The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-10

ing its sbolition in favor OF some of The
more generally popular though less fire.
Guehtiy heard old-fashioned airs such as
,su~anee River. Ny Old Kentucky
home, The Last Rose of Summer, "
ard the like: The people seem to want
ne good old tunes, and when one is in
| the business OF entertaining audiences
| one must give the public what 1t wants.
or at least what it thinks it wants, which
| is the same thing"
| The Vaudeville Managers Association
held meeting on Wednesday and lived
| IN to the promise they made to the mem
bers of the White Rats Association and
abolished the per cent commission clause
| in the vaudeville players contracts.
| Every person who was conversant with
| the condition of affairs and the wishes Of
| the managers understood they would do
| away with the objectionable commission
| at the earliest opportunity. The result Of
the meeting was received with great re-
| joicing by the White Rats, who looked
upon the action of the managers as a dis
tinct victory for their society, while a
| matter of fact it was absolutely nothing
of the kind, being merely what would
have been done had no strike been inau-
gurated.
1t now remains to be seen whether the
gentlemen who have been at the bottom
of the trc:lble between the performers and
the managers will call off the strike and
allow the variety artists a chance to earn
fabulous salaries, or whether they will
insist that all contracts be made through
the White Rats Association. If this latter
position is taken by the actors they will
undoubtedly lose every chance for secur-
ing work in any of the numerous theatres
controlled by the Vaudeville Association.
The managers to a man decided to treat
with the performers as individuals and
not to recognize in any way their organi-
cation. 1t is doubtful if the actors at the
head of the White Rats will find them
selves often upon vaudeville pro-
grammes IN the future, as there is every
indication that the managers look with
distinct disfavor upon engaging them
upon any terms whatever, while a num-
Der of the vaudeville directors, notably
Mr. Chase, of this city and Baltimore,
and Mr.. Proctor, of New York are en-
phatic in the declaration that they will
never engage any of the vaudevillians
who walked out of their theatres when
the strike was declared. The three weeks
absence of the old-time variety actors
from the vaudeville programmes through
out the country has resulted in giving a
number of new acts an opportunity to
demonstrate their merit, and in a number
Of cases acts of decided worth have been
discovered. These new performers will be
given every advantage over the old-time
variety people and the managers assert
that they Will continue to build up new
acts and fortify themselves in every way
possible against a recurrence of the events
Of the past two or three weeks.
From theatrical standpoint New York
rose to the dignity OF real centre of art
last Monday night, when two productions
of a new piece entitled Uncle Toms
Cabin were given, one under the man
agement of w. A Brady at the Academy
of Music and the other at the Star Thea |
tire under the direction of a. Martin.
In each performance a number of real |
actors and a horde of dangerous looking |
bow vows were engaged. The piece is a |
dramatization of Mrs. Harriet Beecher |
Stoves story Of like name and was given /
trial performances in six hundred or so I
important and otherwise cities of the /
country, covering a period of a score or |
more of years. Reports from the metro /
politan dramatic experts. are to the effect I
that the play scored a tremendous sue
cess, due no doubt to the advantage of its /
thorough preparation before being pre- /
scented for the edifcation of Gotham's ex-
acting theatrical population.
The Brady presentation was given the
advantage of cast of unusual excellence,
and there is every prospect that the ex-
citing adventure of Eliza, in which she
makes her escape from band of pur-
suers by crossing a river filled with float
Ing ice-generously supplied by the Ice
Trust for the occasion-will at once take
a position of prominence with the human
ladder In the Span of Life the escape
of the heroine in THE Heart of Chica GO
by means of a pedestrian trip over tele-
graphic wires, and the great avalanche
scene in that masterpiece of dramatic
Hearts are Trumps.'' 1t is
understood that troup of canine actors
Of the common L. T. c. type |
are in evidence throughout Eliza's
triumphant scene, adding much SEN
and noise. Wilton Lack
aye, as Uncle Tom, scored a hit
Of immense proportions and 1t is under
stood from what has always been consid-
cred an unimpeachable authority that at
the conclusion of his present engagement
he viii enter the vaudeville field and show
his original creation of Uncle Tom, who
Is described as a colored gentleman of
advanced years with fondness for little
naidens with streaming hair of the golden
variety. However, the strike of the White
Rats may interfere with his proposed in
,ursion into the domain of the continuous
Washington with the Rogers brothers,
plays the part of Topsy and introduces a
new coon song called "Shoo Fly, Don't
Bother Me" Other members of the Brady
company are Theodore Roberts, l.. r.
Stockwell Emily Rigl. Mabel Amber. AL
&c Evans, William Harcourt, and Odell |
heatregOers will have an opportunity of
seeing this latest metropolitan specimen
If the dramatized story which the man
,gement announces is not the work of
dr. Z. E. Rose, who is popularity supposed |
o have a corner on the dramatized novel
market.
One of the best bits of acting in Held
~ the Enemy" as presented by the stock
company at the Lafayette last week, was
lone by a local Thespian, Mr.. Theodore :
'riebus whose identity is hidden under ;
he somewhat STACEY name of Hal Van
Tyne
Mr. Friebus has been associated with
he Bellows organization for some time
nd has often been seer in roles which re-
uire n tremendous amount of thought
concentration. In Held by the Eenemy"
lie impersonated to the life an awkward
medical officer who could never forget he
vas possessed of hands and feet and who ,
vas continually providing much innocent |
nd unintentiOnal comedy. Mr.. Friebus' .
of the role was character ,
5tically clever and ludicrous in the eX- ,
RENE Director Bellows might have
earched long before he could find play :
r who could bring the same amount Of ,
omedy to the role that the Washing 7
oman did.
The part has hitherto been portrayed
luch more seriously, but Mr.. Friebus
apply hit upon the idea of making it
broadly humorous role, and from across 6
dds the funniest work of the perform :
nee.
Manager Luckett, of the Columbia will \
o to New York this week and upon his a
eturn VIII definitely decide upon the I
lmmer season at his theatre. !.
At present he is undecided as to \
neither to continue the stock plan !
hich in other years has been so SUCCESS
ally carried on at the f Street play
ouse for another season or inaugurate
series of musical comedy REVEALS. 81
resenting most of the Casino successes, a
The Girl From Paris, The French n
laid " and other pieces of like Charac- >