The record-union., 1899-10-08

be supported by John E. kellerd, an
artist of unquestioned merit, and full
capable company. The play will be
elaborately staged and the furnishings
and costumery will be historically ac-
curate. The play is founded on his
torical data. 1t is from the pen of
Clinton Stewart. The drama belongs
to the most momentous period of mod
ern history. On the one hand is seen
the dawn Of republicanism, of civil
and religious liberty in France, the
horrors Of revolution, the unspeaka-
bic cruelties of the british mob, the
graves of its innocent victims, and on
the other the crumbling of the mon
archial system, the hollowness of the
privileges accorded to birth and the
gilded vice of degenerate nobility. The
reign of Louis XVI. with it's dissolute
court, its shocking extravaganza when
famine was abroad, the calling yoke it
imposed on its subjects, and the terri
bic revenge and even annihilation it
suffered, presents a drama that for
tunately is never likely to be repeated
With Marie Antoinette as a central
figure the playwright should be able to
events that trod on the heels of one
another with bewildering rapidity. 1t
should be perforce a drama of action
intensified. The title role is one that
should be worthy of Modjeska in many
ways. Marie Antoinette, when she came
to the throne, was a girl equipped with
all the advantages that can accrue from
maternal precept and example. and if
she failed to profit by it much must
be forgiven her on account of the life
she was thrown into, for in the end she
proved at heart to possess all the most
glorious of womanly instincts. What
ever her failings, whatever her moot
ed moral obliquity, she was Infinitely
superior to her environment She at
least invites sympathy while her hus-
band arouses no sentiment but that
of contempt. AS to the details of Mr..
Stewards play nothing definite is
known. 1t needs no great intelligence
however to imagine Modjeska as the
last Queen of the French. whether it
be during her butterfly days at Lit
tie Trianon" or during the latter part
of her career, when her royal dignity
earned nothing but ridicule and her
beautiful devotion as wife and mother
was jeered at by the mob Thanks
to the liberal policy of her manager.
Modjeska is said to be now surround
ed by conditions worthy her standing
on the American stage. He is said to
have been prodigal with his money in
providing scenic equipment that even
in these days is rarely seen in combi-
nation management, especially alas, as
regards the classic drama. He has
been no less generous in selecting the
supporting cast and the engagement of
such a sterling actor as John E. Kel-
lerd for leading man.
Hoyt's "A Milk White Flag" will be
given at the Clunie Opera House Octo-
Der 18th. The company is greatly strong
er than when here eighteen months ago
there being more than thirty people in
the troupe. The play has been re-
written, made up to the times"
frightened by new military hits. and
as before rich in satire upon the militia.
A new comedian of exceptional merit
has the part of the Private, and is rep
resented as a great success.
There is an unusually large number
of comely women in the company. the
leaders being sparkling condolences
and specialists.
The scenes of Cecil Raleigh's new
melodrama at Drury Lane Theater.
London, are laid in Switzerland. and
one of the incidents is furnished by
the supposed heroism of one of the
characters, who cuts the rope bv
which he is suspended over a precipice
in order to save the lives of his COM
panions above. Later on the hero.
carrying the heroine in his arms, makes
a terrific leap across a bottomless
chasm. The third sensation is to be
the descent of an uneommonIy real
istic avalanche. Such is the modern
development of theatrical art
Henrik Ibsen was the object of
wonderful demonstration at the open
Ing Of the new national Norwegian the,
ater recently at Christiania He was
present at the performance of his play,
An Enemy of the People, and the
special correspondent of the London
Times" gives the following account of
what happened: AT the close of every
act Ibsen was called to the front of his
box, and when the performance was
over and the actors had been thanked
the audience turned to him again with
sort of affectionate ferocity. Ibsen
was found to have stolen from his box
but he was waylaid and forcibly con-
veyed back to it. On his reappearance
the whole theater rose in a roar of ap-
nix nd
the aged poet, who seemed tired with
the strain of an evening of such pro-
longed excitement, could persuade the
public to allow him to withdraw At
length he left the theater, walking
slowly, bowling and smiling, down a
lane cleared for him through the dense
throng of his admirers. It is certain
that tonight has been to Ibsen-so
long disputed, so long the object of
distrust-the climax of career"
Wilson Barrett has selected the title
of Man and His Makers for the new
play by himself and Louis n. Parker.
which he will produce upon the conclu-
sion of the present run of THE Silver
King in the London Lyceum Theater.
Mr.. Barrett characteristically permits
it to be known that this drama is the
result of an inspiration which came to
him three years ago, and has been de-
veloping in his mind ever since He
further intimates darkly in the daily
press that it will prove to be novel
and powerful and provoca tive of fierce
critical discussion. OF his own acting
in THE Silver King one of the most
trustworthy of the London critics says: