The Washington times., 1901-11-03

biographical stage I was with Miss
Allen during her second season in The
Christian and last year in her produc-
ton of In the Palace Of the King
played the Comtesse de Bum-I mean the
Comtesse de Baume. Here am ms
season playing my old role in The Chris
tiafl, and If anybody can beat that Tor a
record I won't say any more
u can" chimed in Miss Merrilees from
her corner OF the room. i have played
Betty since the first production OF the
play in September, IS, ana l almost know
yes; I'm an English woman" replied
Miss Merrilees in answer TO question
from the interviewer, but l have never
acted there. except. Of course, on the
vaudeville stage. My sisters and / cam
to America in '93 and appeared in Vaul'--
vile as the Three Sisters Merrilees. one
sister is now at home in England, the
other is appearing at the London Tiyou.
and 1 have remained in this country all
Of the time. except for occasional Yis.ts
to my home in the summer.
Miss Merrilees is an attractive blonde,
speaks with a fetching English accent,
and expresses admiration for all things
American
little Miss Norris, who looked for all the
world like ore Of the three little maids
from school" aTayed IN a long klmOna,
with her hair piled high up on her head
and a red rose dangling most tantalizlnglE
over one ear. All / was ever guilty
Of" she answered, iu the most conviuc-
ing way was to be born my brother $
For the benefit Of those not informed. it
may be stated that Miss Norris is sister
of William Norris the versatile actor who
originated the roles of the polite lunatc
in "The Belle OF New York Adonis, the
court fool, in In the Palace Of the King
the title parts Of The Burgomastcr' and
king DCdo," and who is now sharing
honors with Otis Skinner in the latter ;
production of Francesca de RiminI
ITS perfectly awful continued Miss
Norris. to have TO go through life on
somebody else S reputation But ne : a
fine brother and I'm very proud Of him.
! used TO think that I'd hurry up and get
ahead of him so that he would % pointed
out my brother, but. dear me, J. i never
catch up with him in this world, 50 I
think the best thing for me 10 do is 10
change my name
What's his rame?" shrieked everybody
else in the room. end the incertiewe Cc-
cided that IL was time 10 leave.
Blarche Bates continued Illness has re-
suited in closing the tour Of Under Two
Flags" Miss Bates as stric',en with
typhoid fever during the Detroit produc-
tion Of the dramatization Of the Ouida
story, and Isabel Irving was sent 10 play
Cigarette.
Theatregoers however. wanted the real
brand Of Cigarette. and stayed away
from the playhouse in such large num-
bers that Manager Charles Frohman de-
termined to close The tour of Under TWO
Flags until Miss Bates recoyers.
Londoners viii next year have chance
TO see J. II. Stoddart's Beside the Bon
ME Bricr Bush" which is nearing the
end Of its run in New York City.
The career Of this dramatization Of Bar
ris-s stories is somewhat peculiar. The
piece was originally presented a couple OF
years aes IN Boston, where IL did not at
tract a great deal OF attention. although
IL received the strong endorsement of the
literary element Of the Hubs population
and the newspaper reviews were uniform
w excellent. But for some reason or
other. perhaps on account Of the lateness
Of the season (the play was produced in
the spring., Bostonians did not flock 70 see
the work as the management had hoped
for.
When Il was found impossible TO secure
New York time for the play. Kirk La
Shelle. who had had similar experience
in the matter Of getting time with "Arl-
IONA" put the production in storage and
announced that New Workers would have
al oppurtunity TO see Beside the Bon
mic Brier Bush even If he had TO build a
theatre himself in which 10 present IT,
MIR La Sheile laid the plans for the struc-
ture an right but he did not have to wait
disagreement between Oscar Hammerstein
and the theatrical powers that be. and at
the Republic Theatre the Barrie piece was
given early in September.
The first audiences were Of the small
hut ufhusias site order, but they grew Ia
size every night until now, just the
play Il about TO leave Gotham, the Re
public Theatre IS nightly crowded with
delighted audiences who deem the work of
Mr. Sfoddart and his companions quite
una pproachable on the metropolitan stage
Dt present.