The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-16

OF tne drama are usually first to feel the
effects of enforced public economy, and
all save the leading lights of the his
trionic world, who play only to patrons
of wealth and affiuence, enter upon ca
reers of VeXatiOn and disaster or tenn
porarily disappear. But with the return
OF good times the army of eXpOnents of
the theSpian art increases with a rapid
ity that is astounding. The lOng-hairCd
nam fatter;' the willowy heroine; the
black-face comedian and the blonde bur-
lesque queen come trooping down the line
with a joyous "here- we-are-a again" eX-
preston of countenance that causes the
spectator to momentarily forget the dull
cares of business. The fact that all,
from talented to mediocre, are enabled
to thrive is a sure and pleasing indication
that the purse of the average citizen who
treads the avenues of toll is not empty.
The dramatic version of Henry Sien-
kiewiCz's "Quo Vadis" received it's initial
production at McVicker's theater, Chca-
go, Tuesday evening. The dramatization
is by Stanislaus Strange and follows the
main incidents of the book closely. The
scenery by d. Frank Dodge, of New
York, received large share of the APP
plause. "Quo Nadis" is presented in six
acts and eight scenes, some of the latter,
particularly the banquet scene in Nero's
of Rome, being especially realistic in de-
sign and gorgeous in coloring. The cast
is a strong one. The incidental music
was composed by Julian Edwards.
Thomas Q. Seabrooke has decided to
abandon the farce, "Who Killed Cock
Robin?" "The truth is" remarked the
famous comedian, "Our audiences have
done the killing. The piece has been n
disappointment to me--to US all. We
thought it would be a bright and spark
lnig farce. 1t was n success in Paris. It
ran there 200 nights. ]. ChceVer Good
win translated it for me, and his sue
cesscs in the past at similar work have
been so great that We all looked for
brilliant play in Who Killed Cock Robin"
| don't think the fault lies with the trans
lator or the actors, for our company is an
excellent one throughout. The only oX-
planatiOn Of the failure which occurs 10
me is a sad one. The French farce APP
parently cannot flourish in American at
mosphere unless it is replete with inn
proper scenes and vulgar lines. There is
no other explanation for the failure"
The business Viola Allen has PLAYED to
this season has broken records at every
theater, without exception, that she has
appeared in. In Chicago the record was
broken for the length of the engagement
at the prices at which she played. In 81.
Louis following, i'm playing to SIG, POO ON
the week the record for the entire coun-
try was broken for one weeks engage
ment at regular prices. Likewise in
playing 10 an average of over $4,000 in
the cities of Detroit Cleveland and Pitts
burg, the theater records i'm these cities
were broken at Miss Aliens prices.
Thanksgiving night Miss Aliens business
broke its own record. The takings for
this night were 81, ,23S so, just S. in excess
of the largest house to which she had
previously appeared. which was in st.
Louis. Miss Allen is playing a lengthy
engagement in Philadelphia to the ca
pacity of the Walnut Street theater.
In spite Of the close approach Of
Christmas the business that James
o Neill is doing this week throughout
Pennsylvania is nothing short of remark
able, The house is sold out in every
city before the company arrives and To-
cal managers all over the country are
asking for return dates for James o Neill
In ''The Musketeers. The new year
will see Mr.. O'Nenl again at Her Mates
tvs theater, Montreal, Canada, where
THE Musketeers" was first produced.
After that week Mr., ONeill plays an en-
gagement at the Boston theater. Boston,
Mass.
James A. Herne 10 now ON the tenth
week of his length! engagement at the
Park thcster Boston, In his new play,
Sag Harbor." Each night sees the
house crowded to the doors. and often