The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-10-13

and she emphasized II BY her manner ~
conducting the fight into which Joan was
pyeclpltated almost at the outset 81 the
play. Her comedy scene In act two was
one OF the happieSt bits Of the night IL
revealed Der POSSESSION Of the comedy spirit
~ ne a measure not before suspected, and Il
served TO confirm the favor with which the
audience most Willingly received her Efforts
that preceded II. There Is picture at
me close Of this act that viii probably be
thought by many the strongest moment
IN the representation. Joan, sword IN hand,
AFTER having laid low her lago-like enemy.
PUSHES up stage and, brapdishlng her
weapon hurts dedsnce at her fallen foe
he may take his own message TO hell,
she cries, Il have business elsewhere" 1t
Is uncommon to see a woman manage
foil with ease and strength. but Miss Walsh
aud her exhibitions with IL are not the
role.
Mr. Tim Murphy has not SO far booked
his new Washington play, "a Capitol Com.
edy," IN Washington. d. c. II is said that
many Of the leading characters are SO
easily recognizable that he might have to
entertain some requests to change his play,
which Is great success asst Is.
~
The appearance Of Madame Modjeska and
Louis James in Henry VIII" outranks In
popular and artistic Importance any event
Of the present theatrical season. While
the public has seen several elaborate pro
auctions in recent years, no presentation
Of a Shakespeare play during the past
decade will compare in it's association with
great players, with the performance Of
NIenry WIZ In which these celebrated
artists are seen TO such tine advantage, II
WAS thought by most people that when
Madame Modjeska went to Europe at the
close OF last season she would remain there
for an indefinite period Her reappearanee
In America this season was brought about
by Managers Wagenhas & kemper through
their successful efforts 10 induce Louis
James to become joint star with the ia
hilitieS Of the alliance appealed TO both
players with greater force than the promise
Of gain especially In view of their wei
known financial standing. Since the death
Of Mr.. Booth, Louis James has been re
garded as preemnent on the tragic stage
Of this country. Added TO his splendid &c
compNshments, he has a personality which
has won him a large and loyal following
In bringing these artists together II is not
TOO much to say that Wagenhals * kemper
have rendered a distinct service 10 the
drama In America. In presenting Henry
VIII the management has made every
EFFORT assisted by liberal outlay Of
money, to make IT as petorally. effective
as the memorable production in which Hen
~ Irving and Ellen Terry appeared about
fifteen years ago
Chauncey Olcott opens In Pittsburg No
vember in Garrett oMagh."
~
In decentralization OF A q. w. Mason's
novel; Miranda of the Balcony" Mrs
Fiske made her bow at the Manhattan the
alter, New York. The novel is well known;
the play has been carefully reviewed
Some of the erudite writer's found the play
tally others said II was strong; all said
that Mrs. Flske's personal success was I'M
doubted.
10 comment on Mrs Fiske's histrionic
abilities at this late day would be super
nuous opinions regarding her methods
may differ, but it is generally conceded
that in portraylng suppressed emotion she
takes rank with the leading actresses OF the
English speaking world. Her mannerisms
have been written about ana even traves-
tied. But when, as Miranda, she learns
that her husband, supposedly dead, really
Is alive. one forgets that she speabs from
the corner Of her mouth.
From Ralph Rackstraw in Juvenile
.Plnal0re' company to a Broadway star
In her own playhouse seems a long dis
lance. says the Denver Times and Mrs
Fiske has not accomplished ii at one stride
Her progress. however, has been steady
and ever upward. and now comfortably en-
sconced in an attractive playhouse, sur
rounded by talented players and in a play
which gives her every oppOrtunity to dis
play her peculiar talents at their hest ad-
vantage Mrs, Fiske seems to merit the
congratulations that have been showered
upon her
Mrs Fiske was born in New Orleans. the
daughter of Thomas payey and Elizabeth
Madden, and in her earliest stage career
took her mothers name. Her father was
prominent In the South as theatrical man
aser. Her mother was the daughter of
Richard Madden, an English musician
who came 10 this country with a large
family and organized a travelling concert
Little wonder is It that Minnie Mod1ern
adopted the stage Her first appearance
on the stage. scarcely can be said to have
been premeditated She was hut years
Of age when in Little Rock, Ark. she ap.
peared AS the Duke Of York in Richard
H." Untf the age of "A she played and
euce that many an actress never begins I'M
III later in life When only years old
she appeared with Laqra keene In THIS city
the revival of King John" at Booth 5
theatssr, by r 5ohH Mccggiiioagh' 4 = Booth
Miss Maddcrn was the original Little
Fritz IJ IN K E NIl19, first PRODUCTION At
THE Octoroon" at Philadelphia; Franko in
Guy Mannering with Mrs. Waller: Syb!i
In "A Wolf IN Sleeps Clothing" with Char.
N 2R e B62 mary With So YanRee In Loc Ea
In Boston: the child in Across the Cont
nent" with oliver Doud Byron she took
damon and Pvthlas" and other plays in
Philadelphia; she played both Heinrich and
Meenie AT various times in RIP Van Win
kle;'' Adrlenne In Days Monsieur Al
phonse;' the boys part in The Bosom
Fuend:n Alfred in Divorce George in
"Frou-Frou" with Mrs Scott.Siddons: the
child in The chicago Fire." Hilda In En-.
NETS Carl md Hilda:" Ralph Rackstraw
in Hooley's Juvenile "Plnafore" company.
and Clip in "a Messenger from Jarvis See
ton" Al the age Of 10 she acted the Sun
God in David Bidwel's production of The
Ice Witch" and she also appeared in "Alad-
din, "The White Fawn" and other spectac-
ular plays
She became a star at the age Of 10. Since
that time she has been Identified with a
number Of pieces. notably Caprice and
IN Spite Of All" In 1890 she married Har
risen Grey Flske. After her marriage she
retired from the stage for a time. although
she had no thought Of permanent rein-
qCishment of the theater,
When next she returned TO the stage she
which subsequently was shortened ia Mrs.
Fiske Her first appearance in New York
in Tess Of the D'UbeFyilles' Is well re-
membeTed A change In thea trcal con
dit ons throughout the country has brought
the actress prominently before the public
She was one of the few stars 10 remain
independent and this so-called indie
pendence' caused her no accouHt Of In
convenience.
She opened her season at the Fifth Ave.
nue. theater and scored q success far beyond
her fondest hopes. The tour that followed Is
urlque In theatrlcals. Time IN houses OF
the first class WAS not at her disposal. She
was obliged To accept bookings IN such
popular price houses and even the theaters
ntortp0 10 and aO-eent rauarfnt,. n