The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-12-08
Plays and Players
) :, y D. y y = /. = Y T. /. y = = = = = |.

Richard Savage the poet, whom Madeline LII
cette Ryey has taken as the central figure of
her new play in which Mr.. Miller is to appear
here in the near future, was the contemporary
of DR.. johnson, Addison, Richard Steele, Alex
ander Pope. Colly Cibber and other literary &C.
lcbritics, each of whom are more familiar in the
minds of the reading public than is Richard
Savage. IL not, however. his literary fame'
but his intensely dramatic career and his per
sonal characteristics which engaged the attention
OF the fair dramatist. The bitter fight which
Savage waged against destiny was foreshadowed
by prenatal events. His mother was Lady Mac
clesfield, Il fashionable woman of the period, but
as Richard Savages biographer, DR.. Johnson
tells us, she by no means an ornament to
her sex Desiring divorce from her husband,
she openly confessed that her child. about TO
be born, was not his but that OF her paramour,
the Earl Rivers, n confession which, OF course,
eifectually secured the divorce. To add to her
heartless, fendsh cffrontcry, she gave her child,
later to be known as Richard Savage, to the care
of Others, and throughout his life refused to
reco"nze nm as her own. The dramatic inter-
est of the play, which is cmbcllishcd by romance,
is based upon the feud between mother and son.
Many of the literary celebrities mentioned figure
in the story. which is, Of course, in some way
suggested by Johnson's biography, but IS said
to be almost entirely drawn from the imagina-
tion OF the playwright.
In the Dramatic Mirror Daniel Sully tells OF
the manner in which he obtained ''rhe Parish
Priest" the clever play by Dan Hart, in which
he has several times appeared here: "lt was by
the mcrest Glance that | secured this play. over
which ! confess I have become an enthusiast.
Five years ago spending the summer, as
usual. at the farm in Ulster county; and one
evening | happened to he standing at the gate
l,in,r nal,i SIR n
young mana stranger-came walking down the
road. | invited him to take shelter from the
rain on my yeranda lie accepted, and very
We're exchanging stories most aSreeably.
He, not imagining that he was talking to an
actor. related the story that is the foundation
OF The Parish Priest and said that he had an
idea OF turning il into a play. The plot at
tructcd me at once. l made my identity known
to him, and he told me that lie was Daniel l..
Hart, of Wilkes. Barre. Before he left Mink liol-
low We had entered into an agreement relative
to the writing and the producing Of the drama
that was To be. Mr.. Hart went TO his home
and thought and studied and worked for four
years over 'rhc Parish Priest and want TO tell
you, sir, earnestly and sincerely that it
But iusr AT that moment Mr. Hart himself en-
tered the room and Mr.. Sully cut his speech
and called waiter,
The position of ''understudy' for one of the
principal parts is greatly priced by the ambi-
tious Young actresses who appear in the ball
room scene OF "Iost River" aud competition
among them las been keen that Stage Man
ager James lackayr has inauguratcd q series OF
examinations To determine who shall be award
ed the prizes. Each applicant is given a re-
hearsal in the role she aspircs to, and the one
showing the most talent will be appointed I'M
dcrstudy-- which position carries with it slight
raise in salary as well as increased standing in
the company, and the possibility of achieving n
hit in the part during the illness absence OF
the regular incumbent. The civil service system
applied to The stage is new idea, but it seems
10 work we'll
Iebler & 60. contradict the report, printed
by several New York papers, that Miss Eleanor
Robson, late OF the "Arizona " company, will
star under their management this season. Miss
Robson has been engaged for Flosse Williams in
"lnleavened Bread" and will be assigned to
important roles in other Iiebler productions dur.
ing the next five years but their plans do not
include an immediate starring tour for her. She
will reappcar in the special production OF
Browning's ''In Balcony" with Otis Skinner
and Sarah Cowell LeMoyne, which viii be re,
pcatcd in the spring, playing the role OF Con
stance in which she scored such pronounced
hit
The December number of the Metropolitan
magazine contains an article on ''fhe Passion
Play at Oberammergau," rrepared by Grace
George. Miss George spent much Of her sum,
mer in Bavaria, and her description OF the ex,
traordinary religious festival is most graphic.
IN all the vast amount Of matter recently pub
lished anent the performance, this is the only
technical criticism of the peasant players writ.
ten by a professional player that has appeared,
consequently it has unique interest.
Grace George has concluded her long run at the
Manhattan theatre, New York, and W. =. Brady
is sending her on brief tour in "IIer Ma.
iesty." Despite ilustrious precedent, the sup.
norting company to he seen on the road is
Identical with the original. 1t includes Frank
Worthing, Morton Seltsn and several other
notables. This city is among the number booked
For q Cold In the Head
Laxative Bromo-Quinine Tablets.