Evening star., 1901-09-14


theatrical season now opening. This was
the case after the shooting of President
Garfield. The New York theaters had
almost without exception been playing
to standing room only when the news Of
the attack on President Mckinley
| reached that city. The attendance on that
night dropped off to comparatively moth
ing. Amusement patronage is always SEN
sitive to conditions of public excitement.
and 1t Is too much to expect that in so
grave calamity the theaters will receive
the attention which the merit of their at
fractions would warrant under normal con-
ditions. However wholesome might be the
effort to forget the sorrow Of a nation In
an evenings innocent diversion, compare
lively few people are SO coldly and philo-
sophically constituted.
Chase's Theater has cancelled all engage
ments for next week and will remain closed.
The front of the house was heavily draped
in mourning Immediately on receipt of the
news Of the Presidents death.
Chase's Theater will be the only one to
close for the entire week. Owing to the i'm
mense number of people who would neces-
sariiy suffer loss by a suspension Of busi-
ness for an entire week. the attractions
booked by Klaw e. Erlanger will close only
on the day Of the Presidents funeral.
There is an obejct lesson In the produc-
tion of Foxy Grandpa" which was pre-
sented early In August of the present year.
which many theatrical managers could
profit by. Probably no profession under
the sun carries in it SO many egotists and
yanity-bearing individuals than those en-
gagged in the theatrical business, and the
Sfo for o,bc fho n. slfr
head Is known not to be confined to act
ors In general, but managers, agents and
even the working force are included in
the list, as all feel their Importance when
a big hit is made. An exception to this
rule, however, can be made in behalf Of
William A. Brady, under whose manage
ment Foxy Grandpa is given. After the
first night Of the piece In Atlantic City he
was congratulated on its success, and the
clever facial performance the Bunny pic
lures had made. Don't congratulate me-"
said Brady; Its all Joe Hart and r. Mel
Vile Baker, the author had no hand in
1t whatever-in fact. / made the produc-
tion without ever looking at the manu-
script"
The list Of recent new productions is a
long one. and some of them will be seen in
Washington at very early period Of their
careers. Klaw & Erlanger produced .'The
Liberty Bellies at the Taylor Opera House
in Trenton, N. J., last Saturday. Peter
Dailey's new farce, Champagne Charlie .
by Augustus Thomas, was presented at
the Court Street Theater in Springfield,
Mass, on Tuesday. Mr.. Daley plays the
part Of Charles Carey, a young society
man who becomes interested In minstrel
shows and finally drifts into the business
Of wine agent One Of the characters is
VIII A. Mcconnell. theatrical manager.
This part is played by Mr.. Mcconnell
himself Paul Wilstach's new play, "A Cap
itol Comedy" has just been produced In
Columbus, Ohio, with every evidence of sue
cess. The newspapers speak of the play In
terms OF warm commendation, and are
most hearty in praising the work of Tim
Murphy as Joel Gay, who is described as
one of those characters who haunt Wash
ngton with claims which only require the
sanction of the government to bring inde-
pendent wealth. The characters are all
Washington types. and it is declared that
Mr.. Murphy has been equipped with one
Of the best parts he will have. This city
will await the coming of Capitol Com
edy' with more than usual expectations,
because of its peculiar interest in the star
and the author, as well as in the theme.
OF the new and successful actresses, 1t Is
quite surprising how many of them have
had their first experience In stock COM
panies. Blanche Bates, who is being fea-
tured in Under Two Flags" as well as
Adelaide Thurston. who stars this season
in Sweet Clover" are the artistic pro-
ducts Of stock companies-the best of all
schools. Margaret AnglIn's early expe-
rience in stock was undoubtedly a very
great benefit to her. Viola Allen was
finished performer before becoming lead
ing lady of the Empire Stock Company,
-nt tfHy r,1o1
was certainly advantageous. Mrs Ffskes
early experience in her fathers repertoire
company developed her in her art. II the
actress mentioned had not had stock ex-
perience it Is doubtful if they would have
triumphed so splendidly when the supreme
opportunity came to them. When Ellen
Terry saw Miss Thurston as Lady Babbie
she expressed herself as being astonished
that so young an actress was so finished in
her art; but when Miss Terry was informed
that Miss Thurston had been trained in
stock company she understood the why
and the wherefore. Ellen Terry herself, in
her early years, had had an extensive ex-
perience in stock company at Bath, Eng
land
1t is not generally known that the comedy
"On the Quiet by Augustus Thomas, in
which William Collier has made the hit of
his life, was written for Nat Goodwin and
that the latter kept 1t In his trunk for
year and then returned 1t to Mr.. Thomas
Collier was at a loss for a play last season
and meeting Goodwin one day on Broad
way Nat said:
Willie, Thomas has Just the play for
you. 1t is called 'Ridgway of YALE and
will fit you like glove"
Collier saw Thomas, read the play, saw
in 1t great possibilities of success, bought
the rights and renamed 1t ''On the Quiet"
Goodwin afterward saw Collier play the
piece at the Grand Opera House, Chicago,
and said to him In his dressing room after
the performances:
IF I could have seen as much in this
thing as you have made me see, sitting in
front Of the footlights, would never have
let you have IT.
When Miss Amelia Bingham makes her
first appearance here in "The Climbers"
theatergoers Will discover that she has not
selected the most important role for her.
self. Robert Edeson. Frank Worthing,
Ferdinand Gottschalk, Minnie Dupree.
Madge Carr Cooke, Ethel Winthrop and b.
jou Fernandez are names from the
roster of her company. Miss Bingham
disclaims all desire to "star" and declares
that she has not the slightest intention
OF ever forcing herself into any role
which she knows could be better PLAYED
by some other member of her company
She occupies the unique position Of Amer