The times., 1899-09-24
Two FAILURES 4 NIGHT
This Was the Record Established
Last Monday in New Yerk.
Stuart Robson and Francis Wilson
uine Success in .sThe Only Way-n
The Rogers Brothers Reach Town.

NEW YORK, Sept. 23.-Last Monday
night was dismal one for managers. The
luck that has held out during the entire
season stopped work suddenly and disaster
resulted. Someone must have taken the
horseshoe from the door" Proceedings
began at the Knickerboeker. which was
opened by Francis Wilson in "Cyrano de
Bergerack.' The music of the new opera
is by Victor Herbert. the book by Stuart
Reed. and the lyrics by Harry B. Smith.
Mr. Herbert is delightful at his worst,
and the melodies he has supplied for the
work are simply charming. But Mr.. Reed
has tried TO make fun out OF what is uu
douhtedly the greatest tragedy OF the cen
tury and the travesty is disastrous. The
wit which he has injected into the piece
is all Of the order OF the added .'k,' in its
ttle-it means nothing and Is only there
10 emphasize the fact that the play is not
Rostand's. Some folk allege that 3Ir VIII
sen is never funny. He certainly is not
funny in role so serious as that of Cy-
AtA-2os 49AlEALsp 4ESytlG AAE OI
Herbert and a company which includes
such persons as Charles ". Bowers. Peter
Lang, John E. Brand. Robert Broderiek.
Lulu Glaser, and Josephine Knapp, ''Cyra-
no dc BergerackF is likely to die this year
without waiting for the centre OF the stage
and the last act.
Another comedian who is having a sad
time CT being tragic is Stuart Robson, who
came into WalIack on Monday, and. like
the little lamb, left his squeak behind.
Someone has said that an apt quotation is
better than an original remark, and so,
instead Of saying what / think of The
Gadhy, l shall repeat the admirable criti-
cism of the drama printed in the Mir
ror-" Mr.. Rose or Mrs. Yoynich. or Who
ever it was remarks Mr.. Fis1e's paper,
has provided curio. The play is gen.
orally exceedingly crude, even amateurish
in spots, and frequently most difficult OF
understanding. Yet it has at times a sort
of weird effectiveness that brought out
hearty applause from the large audience.
IL is very. very taIky. almost actionless,
and quite without recommendation other
than as eurio. The repeated rumors that
it should provoke a sensation by reason Of
its a1ront to religious feeling are hardly
likely to be realized in any appreciable de-
gree. for whatever atheism or agnosticism
IS espeused comes along in form so vague
or SO diluted that no violent protest may
be expected from the clergy. Persons lock-
ing for a freak in dramatic literature will
do well to see The Gadfly,' but those
seeking real theatrical entertainment viii
De profited to stay away from it,
All this might have been anticipated
The one surprise in the performance was
Mr. Robson, who did unexp zetedly wei with
his solemn scenes. even though he appeared
at q disadvantage in his youthfui ones.
Marie Burroughs struggled through the
role of Gemma Warren brayely, but with
out much result, while Ernest Hastings
Homer Granville, Walter Hodges, Clifford
Leigh, Edna Hickey, and Gertrude Perry
did their best. The Gadfy'' IS well
staged and has undoubtedly been an ex-
pensiye experiment
In the advertisements printed for Henry
yliIler's The Only Way" which was pro-
duced a week ago at the Herald Square.
Charles Frohman is using the last line of
the piece, 1t is a far, far better thing
that l DO than l have ever DONE And
this is precisely what Mr.. Miller might
with propriety say of The Only Way"
which is truly the strongest drama We
have had in New York since the much
abused The Conquerors'' left the Empire.
IN his treatment of the story of "A Tale
OF Two Cities the adapter has introduced
little that did not evolve in the mind OF
Charles Dickens, and so there is no need
for detailing the plot. The one unfamiliar
character in the structure is Mimi, who is
a sort OF elaboration of the seamstress
who died on the guilIotine- The Only
Way" has three powerful climaxes-one
the work OF a wen-trained mob. Mr.. Mil
Ter, as I have hinted, is a perfect Sydney
Carton, while Margaret Anglin is not bad
in the part Of Mimi, Edward J. Morgan
makes much of the dual role OF the De-
farges, and the Dir. Lorry OF ]. H. Stod-
dart could not be improved upon. Monday
night the managers of the Herald Square
were in Washington to see Children of
the Ghetto" and the Telegraph" Of
Thursday contained the information that
the Miller bird-in- the-hand would probably
remain here at the expense OF the Zang-
viii two-in-the-bush Which makes me
believe that Messrs. Evans and Hopper are
inclined TO agree with The Times on the
subject Of the Children"
Only one more premierei The Rogers
Brothers have come to the Victoria with
IN Wall Street and have scored heavily
The new piece which was written for the
stars by John ]. McNally. is a combination
of all that is enjoyable and does not in
ciude a dull moment from first to last
There are new songs. parodiez and comic
moter who hears two German showmen
discuss the advisability Of going back to
peddling with their cart and donkey and
who. therefore, takes them to be the pro-
pTietors OF the Little Donkey gold mine
Numerous complications ensue and. like
the cat of "Charley's Aunt fame, there
never is a minute when the Rogers aren' {
| in it" The supporting company includes
Ada Lewis, Maude Raymond, Georgia
TN.sTr 7 VzE
Sparks and Lee Harrison There is also
chorus Of young and pretty girls.
On Thursday evening last Weber &
Fields Music Hall began its year with The
Whiriigig" and THE Girl From Martins. +"
In the former Lillian Russell appeared in
several dazzling costumes One Of them
was of milk white crepe de chine, cut in
the long straight lines that are so becom-
ing and show woman's form In all its be-
witching charm. There was a chic and
fetching bodice with a garniture OF lace
The arms were artfully displayed through
/ transparent sleeves. A knot OF baby blue
velvet nestled close against Miss Russell's
shoulder and red picture hat adorned her
head The diva also wore d startling ar
ray Of red underskirts. She knows better
than TO wear tights.
Bulger Murphy is the name of an actor
who wilI make his debut this season with
Tim Murphy in The Carpetbagger He
IS said 10 be hne-lookiug young fellow
with plenty Of talent for histrionie career
Briefly. Bulger is prize bull dog and is
described as being wonder
A telegram from Pittsburg tells ne that
the Louis James Kathryn Kidder-C Charles B.
Hanford triumEirate has made a hit win
its revival of The Winters Tale The
production is said to be the most nagnifi
cent given a Shakespearian DIay in rnanv