Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-10-19

1f the first scene. III the fourth act Oh the
play. which has been denounced as pre-
)osterous. in that it presents the Princess
Mary Tudor as deliberately trying to dance
md dine her venerable husband, Louis XII
IF France. to death in order that she might
|0e free to marry Brandon
Perhaps the most interesting facts Miss
Marlowe has collected bear on the dashing
style of conversation which ladies of high
degree INDUCED in at this time. She con-
fesses that she is obliged to handle this
subject gingerly, for how could she do
otherwise when conversation was so lax
that Henry VII, father of this same Prin-
cess Mary Tudor, whom Miss Mariowe is
now impersonating, seldom spoke of wife
except by an infamous appellation?
The members of the Bellows Stock Com
lpany were for a time very much mysti
lied as to who played the trick on John
/ r. Sullivan which broke up that actor
| in the last act of Shenandoah" wednes
aday night. Antoinette Walker, the little
gingenue. declared that 1t was Just too
smean for anything" while Mr.. Sullivan
himself described it as a low-down trick.
3Mr. White Whittlesey at first suspect
ed as the perpetrator. but he succeeded in
proving an alibi. Suspicion then fell upon
Harry Corson Clarke, the comedian, and
he was formally charged with the crime
Mr.. Sullivan has very pretty comedy
love scene with Miss Walker in the last
play piano solo for five seconds duration.
While Mr.. Sullivan Is generally conceded to
be an excellent actor,-even his best friend
would hesitate to credit him with being a
good musician. Ordinarily he performs In
a manner which doubtless brought forth
that famous remark made In a western
concert hall: Don't kill the piano player;
he's doing the best he can
In order to overcome certain defects in
his musical performance Mr.. Sullivan had
Katherine Field, who is an accomplished
musician, mark certain of the ivory keys
OF the piano, and, aided by these marks,
Mr.. Sullivan got bravely through the ordeal
until Harry Corson Clarke conceived the
hendlsh idea of rubbing off the pencil marke.
The thought once born was Immediately put
into execution. When poor Mr.. Sullivan
attempted his musical performance he was
ike sailor at sea without his compass.
lie could only gaze at Miss Walker in
desperate sort of way, but she was unable
to assist him. so they had to cut it out.
Meanwhile Mr. Clarke stood in the wings
enjoying 1t immensely, but his features gave
no trace of merriment. Only comedian
knows how to put on a profoundly sober
face while laughing inwardly.
Al the trial after the performance Mr..
Clarke was formally declared guilty and
sentenced by Judge Lillian Lawrence to
purchase luncheon for the entire company.
The revival of the old play 'Mazeppa,'
which | notice is announced to be presented
memory recollections of Adah Isaacs Men
ken, the actress whose Interpretation of
'Mazeppa' was internationally famous in
the '60s,' said an octogenarian resident of
Washington who still retains an interest in
theatrical affairs because of past connection
Herewith. --'sf knew her last husband
James Barclay quite WELL and at his home
in New York became acquainted with her
She was remarkable woman, of varied at
talnments, possessing, In addition to her
histrionfc ability, talent of no mean order
as, poetess and sculptress. Like many
other great actresses of the past and the
present, she was of Jewish birth Her
father was Spanish and her mother French
her maiden name was Dolores AdioS Fuer-
tes- During her early career on the stage
she played mostly in Havana and the City
OF Mexico, where she was known as the
Queen of the Plaza Her success in this
country was confined before 1859 to New
dreams "here she was born, and to Gin
cinnati and Louisville. in which cities she
was an immensely popular favorite Her
nrst appearance in New York was made in
1893 Ihen, as now, the metropolis was
SLOW to recognize the fayorites of the So
called provincial cities. and 1t was not until
Mrs. Menken appeared there in the part of
'Mazeppa' that she fully conquered the in
suiar Manhattan prejudices. 1 was present
at the nrSt performance of 'MaZeDDa and
remember well the furore it caused Ryron,s
famous poem of that name had always a
fascination for Mrs. Menken. and she had
long desired to place the story upon the
stage, Dut the mechanical difficulties attend
ant upon the realization of the mad ride NJ
Mazeppa across the plains of Poland
strapped to the bare back of wild horse
mad been insurmountable until they were
solfed py the inventive genius of a stage
manager whose name has not remained with
me- Crude as the devices then were.the scene
was an intensely thrilling one and never
1aiied to gain enthusiastic plaudits. For
ptv,1I IL
stage success of the times of which 7 am
speaking j suppose that modern stagecraft
mas added much more realism to it Mrs
Ndehken appeared with much success as
MaZeppa in England, at Astley's Theater
in 1864. Like some of our present-dsv
actresses. she was married and divorced
many times-four in all. Her first husband
whose name she retained professionally,
was Alexander Isaac Menken. a musician
OF some note. John c. Heenan the cole
DRAFTED puSlilst was one of her husbands
she wrote and published two volumes of
poems, entitled Memories and .InfeIicia ,
respectively. which were well received she
| died in Paris in 1861
The name Of Charles Frohman has for
several years been known almost as well
III London as In this country He has an
office there and during the season ceveral
| OF his companies are to be found at the
| principal theaters of that city While most
quent tours of our big Cities not until re-
Gently has an English manager followed
the example set by Mr. Frohman and ex-
! tended his business interests across the At
lantic
1t may not be long, however before the
name of William Greet is as we'll known in
New YORK as that of Charles F'rohman is in
the English metropolis Mr. Greet is the
manager of the Lyric Theater London. and
is connected more or less directly with
many OF the principal playhouses of that
city He hrst became known in this coun
Try hve years ago when he sent company
TO our shores 10 play the great London suc
cess or that time. THE Sign of the Cross :"
ana since then his company has been tour
ing our largest cities each winter in Rar
retts altogether unusual play Mr.. Greet
Is now making move that will bring him
into great prominence in our theatrica1
world, and from all Indications he will
prove incorrect the oft repeated statement
that American managers are the greatest
ana most lavish producers. This season Mr.
Greet Is to star Charles Dalton. SO long
at the head of his 1.-The Sign of the Cross5
company, IN Bertha Runkel and lawrence
Marstons dramatization of Miss RunkaTs
novel, The Helmet of Navarre:' and II
report is to be credited the production hotb
as regards strength of cast and hea,+v oe