The Washington times., 1901-08-18


the opera for the professional debut OF
Rose Cecilia Shay. a new grand opera
prima donna. Miss Shay comes IRON
| Cincinnati. She underwent a course of
vocal training in America md has just
| returned from abroad where she has
| been for the past two years putting the
finishing touches to her musical educa-
| ton. She will have the support of a
| strong company, which will be made up
| entirely of American singers.
| The initial production of the opera will
be given in this city on November 4, and
will be under the personal direction of
| Prof. Fanciulli
| Announcements of the advent of new
| stars are now being made by the various
managers, but it is questioned if any will
| be more welcome than Arthur Byron,
who will bid for stellar honors under the
| guidance of Messrs Wagenhals and Kem-
| per. the well-known managers.
Arthur Byron has been associated with
Johl Drew for eight successive seasons,
which speaks well for his work and
Charles Frohman'S opinion of the young
actor. Mr.. Byron is son of Oliver Doud
| Byron. author of Across the Continent,
which old theatregoers will remember as
one of the most popular plays of its time.
He is also q nephew of Ada Rehan. 1t
was In his fathers play that young By
ron made his uebut, after which he filled
engagements with Sol Smith Russell.
Stockwell's Theatre company. in San
Francisco. making his New York debut in
Mary Fiske's play, Captain Henne, U. 5.
A" He then Joined Felix Morris. and his
long engagement with john Drew fol-
lowed, during which he originated, and
with marked success, widely different
roles in The Liars The Bauble Shop"
Rosemary. THE Tyranny of Tears.
and lastly, the role of Lord Comyn in
Richard Carvel"
MIR. Byron has many things in his favor
q
stage presence, is a thorough. intelligent,
and forceful actor. whose work is distin-
with which he imbues his Characterize
lions. His managers have great faith in
his future, and in looking about for a
new star they have selected him as be-
ing the most promising of the younger
actors now in the profession. The con-
tract between managers and actor covers
a long term of years and three plays are
under consideration for production this
season, though as yet no selection has
been made. The choice will be made,
however, in a few days. together with
more detailed account of the policy which
Wagenhals kemper VIII pursue in pre-
senting their new star to the public.
Mr.. and Mrs. Robert Rogers Oouise
Mackintosh) are in New York after So
journ at Block Island, l.. l., where they
were counted among the very select the
atrical colony. They have formed no
plans for the coming season, although
they have received offers from nearly
every stock company in the country, but
having been associated with like organi-
cations for the past four years, which has
entailed unceasing study and work, they
have concluded to accept an engagement
with road company this year and so
take rest from stock work. Very Few
first-class companies have completed
their casts as yet. and the services of
these talented people Will undoubtedly be
in demand. -.---''
Mr.. and Mrs. Rogers have been specially
engaged for the opening week of the CO.
lumbia stock company of Newark, N j.,
which will occur September 2. for the roles
of Judge Knox and Mrs. DePuyster in
The Charity Ball. in which both scored
emphatic hits here with the. Lafayette
company last winter. That they will not
accept stock engagements this season.
unless it should be with the local COM
pany, which is not probable, comes as
welcome news to their legion of friends
for both Mr.. and Mrs. Rogers are i'm
menSely popular here, and it is good to
know that no other city will gain where
Washington has lost. Should they join
road company. it is more than likely that
they will spend week at least here dur
ing the coming winter.
Profession and public alike were shock
ed last week by the announcement of the
sudden death of Arthur Sidman Monday
morning at Higgins Beach. Me- The
last touches to York State Folks" in
which he was to star this season, and had
gone to the Maine resort for a few days
rest before beginning rehearsals.
Mr. Sidman has been before the public
more or less prominently for many years.
having begun his career in Boston, where
he made six appearances day. Later he
played the Keith continuous circuit, which
necessitated three performances daily.
Mr. and Mrs. Sidman then undertook a
starring tour in comedy called "A sum
mer Shower but met with meagre sue
cess and returned to vaudeville. Sidman's
popularity increased steadily and he soon
became a "headliner' at a high salary.
He first produced an original sketch called
"a Bit of True Life" teeming with humor
and naturaiEess. which he played until a
few years ago, when he replaced IL with
another one-act play from his own pen
called Back Home in which he ap
peared In Washington several times at
Chase's theatre. Sidman was frequently
compared to Sol Smith Russell. whom he
resembled slightly. and his characterize
tions were not unlike those which made
Mr.. Russell prominent. They were the
gentle, kindly. rustic type and his por-
trayals were always charming and realis-
tic.
The actors death at this time is pecu-
IiarIy sad, for it has been the dream of
theatres and his wish was about to be
gratified. as York State Folks had been
booked to inaugurate the season at the
Chestnut Street Theatre. Philadelphia
The play was tried for short season last
spring through New England and proved
successful and Mr.. Sidman had revised 1t
where ii seemed necessary In preparation
for the Philadelphia engagement. The
original bookings of York State Folks
will be adhered TO and another star will be
secured for the role originated by Mr..
Sidman-
The Drury Lane pantomime. The
Sleeping Beauty and the Beast" which |
Klaw & Erlanger will produce at the !
Broadway Theatre, promises to be one of
the most elaborate and expensive enter |
tainments ever given In this country
These big pantomimes have for years been
a feature of the Christmas holiday season |
in London, but the contemplated Broad |
way production will be the first Of its kind |
in America. /
The Crystal Palace scene Is a brilliant |
mystic effect, which is formed by NAM |
moth structure containing 2S,ODJ pieces of
glass. The palace rises from below the !
stage and its appearance before the aud /
fence Is as If by magic. In order to re-
produce this j pit IS being dug under the |
theatre and number of unloOked-for OBJ !
stacles have been encountered. which not |
only neceSsitate more labor than was at /
first anticipated, but entail great deal /
of additional expense The pit will be |
forty feet long and twenty feet wide II /
was the original intention to make IL I
twenty-four feet deep. Later II was found |
necessary to dig to depth of thirty feet.
but when this was done the wOrkmen dis ,
covered that they had struck a water level I
and the pit began to fill. The bottom and /
h. MIA aud Mill