The times., 1899-04-02
THEATRICAL TID[NGS
FROM THE RIALT0
Another War Drama New
York's Only Novelty"
Jerome's Latest Play Staged by the
Lyceum Stoek.
T.. II. Sothern's Success So Great That
He VIII Close After Six Weeks
in the Metropolis.

New York. March 29.-There is only one
novelty at the theatres this week, and that
/ is a war play by j. X. Tillotson. author OF
/ THE Planters Wife and other dramas.
! The new piece is called Report for Duty
and was made known ON Monday night at
, the Fourteenth Street in the presence of
large audience. The author has chosen for
I his theme an incident from real life
! which occurred during the rebellion. The
! story begins at the end of
! ball given in the old hotel at
White sulphur Springs and the first act
brings out two incidents-a meeting OF the
| lovers at signal tower and the heroine's
awakening from mental wanderings. Both
are uncommonly effective. In the fourth
and last act there is presented most
/ realistic and sensational battle scene. \
! signal officer is wounded and the heroine
/ takes his place. The tower is shot away.
/ throwing the girl to the ground Then
comes the climax; shells are bursting all
{ around, trees are torn to pieces. houses
destroyed, while the roar OF cannon and
musketry is heard and scores of soldiers
! throng the stage. The shrek of the shells
and the hiss of the smaller missiles OF de-
struction are exceedingly well initiated.
! Window panes are shot out OF a house and
the actors are in the midst of IL all, dodg-
ing falling branches and flying glass in
| n manner calculated to make the spectators
believe that an actual combat is in prog
ress. The effect is the most remarkable
of it's kind ever presented in New York.
Report for Duty is somewhat cOnven-
tional but is lifted from the rut of the
commonplace by several novel episodes. 1t
is presented with elaborate scenry and an
excellent cast, headed by Selma Herman.
| Miss Herman is a newcomer here, but
think it will not take long Eor ner to be-
come a strong local fayorite. She has youth
and beauty and unmistakable ability, Sew
eral curtain calls were given to her and
TO \. 5. Lipman, the leading man. Re
port for Duty" has evidently made a deer
impression on the patrons of Manager
Rosenquest's place Of amusement. Mr.. Til
lotson was not present at the opening per-
formance, and so, of course. did not re-
spond to enthusiastic calls for the author.
In Gay Paree" is likely TO stay NJ the
Casino for many months. The piece does
not amount 10 much, but the specialties
are decidedly attractive. The Frencu
dancers who appear in the first act are
1.-the. active, daring creatures in flesh
colored tights. The English beauty, Vio-
let Holmes, as the leader OF the party
turns cartwheels and does high kicking
mon. and black. She is a perfect halo OF
lingerie and legs. There is also introduced
a richly costumed ballet, which is fetch
ing to say the least. The cOlOrs are
cIeverly handled and the young women
who, by the way, are not too much clothed
are massed with skill. II is many long
daily since so much female loneliness has
been displayed in a single ensemble
Every mothers girl of the lot is young
and magnficently formed. OF course the
.Johnnies' are crOwding the house
nightly.
London Life" which was on view a
the Columbus Theatre last week. is one
! of the most remarkable dramas II has evel
! been my misfortune to encounter. The
heroine marries a poor man and is dis
inherited by her father. Four years la;el
she is seen in garret with a child. Th'
youngster is at least twelve years of ag'
and her limbs Just two or three feet from
the cot in which she is lying. There is lot
of hard luck and bad acting in 'Lcndol
Life" with only one redeeming feature
and that one is Jennie Satterlee, witt
plays an important character part cleveriy
As shown in this piece. London is towl
that should be avoided by all right-minde
people.
Americans at Home" has been followe
at the Lyceum by John Ingerfield,"
new comedy in four acts by jerome X
Jerome. The time OF the work
1864, and after the third seen