The times., 1899-04-23
Things THEATRICAL
IN TIE METROPOLIS
"The Man in the Noon Opens
the New York. Theatre.
Henry Miller Has More Trouble
With His Audiences.
General Gossip Concerning Knte
CIaxton. Julia MarIowe, Charles
COshlnn, and J. r.. HncISctt.

New York, April 21.-The theatrical sea-
son is nearing its end. and in few weeks
the playhouses of this city, with one or
two exceptions, will close for the usual
summer vacation and renovation.
At the New York Theatre "The Man in
the Moon" musical extravaganza, which
George w. Lederer calls review will be
produced next Monday The piece is lively
one from start to finish and serves to ex-
plot the charms of forty or fifty finely
| formed young women and the antics of
half dozen comedians. The latter battalion
is led by John E. Henshaw, who has the
part of a man-about town and looks it.
Mr.. Henshaw's opportunities to show that
which is in him are few, but he makes the
most OF them, and will score the success
expected by his many friends and admirers.
The piece is elaborately staged and in the
matter of scenery and costumes is up to
the Lederer standard. AS an exhibition of
pretty girls in dresses cut short at both
ends it is well worth seeing.
| Down at the Fourteenth Street they are
rehearsing musical comedy, called Moth
l
duction on May /. The Offering is in three
] acts, and its characters include Mother
Goose, Little Jack Horner. Little Boy Blue,
Tom, Tom, the Piper's Son; Jack Sprat,
| Tommy Tucker, Simple Simon, Peter Piper,
Little Sally Waters, Goody Two Shoes,
Little Red Riding Hood. Little BoPeep, and
in fact all our old friends of the nursery
rhymes. The cast will be a pretty strong
one, including Olive Redpath, Marie Ce-
leste, Ella Chapman. Jessie Viliars, Ida
Mule Amelia Glover, Alexander Clark,
Willard Simms, Gilbert Saroney, and 9TH
ers. The ballet is TO be under the direction
of Arnold Kiralfy. 1t is said that $50 peo-
pie, including forty or fifty children, will be
employed in the production: which Is be-
ing staged by Max Freeman.
| There seems TO be difference of opin-
ion among the critics in regard to the
| merits of Citizen Pierre" Charles Cogh-
lans new play, and of the performances
given at the Herald Square by the Mac
Lean -Odette Tyler Charles B. Eanford
company. Mr. Coghlan is unquestionab,y
one Of the best of English speaking actors
and made great reputation in London,
| before he came to this country. He Is a
man of intelligence and a capable author.
Citizen Pierre" is a strong drama. The
renderings of "Othello" Romeo and Ju-
let" and The Merchant of Venice given
by the MacLean Tyler -Hanford triumvi-
rate are literally patronized by our thea
tregoers. The works are staged adequate
" and in good taste. The actors. while
not so good as Edwin Booth, Lawrence
Barrett, Mary Anderson and one or two
others, afford complete satisfaction and
have achieved what might be called popu-
lar success.
While Rupert of Hentzau" can never
become as popular as was The Prisoner
of Zenda" it is an interesting effort. Its
duel scene is one of the most realistic and
exciting to be found in 'melodrama, while
| Mr.. Eackett and Arthur Hoops fight to an
effective finish. In the title part the star
| is somewhat mechanical but for all that
his portrayal is probably the bsst that he
has ever offered here. He makes pic
turesque figure and undoubtedly warns
the hearts of the matinee girls. Jobyna
Howland. the leading woman OF the Or
ganization, is improving as an actress and
makes lovely Queen. Her gowns are
charming and her poses excellent-but
how frapeed she is in the love scenes.
Evidently Miss Rowland was reared in a
cold storage warehouse.
"Colinette," Julia Marlowe's new vehi-
Gle. appears to be a success. The Knicker
booker Theatre is completely filed at
every performance and all hands wear a
look of contentment. Miss Msrlowe, as a
gay favorite of the court, plays as usual
and is full of girlishness and coquetry.
All of this suits her admirers and as they
pay the freight" it is not for me to find
fault. Miss Marlowe is not great ar
tist, but she is popular and draws good
money at the box office. What more can
be said? 1t is ruInored that Robert Taber
| will he hpr loading man next season but
there are good reasons for believing that
this is not true.
This week Kate Claxton, "the fire
queen" is at the Columbus Theatre, where
she is appearing in new drama entitled
THE Two Orphans" AS curtain raiser
she is producing THE Light That Failed" "
dramatization of Rudyard Kipling's nov
e. Business is good and Miss Claxton is
looking just as young as she did a decade
ago.
Henry Miller. who was at the Grand
Opera House last week in "Heartease,
appears to have acquired a very large
thead-if story told me is true. At one of
the performances the gallery gods became
a little too enthusiastic, mingling their
applause with whistling and cat calls. This
did not suit the star, and he sent word TO
Manager Pitou's representative that If the
noise was not stopped he would not finish
the piece He meant it. too, and had to be
coaxed and petted before he would con-
sent to go on. Less than a month ago
this same actor called the members of q
New Haven audience hyenas and was
roundly hissed for his remarks To my
mind Mr.. Miller is not much of player
but he is popular with the ladies', and
where the women go the men have to. His
engagements in this city are always finan-
cially successful.
Have actresses acquired the red hair
habit? Mrs. Carter's auburn tresses seem
to have set the fashion and now many OF
the best known women of the stage paint
their locks a golden hue. Rose Coghlan.
Mrs. Fiske. Sadie Martinot Laura Burt
and dozen others have recently Joined
the red top" brigade. Why? What for?
They are all handsome and | really think
would be more attractive in their own hair.
Joseph Jefferson, the dean of the Ameri-
can stage. is filling an engagement at the
Harlem Opera House, where he is appear
ing in The Rivals and RIP Van Win
kle,'' to overlooking audiences. The vete-
ran comedian tells me he is in splendid
health and has not felt so we'll in many
years. He is certainly doing Bob Acres
and Rip with all his old-time excellence,
Mr.. JefieTson's six weeks tour ends May
15, after which he goes to his summer
home at Buzzard's Bay. Next season TIE
star will play for twelve weeks, 'the boys, y
as he calls them, filling up the remainder
of the year.
Chauncey olcott plays a return engage
ment in this city at the Grand Opera
House, beginning May 30. He closes his
tour ON June 3.
Mr.. Wagenhals. of Wagenhals Kem-
per, was in town last week. He has con-
cluded an important deal for next season.
THE Country Judge is the name of