The times., 1899-07-02


in theatrical affairs. She says he could
never have secured a lease on the Casino
had she not agreed to appear there, and
claims that the suit will be followed by
counter suit until the manager is really
sorry for his too precipitate action And
the end is not yet.
Both Harry Rapley and Fred Berger are
inclined to turn states evidence in .elating
the events of their recent bicycle trip
through Virginia, Maryland, and West Vir-
ginia. Each has the evidence of the cam
era to support his claims, and II the testi-
mony of either is to be taken seriously the
voyage awheel must have been one contin-
ual round of merriment, JOY, and pleas
ure. Mr.. Berger declares that Harry was
hailed everywhere as "a perfectly gor-
geous man." the phrase being borrowed
from the involuntary exclamation of de-
light issuing from the lips of a Staunton
belle as the Nationals manager in his
fluffy white sweater, pedaled into the burg
and dismounted before his hotel Mr.. Rap
ley retaliates by telling how he compelled
Fred to pay all the toll gate fares in West
Virginia. 1t seems that each has had so
extensive an experience in checkmating
undeserving .deadheads'' during their
many years connection with the theatre
that both enjoyed turning the tables on the
humble residents of the little Virginia. in
nocent though the majority were in things
pertaining to professional or artistic mat
ters. In this contest the resident manager
came out little the better, Sol Smith
Russelfs partner confessing himself beat
en-.
1t seems that in Virginia there are no
fares TO pay and when the two passed over
the State line into the offshoot of the Old
Dominion, they began to strike toll gates
every three miles. The first was discov-
cred when Harry was two hundred yards
ahead and so silently did the steel steed
approach that the old woman commissioned
to compel pasSers-by to stand and deliver
saw him only after he had passed. when he
naturally ignored her shouts inviting him
to return and deposit his mite in the State
treasury When Berger arrived she was
laying for him and when he confessed his
acquaintance with the rapidly disappearing
Harry, she compelled him to pay both
tolls. When they got together few min
utes later the joke was on Fred and he
enjoyed it as much as possible. But he
determined to revenge himself on his
weightier companion. Alas and alaci.
when the next toll post was sighted Harry
was again ahead and going so rapidly that
the attendant didn't dare stop him. THAT
fellow coming will pay the toll." shouted
the rapidly pedaling rider. Not taking any
chances the gate was lowered when Fred
arrived and again he was compelled to
shell out for the support of the State pike
road. He confessed himself beaten and in
| revenge took snap shot pictures of Rapley
as he lay peacefully snoozing on the lawn
| near their next stopping place, looking a
good deal like Barnum & Baileys baby
elephant.
While originally organized by members
Of the profession, the Benevolent and Pro-
tective Order of Elks is now made up al
| most exclusively Of non-professonal peo-
pie, the alteration being so gradual as to be
almost unnoticed. The recent meeting OF
| the Grand Lodge at st. Louis emphasized
the truth of this situation very forcibly.
OF all the grand officers elected, not one
was either an actor or a manager. and the
statement is made that outside of Gotham
town the professional people are in the
| hopeless minority both in numbers and in
| fiuence. Despite this, the feeling of friend
ship between the wearers OF the antlers
| and the devotees Of grease paint is every
| where very strong and lasting.
William Winter. the venerable "Tri-
| bune" critic, has again assumed the cud-
| gel for Mrs. Fiske, and, in a brilliant
| prospectus of her new play Becky
Sharp" flays the theatrical syndicate in a
| manner which is as commendable for its
| forcefulness as admirable for its truth. In
| asmuch as Mrs. Fiske will appear here
| during the coming season, his glance over
Mr.. Langdon Mitchell's dramatization of
| Thackeray's masterpiece, Vanity Fair"
| will interest many. He says:
The play blends the elements of drama and high
comedy, and, in fabric of five acts, portrays the
| character OF Becky Sharp, and presents theat-
nj bpr slipf,. and
as the wife of Rawdon Crawey and as the CO.
| quette who entices and befools George Osborne
| and compromises and endangers herself with the
| dssolute and iniqutous Lord Steyne.
| Mr. Mitchell has not attempted to use all the
material OF the novel, but has wisely selected its
J salient points. The scene in which Rawdon Craw-
| ley, having Just been released from prison. sur
| prises Becky Sharp and Lord Steyne at the house
| in Curzon Street, has been made tributary to
strong dramatic effect, and the opportunity pro-
vided by the of the ball at Brussels, given
| by the Duchess of Richmond. on the night before
| the battle OF Waterloo, has been judciously util-
| lied. The play contains thirty-two speaking
| parts. The action begins at Miss Crawleys resi-
| dence, in Park Lane, London. and ends in
| the German town of '-Pumpernickel'-so that
| Becky Sharp is shown as the social comet of a
season and rs an impecunious Bohemian. In
some particulars Mr.. Mitchell has necessarily de-
waited from the novel. He could not otherwise
| have made play upon 1t, but he seems to have
| treated the original in a reverent spirit. Thacke-
rays novels contain dramatic suggestions, but
| they not in themselves dramatic, and as is
! well known, his own efforts at play-writng com
| pletely failed. Vanity Fair is not new upon
| the stage-Dion Boucicault having made a play
I upon the subject, in which Laura Keene acted
Becky Sharp, about forty years ago-but it never
was particularly successful then
Mrs. Fiske is well fitted to reproduce the physi-
cal personality of Beck Sharp seeing that Thacke-
ray describes that heroine small and slight in
person, having large and attractive eyes, and be-
| ing pale and spiritual in appearance. Her task,
| OF course, must be to invest the temperament OF
incarnate selfshness and piquant interest. This
has often been done by women in actual life.
| and there seems to be reason why it should
not be achieved in the realm of dramatic art.
| The presentment OF it is to be made with un-
usual care Mr.. Percy Anderson. of London, has
| designed more than hundred dresses for it,
which are accurate in every detail. and the scene
of the ball at Brussels will be utilized for a re-
| markable display of various and beautiful raj
{ ment as well for the disclosure of strong dra-
| matte incidents. The part Of Rawdon Crawley has
| been assigned to Maurice Barrymore.
| 1t is notable that Mrs Fiske viii act only in
the independent theatres; that is to say, the the
| atres which not controlled by the Theatrical
| Trust. or syndicate, an organization which. hav-
| ing its headquarters in New York. imposes
| its mischieyous authority upon almost every stage
| in the United States The progress OF this ac-
| tresS accordingly will be followed with peculiar
! sympathy and interest II is a comfort to know
! that there is at least member of the drl-
matte profession who, with seifrespect and digni-
| fed courage, rejects the control and repudiateS
| the ignoble and mercenary policy OF those vul-
gar and sordid spectators in the business OF pub
| lie amusement whose actions have clearly shown
that their sole purpose in dealing with the the
: atre is to turn it into a shop. and TO grub for
pecuniary profit by ministering to the lower
| tastes of the multitudes
1t is quite to be regretted that Maurice
/ Barrymore is so prominently cast in Mrs.
Fiske's company. for il his work last sea-
son can be considered any criterion, he Is
! on the high road to the realm of the has