The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-02-17
PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

The Boston Post prints the following
with reference to Dan. l.. Harts new
play: THE Parish Priest" the charm
ing play which D. l.. Hart wrote or
Daniel Sully and which that comedian
Is now giving at the Park tn ,ater is
a move in the right direction, and
should be encouraged as a che * to the
course dramatic productions ar" taking
this season. 1t Is a story of domestic
life, told in simple, straight forward
manner, and yet so true to nature that
it's produces an irresistible Pleasure.
1t is always a pApsure to witness
chapter from every day existence, espe-
cially when the circumstances are
daintily presented, and such stage pic
, lures in the past have proved not only
wholesome, but exceedingly lucrative.
Mr.. Hart's play relates the incidents
of a few hours in which the curren.
of human lives was changed for the
better This is done without trace
of sermonzing, but in clear, direct
manner like the pages of a book. 1t
requires but glance at the pieces
which have been financially successful
for the past few years to note what
downward tendency the stage is talk
x,
Priest is Of the type which should
not only be encouraged, but highly
commended. Again. 1t portrays phase
of life among the mining districts of
Pennsylvania. where sentiment runs as
pure and noble as any place on this
| earth and the scenes of the quiet
home with the battle between love and
ambition are replete with heart inter-
oh, t1l, tl,,t
although the play came to this city
without heralding. its patronage has
steadily increased and the closing
nights are being witnessed by large
audiences. 1t would be a better thing
/ for the American stage and for the
community on which the theater "A-
erts so strong an influence IL there were
more plays like The Parish PRIEST"
! THE Man in the Moon" the gor-
geous spectacle with which George
Lederer re-opened Hammerstein's big
Broadway amusement palace as the
/ New York theater, has not met with
success on the road and will close its
season at the end of next week in
! Washington. The company was losing
money.
( May Robson. who created MANY &C.
centric female roles in farces and come
dies produced by Charles Frohman
during the last few years. has Joined
the Weber and Field forces and will
make her appearance In "Sapolio." the
travesty on "Sappho," which Weber
and Field will put on the stage next
! week.
Announcement is made Of the coming
marriage of Nine. Melba, the prmi
donna, to DR.. Joseph Joachim. the
violinist. of Berlin. The announcement
of the engagement Of these two famous
artists created great surprise here, for
1t was not known that Nine. Melba
was more than professionally ac-
quainted with the great virtuoso. Sur
! prise over the match is occasioned
chiefly by the great disparity in the
ages of the two artists. Joachim is
60 year old. Mime. Melba only 81. In
spite of Joachim's age. however, he Is
sturdy and vigorous, and still ap-
pears regularly in concerts. Nine.
Melba's real name is Nellie Mitchell.
She took her stage name from her ma
tive city, Melbourne, Australia, where
she appeared in concerts when she was
only six years old. She Is probably the
most popular prima donna in the
world, with the exception OF Patti, and.
perhaps, Nine. Calve, her rival in mod
ern operatic honors.
Roland Reed. the actor. underwent
second operation at St. Lukes hos.
pital in New York Wednesday. While
his physicians says he will probaly re-
cover from it, and may be able to re-
sumo his stage career within few
weeks, his friends are greatly worried
over his condition. Mr.. Reed is not
suffering from cancer, as has frequent
ly been stated. but from a foreign
growth In the lower intestines. The
first operation performed upon him
was for appendicitis. The real trouble
was then discovered. and since then
the physicians applied themselves to
getting the actor into good physical
trim to stand second operation which
' r~..-r'