood Another scene
will give view of the Battery with its