The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-31

| itNt NtbiN OF lNuIlie chHrfn. Inc produce
tion. as devised by William A. Brady is
without a flaw. Every player fits the char
acter assumed. but special honors fall to
Ernest Hastings as the minister. Mile
James the little hoydeu "Simplicity:'
Charles W. Swain as the opera house man
ager and bin poster. Nanette comstock
as the Ctergyman's sweetheart. and Emily
| Waterman the schoOlnistress
The apple orchard. the lovers walk and
tne quaint street scene in Eddysville are
very beautiful stage pictures. In Low
| ers' Lane Mr.. Rrady has found a play
| East"
"The Silver slipner." new musical
comedy by owen Hall and Leslie Stuart.
composers Of ''Fiorodora," will be pro-
duced in London Tuesday night. The
| American rights TO the piece have been
secured by John T.. Fisher, manager OF
| rlorodora- who viii bring it over here
next season.
Nell Gwyn has been used as the central
| hgure of several stage plays. as well as
| in Paul Kester's comedy drama Sweet
| Nell of Old Drury," in which Kfaw &
Erlanger present Ada Rehan In the title
| role The FIRST Nell Gwyn play of which
| there Is any historical knowledge was en-
Titled Nell Gwyn; or The Prologue
written by Douglas Jerrold and presented
| at Covent Garden. London i'm January
| 1853. The author in his preface to the
| play says: While We may safely reject
as unfounded gossip many of the stories
|
| one cannot refuse belief TO the VARIOUS
proofs of kind-heartedness liberaIity, and
taking INTO consideration her subsequent
| power TO do harm-absoiute goodness of
| u woman mingling from her earliest wears
\ IN the most depraved scenes OF most
| dissolute age"
| This play was founded on the famous
| Hat incident. The second PLAY on the
| subject was musical extravaganza acted
| at the Royalty on January T. 1871. with
| Emmeline Cole as Nell. Pose Coghian as
4 Charles h..
Duchess of Cleveland. On May /. 1893. at
the same theatre, Emely Fowler appeared
| as Neil in the first representation OF the
| play by w. 9. Wills. The comic opera.
music by Robert Planquette. with IT,
hrettO by II. T. Farnie. was given at
the Avenue Theatre. London. February
heroine. These various stage representa-
tions were more or less successful. bat
II remained for the first production OF
Mr.. kesters play at the Garrick. Lon
dor. last season. with the. beautiful Julia
Nelson in the title role TO set all England
talking and to start veritahle Nell
Gwyn craze. The play ran all last sea-
son to enormous houses. Klaw & Err
LANCER. discerning that the character of
Nell Gwyn as drawn by Mr.. Kester was
one peculiarly fitted to Ada Rehans I'M
denfably great dramatic gifts, secured the
American rights.
Phoebe Davies. who Is to personate the
title role when William A. Brady and
in Philadelphia, April 10, has been max
ing exhaustive research and has formed
personal acquaintance among the Clay
pools and Ashmores, who are lineal de-
scendants of the fair Quakeress who
made the first American flag. One de-
lightful old lady, a granddaughter OF
Betsy Ross. remembers her distinctly.
ana detects striking personal resem-
blance between her and the actress who
is to impersonate the mimic character.
Like the famous heroine of Revolutionary
sEf 70 Of Artrra
with the same dark brown eyes and hair.
Klaw & Erlanger's revival of THE
Merchant of Venice in which they will
present n. c. Goodwin and Maxine Ell
lott as Shylock and Portia respectively
for a spring tour of twenty cities will
be played bat twenty-eight times. This
attraction will be seen in this city but one
time only. at the National Theatre, Tues
day evening, May Il.
The announcement that Manager Frank
Mckee has engaged Augustus Thomas to
write new farce-comedy for Peter F.
Daileys use next season, shows very
clearly which way the wind is blowing in
this department of the theatrical world.
Mr.. Mckee. who through his long asso-
citation and partnership with the late
Charles Hoyt probably knows more about
tarce-comedy than almost any manager,
was quick to realize that the day when
rate play is over.
This year Peter Daley triumphed. not
on account of Hodge, PodgH & Co.,
but in spite of it. and owing to the fact
that Mr.. Mckee had surrounded him
with a good company.
Next year. with man of Augustus
Thomas powers to write for him. Mr..
Daley ought to prove greater success
than ever. The only wonder is that some
of the farce-comedy stars had not Sc
cured MIR. Thomas services before. OF
course. he is expensive and demands the
same royalties for a farce-comedy that
he receives for serious play; but even
and secure a play that the public comes
to see. not only once. but many times,
han to play to almost empty benches in
. play that costs mere song
The same is equally true of the drama
tized novels. 1t is safe TO say that II Mr..
Thomas, Mr.. Fitch, or some other first
lramatize some of the novels which have
been so butchered this winter, the result
1t least would nave been something that
bore some semblance to play. The
,nly time when this experiment was tried
his year il proved great success. Paul
NJ Potter. a practical playwright. was
Engaged to dramatize Under Two
Flags" Inc result was a melodrama
: hich however it may offend some or
Juida's adherents by the way in which
I has twisted her story, is a ripping good
drama and one which in the
ong run will coin more money than all
he lame. halt. blind, and knock-kneed
lrdnlattZdtiUNS put together
But it is not quite fair to hold the the
.tricol mana gers responsible for these bad
lT.imat iZations. The publishers of the
lovels are more at fault The enormous
llccess which ''Tribv' scored when Mr..
otter dramatized il has made the man
gers demand such enormous royalties
or the use of their successful books that
.fter agreeing to pay them the manager
Who secures the order fiji DIS that. TO keep
lis expenses within bounds, it will be
impossible for him TO pay the price of a
eBllN good playwright. This is Il matter
which the publishers would do well to
urn over in their minds. for unless fu-
ure dramatized novels are turned into
plays which can stand on their
'wu legs publishers will have to whistle
or their royalties and managers for their
udienCes.
The stock &C npany which ran for two
easons at the Lyceum Theatre. Balti
nore. under the direction of ]. W. AL
augh. jr. will be revived for n summer
eason. with as many of the original
MEMBERS as can be secured. The house
leased for a term of years by Man
ger Chase, of the Grand, of this city.
Charles Dalton. the English actor who
as been at the head of the Sign of the
ross company for the last five sea-
ons. will star in new play next fan.
he announcement that he was in search
f a new play was made in New York
lper not long ago. and must have been
lpied extensively as Mr.. Dalton has re-
lived offers of manuscripts from all over
lie country. Many of these offers are
ON struggling young authors who COM
lain that owing to the refusal of mana
FRS and actors to recognize real genius
leir light is hidden under n bushel They
b.a homo hot h