The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-28
FEW EVENTS in GOTHAM
"Fhe Surprises of Love" the One
Important Play of the Week.
olga NctbcrsoIe's Illness Delays the
Scheduled Production of ''saPpho."
..Rroadway to Tokyo Done and
..Thc Belle of New York Returns.
Notes aud Items From the RiaIto.

NEW YORK. Jan 2L-On Monday last,
just as we all were preparing TO be COM
fc rtably shocked by Olga Nethersoles pre-
sentation IF "Sappho" at wallacks, the
newspapers announced that the lady her
self was seriously i'll in your town and that
we shou.i have to exercise patience for
another week. Accordingly, local theatre
goers are waiting for Miss Nethersole
while the dramatic critics have been
obliged TO satisfy themselves with the light
est and slightest entertainment. Novel
ties, even among these, seem to be exceed
ingly scarce.
A really delightful comedy was shown on
this same Monday at the Lyceum, from
which coy house Annie Russell has de-
parted with Miss Hobbs The most re-
cent piece is entitled ''The Surprises of
Love- and it tells a quaint simple story
very well indeed.
The story aforesaid concerns Marceile
Duval. young widow who is betrothed to
Dupont Martin. distinguished author.
NJ. Martin has given his iiancee a present.
in the form OF lottery ticket, anG, when
she draws the prize, first Discovers that
the reward in question is a handsome
youth. Henri Leduc. who has been led. by
poverty. thus TO lend himself to the gam
ing company. Madame Duval Immediately
falls into an aifectionatc understanding
with her property and, an accident forcing
her prospective husband to break the en-
gagement with her. marries the new OBJ
ject of her regard The tale is decidedly
odd. both in its nature and in the fact
that. though a French importation. it is
delightfully."- clean. The lines are witty
too, and the situations enjoyable so that
if Gotham can forgive the absence of sug-
gestion the offering is lin" for a long run
II is interpreted by II. Reeves Smith. who
first came here with "A Brace of Part
ridges" Elsie de Wolfe, one while of Miss
Eussel's support: Olive May, the wife of
Henry Guy Carleton; Eric Hope our Eng
lish cousin. and several other more-or- less
prominent persons. All are clever.
Broadway 10 Toxic the attraction at
the New York, has been so often pestpon-
ed and so often described that tnere is
scant need for speaking of il at great
length, now that IL has been staged. The
production, by the way. did not occur a
week ago, as | stated it would in my last
letter. another delay being announced in
the journals that were out an hour after
/ had written the prophecy mentioned. 1t
would be difficult TO tell the reason for all
these bitches. The inyestiture while
rather elaborate, is not surprising. and
the organization has little to do that is
worth the doing Either because of the
lapse Of time since the book was penned
or because OF the excellent memory Of its
authors, Broadway TO Toxic has what
seems to be the oldest collection of jokes
/ have ever heard. The story told is orig
inal, but dreadfully dull. Despite the ex-
ceptional cast engaged-a cast which in
cludees Otis Harlan, Joseph Sparks, lgna
clio Martinetti. Joseph OFT, Fay Temple
ton, Josie Sadler, and Alice Judson-the
presentation probably will not last more
than a month. unless il is altered greatly
within the next few evenings.
After an absence of over two years con
the other side of the pond" the popular
favorites of THE Belle of New York"
company were greeted enthusiastically
Monday at the Casino. This was espe-
cialiy true in the case of Edna May, whose
pretty head has been much enlarged by
her foreign success, but who still is local
idol. Except for the fact that Dan DAILY
was missed sadly, the Interpretation went
smoothly and encores were more than fire.
quent. Throughout the current week, the
Casino has been crowded nightly. and. I'M
less Hugh Morton and Gustaye Kerker
succeed in enjoining Manager Lederer; as
they threaten to do. there is scant proba-
bility that the new piece will have an OPP
portunity 10 Follow On for a goodly pc
riod yet.
At the American this same evening the
Castle Square Opera Company sang two
works wholly unknown in Gotham. The
first Of these was offenbaeh's The Magic
Melody a simple and graceful compost
ton set in story simpler still, though
delightfully."- droll. The second was Eu-
gene Checci and Nlccolo Spinelli's "A
Basso Porto" translated into English I'M
der the title Of AT the Lower Harbor."
Already famous in Europe. the piece never
had been heard in the United States until
Manager Savage's people took it in hand.
SpinelIi is an Italian of the school of
Mascagni and Leoncavallo. rather than OF
the older masters. AT the Lower Har-
Dor" consequently, is vivid and a trine
sombre, while strong in conception. The
music has much of the waIclth and color
OF Wagner In the offerings appeared
Reginald Roberts. Louis Cassavant. Frank
Moulan. u. Eloise Morgan. Gertrude Quin-
Ian, Belle Darcy, Maude Lambert, Belle
Bartlett, May Gooch, Mae Huntington
Selma Kronold, Mary Darlington, Harry
Davies. William Pruette, Frank II. Belch-
er. and Herman Brand.
Most of the remaining attractions in New
York are as / described them in my last
communication. The promises for next
week include the postponed premiere of
"Sappho." and the advent of Chauncey Oh
colt with "A Romance of Athlone" at the
Fourteenth Street. On the following Mon
day night Wheels Within Wheels" will be
succeeded. at the Madison Square by Co
ralie &c Company. Dressmskers;" THE
Manoeuyres of Jane at Days. by John
Oliver Hobbs; THE Ambassador" and
The Cowboy and the Lady" at the Knick-
erbocker, by When We Were Twenty
one"
II is astonishing how much The Times
is quoted here by press agents. Usually.
these individuals affect complete indiffer-
ence to provincial criticism. but with
in a fortnight. | have seen no fewer than
a half dozen bills on which the Washing
ton paper doomed up prominently. Among
these are those of "A Stranger in a Strange
Land, 1.-THE Greatest Thing in the World"
The Man-o'war's Man" and of the star
in new farce, the tour OF which begins in
March.
william A. Brady announces that The
Countess Chiffon" his latest, will he dGae
at the Fifth Avenue on February G. The
will not be used as a stellar We
flINit ibi dNN NFcA g. Containing 81 lfsst
two parts more important than that allot
ed her. The story concerns "A young
American girl who has married French
nobleman without loving him. and the cast
will include besides Miss George, John
Blair. Bijou Fernandez, s. Miller Kent,
and Frank Hatch.
William Gillette gave a professional
matinee" of Sherlock Holmes" on Tues
day afternoon at the Garrick. To say that
the performance was well attended would
be putting it mildly. Free entertainments
usually draw and Mr.. Gillette really Is
much admired among his colleagues.