The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-19
IN THEATRICAL MATTERS.
MONDAY 'NIGHT WITHOUT 4 NEW
Play IN AL VIEW FORK.


Mansfield Revived "The Devils Disciple"
and tho Donneiiy Company Brought Out
n Version of Carmen Five Actresses
Who Have Come Forward Lately.
Theatrical managers do not make I'm portant
ventures in the week before Christmas. 10
tho re was no new play In all New York last
night. nor will there be any until Mr.. Blair's
independent" production OF Ties" on Thurs
day. The nearest approach that Monday
seekers OF dramatic novelty In tho central
theatres could make to what they wanted was
at the Garden. where Richard Mansfield re-
vived The DEVILS Disciple" The author OF
this piece. George Bernard Shaw. has one
sRn OF genius, whlmsicality. though that
quality has not yet developed into proof posi-
tive that he Ia moro than poser and
prctender in stage art However. Mr. shaw's
oddities OF composition are interesting.
Mr.. Mansnelds following y distinctly intel
favored actor 70 exploit Ego1sSDy fSch S Tcrfs
Disciple" The authors pnrpose in the former
tho chocolate soldier" as a serio- comic iel.
low. and the audiences were willing TO take that
OF their own. But the hero OF the drama which
was acted last night Ia a strong and unmis-
taxable so' f. the spf I'd Of The
q sconer at Christianity. and an pnbeiever in
true -heartedness among bis felnw-men and
women. Mr.. Shaw does not consistently send
him TO the devil however, nor yet convert him
To orthodoxy. Nevertheless. the action Ii for
the most part clear. the American Revolution;
ary scenes ACCOMPANYING tho. surrrnder OF
CORVALLIS are interesting to our people. and
Mr.. hansnelds acting II brightly illuminauve.
II is curious piece and enjoyable as here pre-
sented.
The Donnelly Stock Company has taken MP
Carmen" this week at the Murray Hill. II Is
OpIv IN all IN hat 70 tat NJ
this play lowers the average OF excellence that
these actors have set for themselves In other
performances OF tho season. No dramatic YER
sion OF the novel has been wholly successful.
The one that Henry Hamilton wrote. and In
which Olga Nethersolo acted some years ago.
drew curious people who were after indecency
whether en- bottled In q vaudeville show or
drama There is not enough In the story to
make play. OtcOursc. In the opera so much
tmo :, Is tnken with the singing that
"a a new one by john NJ Morton. II varied
memGcra Of tho Donnelly Company actsd with
prompters voice wss hoard with . frequency
Donnelly. In the title part started well. but her
achievement became steadily, poorer, as Il
automnton. emphasizing his speeches with the
regularity OF a IN usic box. He had some acct
Sn #. that s &a not cS ssf to w s q, ss
no slight amusemeni. and. he did not
Donnclly foolishly attempted to sing aome
selections from tho opera. and these were re-
bSr IN .ns not % epen Sewe ia tSs
light Grand opera music IL not attractive
when pTSyS9 by an TrchrstSn that possesses S
only member Of the 'net who seem ell to grasp
the spirit OF the play. IL Ia rsgrettaole 20 have
las been successfui heretofore this season
However. with only one hasco to about fifteen
commendable performances Is good record.
Two graduates from the Academy ~ Dra-
matte Arts. Florence Kahn and Mabel Howard.
have justified their presence on the professional al
stage. Miss Howard acted In "Zaza" last sea-
son while she WAS finishing hor course AT the
school. She had the part OF Nine. D'uresne an
easy and unimportant one. But shc was not
wasting time Under the direction Of David
Be!asco she was studying Mrs. Carter's per-
formance. and now she Is PLAYING Zaza In a
second company and Ia said to be doing we'll
with 1t. Eita Proctor Otis 10 spoken OF as
the probable actress OF that part In the COM
pany that will be sent to Australia. Miss Kahn
has appeared before New Workers only In the
ephemeral performances OF Ell Gran Gaeoto"
ana Osborn and Ursyne." but she NAV be-
numbered among Ave young women whom
,his season has brought forward on the stage
The others nro Beatrice Morrnn. Eta Hut
lSsr, Clara Bioodrooi and Mnnle Ashley.
The latter Is not much Of an actress.
nor does che proms great deal. but
she captured the first nighters in a
Greek Slave" by her attractive personality
Only three years AGO She. WAS chorus. girl in
EarIc's. part in The Circus Girl" on tour.
Miss Morgan was in the chorus OF Augustin
Days musical comunny. and next had q email
part in Tho Great Ruby" last winter. II was
tn season IN Tn Paradise" that she won met
ropolitGn recognition. All who saw that fnrce
remem Der her dashlnG ard wo drawn charac-
terIzatIon o., tho french maid She IS now
IN Tho ManGuvses Of Jane" with a
role, devoid. o. Possibilities. Under tho
guidance az Daniel Frohman. however.
she. IS sure Ia. make her mark, Miss
Butler has been initiating actresses al Roster
4 Balls with varying success Some ~ her
mimiery IL excellent and some too POOR for rec.
ognitlnn. Tho average IL good. Her reproduce
tlop II Minnie sladdern Fishes facial, vocal
and physical oddities are perfect Mrs. Blood
good hardly fits in a. one OF the promising, &C.
tresses OF this season, as sho made her debut
two years AGO She dii not distinguish her
sell then In The ConIuerors. nor last season.
when she took the place o' Ethel Barrymore In
Catherine" 1t remained for Mas Hobbs" TO
give her m opportunity, which she was pre-
pared TO meet with no mean ability.