Evening star., 1901-12-28

color. In brillizncy of stage pictures, es-
pecaauy aaia u in ths aseand act, where the scene
washington verdict win be that ''The Tore
here. gEs
A larger organization has never been seen
In an attractionsof, this character in Amer
fca The chorus numbers 100 people. the
greater part OF swhem are exceptionally at
tractfve and talented young women. This
company is likely to become quite noted as
"a beauty shows as well as for its general
merit as an unusually important musical
organization. The following is the cast of
principals: ,
/ Sammy Gigg. Francis Wilson; Augustus
TRAM, Melville Ellis; Pettifer, William
Biaisdell; Siackett, Joseph Coyne; Rfnaldo,
Robert A Evans. Governor Of viIlaya. Ed
Carajolo; William Broderick: Probitt, Jo-
seph c. Fay; Moreno. Harry Wallace;
Waiter, George Hakk; Dora Selby, Adele
Kltchie; Susan, Queenie Vassar; Mrs.
tie Macdonald; Teresa, Jennie Hawley; Isa-
bella, Sylvia Lfsle; Cora Bellamy, Sadie
Peters; 1nes, Marjorie Relyea.
FRANCIS Wilson has appeared in many
on the stage. but the part of "Gigg'' is
said to be the most fertile in opportunity
fof fun-making he has ever had. In per-
sonaiity, temperament and stage methods
ne is exactly suited to 1t, and no happier
selection to fill it could have been made.
The Toreador" is presented in two acts
and scenes The first act is laid In the
flower shop Of Mile. Susan in the Grand
Hotel, Bfarritz, seashore resort on the
Medfterranean; the second in the plaza of
Vhlaya, town in Spain, distant about
Two hours travel. The story is humorous
In the main, comic complications and funny
predfcaments occurring in rapid succession
from the opening Of the piece. While some
OF the situations are serious they are given
a comic aspect from the ultra-serious way
In which they are played
Sammy Gigg q foOtynan or
who has come to Biarrftz with his master,
an English consul. He falls in love with
susan, the flower girl. who does not re-
spond with the enthusiasm he feels he de-
serves. A Mrs Hoppings, wealthy En-
giish widow. loved by Pettifer, a dealer In
Wild animals, meets Carajolo a noted Span
ish toreador at Biarritz. where she Is await
ing the coming of her niece, Nancy Staun-
ton on her way to Villaya in Spain, with
Dora Selby. an heiress who goes to meet
her guardian. Mrs. Hoppings has fallen in
love with the toreador and is to marry him
the next day. After the marriage Carajolo
Is to take his bride to Yillaya, where he is
to celebrate his honeymoon and his return
TO MS native town, where he has not been
since boyhood by fighting eight bulls. Pet
tifer has supplied these bulls. under con-
tract, and, fearing that they may not kill
Carajolo, has advertised for fierce tiger"
to pit against him.
This advertisement meets the eye OF Gigg,
who feels that he is as fierce as any tiger"
can be, and he applies to Pettifer for
position He is dismayed when he finds
that a real royal Bengal man-eeter is want
ed, and from this point the humor Is de-
veloped in a way that cannot fail to be
congenla1 to the methods of Mr.. Wilson.
'The Toreador" has been in rehearsal for
the past six weeks and a snappy and spirit
ed performance may be anticipated.
Columbia Theater.
The detective officer has been a familiar
figure in fiction and drama from the days
of -Dogberry to those Of Sherlock Holmes.
From Hawkshaw to N. Lecoq, he has been
one of the NOR useful Of imaginary char
acters. When Messns. de Koven and Smith
made the redoubtable Foxy Quiller the
most conspicuous figure in their comic
opera, ''The Highwaynaan." 1t was found
that new twist was given to the charac-
ter Of an old arquafntance. The sagacfous
Quiller, with his unttuous self-descriptions
and monumental coriceit proved to be de-
cided novelty in character creation. A
large share Of the success Of the role,
whose name has become a byword for con-
ceit and self-importance, was due to the
excellent acting Of Mr.. Jerome Sykes It
would seem, therefore, a happy thought to
make Mr.. Sykes and Foxy Quiller the cen
trail figure in the De Koyen and Smith
opera, which will be presented at the CO.
lumbia Monday evening. The authors Of
INopiA I1ool udsS CdTEleQ Out IulS lQed,
and in their latest opera Mr.. Sykes, as the
famous detective, will be known amid new
surroundings and meet with more extraor-
dinary ventures than those he encountered
in ''The Highwayman.'
The scene Of the first act Of the opera is
q shtpyard near the wharf at Portsmouth,
England. A shipbuilder. Abel Gudgeon, has
promised the hand OF his daughter Daphne
to Ned RoySter, a young sailor, providing
the latter returns from a foreign voyage
with 1900. Ned arrives with the money
on the day that the opera begins. There
also arrives a party Of strolIfng players.
One OF these Is Japanese dwarf who Is q
kleptomaniac. This character is smugg1ed
into sailors tavern and Ned's money ia
stolen. Naturally In the course Of the
three acts the sagacious Quiller suspects
the real thief, the dwarf, whose diminutive
stature enables him to be always near
Foxy, yet always free from suspicion. A SUBJ
plot concerns the adventures of La CO.
lombe (sleanor KENT and Paganino Julius
Steger), two Corsicans who come to Eng
land in pursuit Of vendetta, which has
existed in their family for many genera
tions. This motive Is the means Of taking
nearly all the principals to Corsica for the
second act, and Foxy Quiller's adventures
In spying upon band Of brigands there are
subject Of amusing interest. Other char
acters, In addition to those mentioned, are
Washington Binks, proprietor Of band of
strolling players, and Bella-Donna, an aged
Corsican dame who was the original cause
VI lAc NeHuelld ISleIpeu 10. Qulller is, OF
course, the most prominent character in
the action: but the other roles have excel
lent opportunities. The operetta is free
from horseplay, slang and suggestiveness-
a claim which, If substanttated, should help
to win the favor of the patrons Of the
lighter sort of theatrical entertainment
The orchestra will be enlarged for this en-
gagement and VIII be conducted by Signor
A. De Novellis. In order that Foxy Quill
ler' might receive the most elaborate pre-
sentation Of any American comic opera the
Klaw and Erlanger Opera Company was
formed-one Of the largest musical organi-
cations ever brought together in this coun-
try. Besides Mr.. Sykes, the company in
cludes such well-known artists as Eleanor
Kent, Grace Cameron, Almira Forrest, Mar
Ian Bent, Lillian Seville. Marie Christie,
julius Steger. Adolph link, the lilliputian
comedian; Harry MacDonough, Arthur T.
Earnest and Louis Casavant. There will |
be special matinee New Year day.
Lafayette Square Thenter.
The Bellows Stock Company will offer a
revival Of that dainty comedy. Sweet Lay |
ender," at the Lafayette Square next week. |
The play is from the pen Of Arthur W. |
Pinero, and although one of his earlier ef- |
forts, 1t Is also one Of his best. Unlike his |