The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-03-09
N THEATRICAL MATTERS.
.I,vt OF "THE roofs REVENGE"
p pPESERJED IN RTGoLETTO."

u-.o,. Romnnce Reaches Audiences In an
english Version OF Nerdrs Opern-NoteS
IN. Music Hail Parody of n Theatre
Ironcnis Play = Bits. OF Stage News.
nj. dramatic element OF the operas given by
,o castle Square Company Is always made
u,nicuous. with the use OF the vernacular
,s hsIn, this phase can be the more easily EN-.
VISa.,yod. 1t is certain that the audiences at
-. American do take interest in tho plots.
- when the story IL most serious. even
t,,olthjrsty, they like 1t. They contrive to
~ an idea Of the %purport, whether or not
~ understand any Of tho words as sung,
pr.sumably they read the argument" in the
ala, bin. That Is more than the majority do
,, The Metropolitan. They usually trust to
Nil rccr Elections OF what they have heard about
,hs work or ask questions. Sometimes they
AZ. mite satisfied merely to listen to the mu-
,c and watch the stage. Over at the Ameri-
o,p "Rigoletto" is tho bill this week. That
onsta requires an emphasis OF its m
t,0tures n any opera ever did. The Fools
Rsy.nge" ia probably \ vivid memory TO few
n.rsons who hear it In lyric form now. But
a. theatrical effectiveness is not 70 be hid
d.n in any way. 10 Is too vital. IL must out.
A, the Metropolitan last week the stage:man-
ayers ATTEMPTED to do what they could to-
rsrl making the action ridiculous. They
nearly succeeded. At the American the ef-
fort is directed to, development OF all that is
Electrically valuable in Nerdis setting OF
To sympnthize with Gilda in her love for
the Dnie Of MAMMA. and to appreciate the
s srSnt in the last act, have almost a solemn air in
flew Of the tragic climax that Is TO come, TIL
dam. 81 81 mi ES-.T!!Spm Is sltq q the h Msl, sas-
art pnls j i cannot b, praised much: Perhaps
e, ,' the Rs' graceful. youthful Giida Of Yyonne dc
Ireville and the Madde!ena Of Lizzie Mac
nichol.
Travesty pure and simple is dangerous az a
theatrical experiment. Persons who have not
seen the original are likely to get little amuse-
ment out Of the parody. Even in the case of a
popular play there must be many persons in
the audience at u burlesque who have no
knowledge whatever OF the maltreated play.
Ideal ~travesty must be that which amuses
those who know the play as well as those who
look for all their fun In what is done right be-
fore them. These requirements are fairly
well met by Catherine" at Weber & Fields's.
Henri Lavedan's play offered many opportuni-
tie; for fun. They are all utilized in the bur
lsslue. Thu absurdities that could be legiti-
mately used are indescribably comic as the
capable actors represent them. David War
fields familiar Jew will never again be counted
his most amusing caricature. He makes the
father Of Catherine a decreplt freshman. who is
II Fh sTeF have issi been II h@ aIs d make OF STAGE c Ser 1Fish 1nes;
before this pale-faced. thln-hairSj. mumbling
old fellow. but none was ever funnier. or in
An exaggerated way, more true to life. Mr..
WarieIds talent, was not limited by his Yld-
dish peddler. and there seems to be a promise
types ~ tS' as asnnsiSe as the old nS firh mani f He Is
not one OF the features taken from the original
PLAY; but Peter Dailey's Duchess Is, and for
an impression OF character when 1t is peces-
sary. His impromptu is always delightful. and
in that respect. When he initiated Mrs. lie
Moyne's elaborately restrained voice and
ImI t!Ie sar as tho p Of the " eustomary yh Pefe rs vf Hs
8 none. the less diverting for that reason.
Louis Field shows the same REGULARITY in his
giant fashion Of such burlesaue. But he really
i9]sDir "a !" in a" his w Ve i"e 4 SiaHrp from re- fSiHlps
"Dilah" song. the entertainment is not sup
basd With IL The amSp Fis, Of negro Eor m 1l Gus,
slaFs Marry That, 6oonS Tor ali ii, Is Worth.
and %enlivens it with graceful and humorous
lacks melody. and all the trouble wasted on 1t
BY the chorus and Miss Templeton can never
which the present burlesGue is not superior to
any that preceded 1t at this house.
Maude Adams will appear in Romeo and
Juliet at the Empire. but not until May. as
'"N 'SAhi VI " uilu LOU Z-Isy Will luNt "
be extended. Georgia Cayvan may raappear
In Observation-Disclosures OF The Charity
Ball. Louise Frear. an eccentric actress OF
London celebrity, is coming here for the new
extravaganza at the Olympia. Marie Stud
holme. whose beauty daZzled us in one OF the
visiting English musical farce companies. is
going into vaudeville. Isabel irving will re-
main with John Drew next season. May Rob-
son will retire from the Empire company.
Blanche Walsh will be a star without Mel
bourne Mcdowell. Iottie Collins has regained
halls. ~
Joseph jefferson will. "~after-:a long and Sc
month. His four sons have tried with small
success to get along without him during his
@Rsence from The Rivals and rip Van
as ever. w."
The commercial value of a great drama Is
At the Porte st. Martin. in CONSEQUENCES OF
..,Cyran? de BerGerac." were $25O.000 above
those OF the previous year.
W pairs OF sisters. the Beaumonts and the
ne Angels are to be dismissed from the
Weber, Fields company unless they become
IAN song, and dance because the audiences do
not care for it and the former have declined 10
Leon ganeey, formerly Of the Theatre de
seas9n Al ~ fba pq HaTks VIII read "Cyrano de Der:
Of March ii, He viii i aIso aire os so ,ne e Tenr
llshed, poems: by Edmond Rostand. 'D
iaClnla DEMPSEY, is the authoress of "Neu-
ual Ground. which will be acted at Stamford
on April in; accordance: with; the present
Tht date seems ominops. The play deals
So!ves George Washington and several other
historical figures. Miss Dempsey has gone to
WASHINGTON to interest statesmen in the pa
tfl3tlc qualities OF her work.
Dan Leno. the Rrotesquo actor. was to have
made his debut as a ella .sicaI actor at the Lon
n9n charity matinee for the late Sarah Thorne.
~ nan \, selected for the purpose Garrlck's
oIhe amended copyright law OF the United
sIales provides punishment asa criminal TO
my one who, makes unauthorized use OF u
copyrighted play: But most pieces have been
Kept in qnpublished manuscript. which leaves
mem defensible as property under the com
m9n law. The penalty for their piracy is in
nmennite and Inadequate. however. and Lawyer
Dittenh0eier, counsel OF the American Dram
susts Club. has prepared IA bill defining such
a. offence as a mlsdemeanor. 1t Is now be-
'ore the Legislature at Albany.
DAVID Belasco's two forthcoming plav s are
o9e entitled The Queens. ~Drawing.Room"
and The. Widows Husband. Charles Froh-
man = has: bought 1.-The. American rights in
ihe Soquette," a farce which has succeeded
% London; joseph Hatton's novel. The Dag
6eI and the Cross" Is being drau,atized for