The record-union., 1899-04-02

same woman. Mr. Waller will play the
part of the other officer, the rival of
Carnac and Mrs. James Brown Potter
that of the woman who was loved by
both
The new poetical tragedy which has
been written by John Oliver Hobbies
Ursyne,'' and George Alexander will
produce 1T, at some future date. at the
London ST James, Theater Mrs
Craigie describes her play as a drama
in three acts" It's period is 1898. the
time of the Norman conquest AMI the
irst crusade, and the scene is placed
lin England. 1t is written in varee all1
prose on an original theme. The main
interest lies in the love of Osbern for
Ursyne, but the plot, it is: said, does
not deal with the ordinary love-story.
There seems to be no room for doubt
that H. V. Fsmond's play, "Grierson's
Way" which has just been produced by
the New Century Theater Society in
London. Is a work of notable ability,
although the subject of it is morbid,
unwholesome, and unpleasant, and is
treated IN a manner that is scarcely
natural or reasonable. Two men, A and
b, love a woman. She loves a third, C,
who betrays her. concealing the fact
he is married. Her condition and her
despair become known to A, a paragon
of unseiflsh devotion, who offers to wed
her and give name to her child. She
accepts the sacrifice, but thinks it is
pity. not love, that prompts it. Two
years later c, now a widower, returns.
and the old passion for him is renewed
in her heart. Here occurs the oppor-
tunity of B, who knows his own suit is
hopeless, and is determined to balk C.
He therefore represents to A that he
has committed an awful mistake and
ruined two lives, and that the only way
he can make amendment is by taking
himself out Of the way by suicide.
Thereupon the complacent Grierson
swallows poison. thereby unintention-
ally setting up a barrier between his
widow and G, and furnishing B with a.
sweet revenge. Certainly, it is not a
pretty or inspiring story, but it may be
urged in Mr.. Esmend's defense that he
| is not yet thirty. The London critics
in discussing the play agree wonderful
| ly. The "Atheneum" says of it: 'sIt is
| a study in the manner of Ibsen in his
most aggressive mood-the Ibsen of
| Ghosts and 'Hedda Gabier' 1t owes
something, moreover. to Maeterlinck,
and only leans to English art in a GER
i tain DiclSens-like method of dealing
with the comic characters. Judged as
| the production OF a young man, it is a
work of inGnite-that is to say, indefi-
nite-promisa. There is little in the
shape of dramatic accomplishment that
may not be anticipated from one whose
youth gives us play of this class. Gro
| tesQue at times. and Illogical and inco-
| herent et others, undisciplined and in
conclusive, it is none the less work of
| singular power
| Gerhardt Hauptmann's ''Fuhrmann
Henschel'' has received a prize of 2,4O0
florins from the Vienna Academy of
Sciences as being "the best German dra-
matte work performed on any stage
within the last three years.
! Maurice Barrymore will star next sea-
son in a play founded upon the history
Of the Netherlands during the Spanish
occupation 1t is to be called the
Double Cipher" and one of the char
acters viii be the notorious Spanish
Governor, Alva.
| fight seems to be impending be-
tween the London theaters and the
London County Council, which has be-
gun to send out notices warning man
| ayers against admitting spectators for
whom they cannot provide seats This
rule, If enforced, would abolish stand
| ing-room only" and involve consid-
cradle loss OF revenue.
Selene Johnson has been engaged by
| William H. Crane as his leading woman
| for next season
| Alice Campbell, who has won note by
her singing in The Bride Elect alter
mating with Hilda Clark, this season,
has written an interesting book entitled
Stage People AS 1 Have Found Them
This is Miss Campbelrs first literary ait
tempt.
W. j. Henderson has written for the
March 'Scripner's' a very clear ac-
count of 1.-THE Business of a Theater."
| unfolding that side of theatrical affairs
of which the general public is profound
| ly ignorant.
|.
| Harry Corson Clarke, who recently
closed his successful starring tour in
What Happened to JONES' has been
engaged to play roles with T. Daniel
Frawley's new stock company in Wash
| ington, .. c.
The latest story of theatrical device
is the tale of an Uncle Tom" manager.
who sought to escape personal disaster
by skipping out, owing all salaries.
Members of the company put the blood
hounds on his trail. They caught I'D
with him and he stole the dogs and
started another show.
David Belasco's two forthcoming
plays are to be entitled THE Queens
Drawing Room" and 1.-THE Widows
Husband"