The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-07-26
| a NJ THEATRES

1
director. who added International inter-
est to an already great reputation by his
very clever and artistic work in the stag
ing OF Klaw a Erlangers remarkable
production OF "Ben-Eur." is one OF the
most interesting personalities connected
1 with the American stage. Small of sta
| turc and slight of frame, he makes up
what he lacks I'm size i'm the strength and
| activity OF his brain. During the final
| rehearsals OF "Ben-Hur." Gen. Lew
Wallace watched him in his direction OF
the $50 people employed In this produc-
ton. The general became very enthusi-
astic over the remarkable control Mr..
! Teal had acquired over the company.
Turning to member of the firm of I<law
| a Erlanger. Gen. Wallace said; What
an army drill master that little man
would have made. Were he soldier he
4 would be great commanding officer.
Ben Teal has been connected with the
stage since childhood. His early expert
ences We're gained on the Pacific coast,
where the stock companies, years ago,
made very thorough schools from which
many now well-known actors and act
resses graduated with great credit to
themselves. At different times he filled
the office of stage director at all the lead
ing California theatres. making several
or the greatest productions that had then
been seen in America. Among these was
Uncle Toms Cabin" at the Grand opera
house, San Francisco, prepared and pre-
sented inside OF ays. This production
was made for Daniel and Charles Froh-
man.
Wnen he came east he was under con-
tract TO duplicate this production i'm
London. Receiving a fiattering offer from
Frank Murtha and John A. Stevens to
locate In New York, he sought his release
from this engagement, which was grant
ed The destruction of the Windsor
theatre by fire temporarily postponed
their plans. They subsequently secured
the new Park theatre. now known as the
Herald square, and engaged a remarka-
bly, strong company. Mr.. Teal remained
here one season as stage director and
then became "a free lance, He was about
the first TO adopt stage direction as dis
tinct speciality. Before disassociating
himself from the permanent employ
ment of different managements, he ran
the entire gamut of stock productions.
from tragedy TO travesty which laid the
foundation for his subsequent remarka-
BILE success as stage director.
Among the important American pro-
ductions superntended by Mr. Teal NAV
be mentioned: Youth" michael Stro-
goff. Lights o. London "The Red
Pocketbook.' 'Clito, "The Dark Sc
cret." Held by the Enemy" "Sieba."
The Great Metropolis" 1.-THE Prodgal
Father" "Delmonico's at Six" Miss
Dynamite" THE Brownies" Jack and
the Beanstalk." "A Round of Pleasure"
1.-THE Bride Elect "A Reign of Terror"
The Rogers Brothers in Wall Street"
Christ and the Wonderful Lamp" MY
Old Kentucky Home" woman Against
Woman" The County Fair" "rhe
War of Wealth." "a Possible Case"
THE Village Postmaster" Twelfth
Night" "Niobe.'' THE Still Alarm"
| Blue Jeans" Sunshine OF Paradise Al
ley," She The Algerian THE Patri-
OTIS" Lost. Strayed or Stolen" THE
kaffir,' THE Great Diamond Robbery"
"'rhe Diamond Merchant" Broadway"
THE Widow" Romance of a Poor Young
Man" and Arcadia" These are but a
small portion of the productions Mr..
Teal has made. They serve. however to
evidence his wonderful versatility, for
tley include every phase OF dramatic ef-
fort and light musical entertainment
Perhaps the most conspicuous achieve
ment of his entire career. excepting the
stdSinB Oh fScn-ltuT, was MS ulrectlOn or
the production OF Hamlet" with an
all-star cast at the Metropolitan Opera
House in New York, on the occasion of
the testimonial rendered the late Lester
Wallack. For three years prior 10 the
death Of Dion Boucicault. Mr.. Teal was
his literary associate and produced his
last play, THE Tale OF a Coat" written
for Sol Smith Russell Al the time OF
Mr. Boucicaults death they were engaged
n Ia
the first act of one of them-a dramatic
version Of Bret Harte's story, THE Luck
of Roaring Camp"
Nothing Mr. Teal has yet done so con-
clusiveiy demonstrates the depth and
wide range OF his art as his work of last
season, the staging OF THE Rogers
Brothers in Wall Street" Chris and the
Wonderful Lamp and "Ben-Hur"--a
vaudeville farce. musical extravaganza
and "A semi-religious historical romantic
drama, representing the most exalted I'm
stage art. IL required not only the broad
ext experience and knowledge of stage
requirements, but a clear conception Of
| public taste, To successfully stage three
| such widely diversified entertainments az
these. Had he never done anything else
| but stage "Ben-Hur IL would give him
the place of leading stage director of
| America.
| Mr. Teal now confines himself almost
| exclusively to l<law & Erlangers pro-
| ductions. The coming season he will SUI
pervise the revival of "Ben-Hur," and
| the production of The Rogers Brothers
| in Central Park" Smith and de Koveus
| new opera. Foxy Quiller," which will
| perpetuate the character I'm which Je-
| rome Sykes made such great hit i'm THE
| Highwayman." and John j. McNally's
| new farce in which Frank Mckee will
| feature the August family. a noted
| troupe of French pantomimists.