Waterbury Democrat., 1902-02-08
Theatrical
 Fraternal

Miss Selene Johnson. reading lady for James O'Neill, who has been serl- ously i'll for the last two weeks, has now recovered, and has again assumed the role of Mercedes in "'Monte Cristo-
 l:
 The present indications are that Signora Eleanora Duse will inaugurate her coming American tour in Boston opening there in October next. The selection of a theater has not ad- vanced far enough to enable Liebler & Go to speak definitely upon that point, but there are no difficulties ap- prehended on that score and the ar rangement of tour that will impose the least possible travel and the least possible inconvenience upon the dis finguished actress will govern largely in making up her route schedule. Mad ame Duse is poor traveller, and she Is very emphatic in her declaration of this fact.
 :I:
 MT John Blair, of the Kyrle Bellew company, is to be Mrs Patrick Camp bells leading man at the Royalty theater. London, next season. Mrs Campbell had heard much of him. and during her stay in New York she sat in box at Wallack's during two per formances of "A Gentleman of France saw his impersonation of M. de Bruhl, and had her good opinion of MT Blair confirmed. The contract followed. and so MT Blair will follow Mrs Campbell to London at the close of Mir Bellows season and enjoy the deserved honors that have come to him. Mrs Campbell and MT Blair are in perfect accord in their attach ment to the artistic side of the profes sion. and with his new opportunities MT Blair will. without doubt, acbieve added distinction.
 :l:
 Edward Harrigan has arranged to present q weekly change of bill for ten consecutive weeks at the Girard avenue theater, Philadelphia, appear ing in his old line of comedies of New York life, supported by the Durban- Sheeler stock company. This organi- kation will be strengthened by a num- Der of singing and dancing people and 8 special effort will be made sceni- cally to revive the old favorites with good effect The first of the series will be given on February 24, and will be "Old Lavender This will be fol- lowed by s'Waddy Googan," "The Leather Patch" "Reilly and the 4OO," ''Squatter Sovereignty" "Mulligan Guards Ball." "Cordelia's Aspira- tions," s'Dan's Tribulations' and "The O'Reagans" MT Harrigan also will present a new play with it's scenes To- cated in Philadelphia.
 :i:
 Miss Fife Shannon, who appears with Herbert Kelsey in "Her Lord and Master" next Saturday evening at Polls, became a co-star with Herbert Kelcey in 1896, touring with him in The Moth and Flame,' in which she played the leading emotional character. Miss Shannon first attracted attention as the ingenue of Daniel Frohman's Lyceum theater company in the days when Georgia Cayvan and MT Kelcey were the chief actors. and Fitz Will liams. the youthful comedian of that organization, and when such sentimen- tai plays as "The Wife" and "The Charity Ball'' were considered the height of artistic dramatic achieve ment. Miss Shannon was born in Cambridge, Mass, her father being a native of Portsmouth. N. H.. her mother being born in Haverhill, Mass. Miss Shannon made her debut on the stage at the dignif1ed age of years, appearing in John McCullough's re- vival of "Coriolanus'' at the Boston theater. She next appeared in s'Uncle Toms Cabin' at the Howard Athene- um. Boston. Here Miss Shannon played the part of Little Eva. and in speaking of 1t she has said: CT shall never forget the feeling of pride which l experienced when I saw the bills of that production of Uncle Toms Cabin There in big letters could be read Eva. Ia petite Shannon and I would stand in front of the bill boards for hours reading and re-reading my own name, and wondering why larger crowds were not attracted by these de- 1ightful letters" A little later Miss shannon appeared in children's parts with Lawrence Barrett at the Boston Museum, and was also in the children s production of "Pinafore' at the same theater. The first appearance of Miss Shannon in adult parts was with a company playing ssThe Silver King 7 then she travelled with Robert Mantell after which she was with the Daily company for a year and q half From Daly's she went to the New York Ly- ceum theater and there made her great est successes As the romp, Kittie Ives, in ''The Wife," and as the piquant, saucy Kate In ''The Idler,'' she showed the genuine soubrette tai ent. while as Bess in s'The Charity BaI'i she combined with it that sweet sympathetic quality for which she is known all over the country. and which Tbe French have termed "ingenue." In 1893 Miss Shannon Joined Miss Cnoh- lan's company. playing Dora in s'Df. piomacy." role of which she is very fond. Later she joined Olga Neither. sole. and then came her starring tour with Mir Kelcey. after the successful run Of ''The Moth and the Flame,'' in New York city. Miss Shannon Is this year appearing with Mir Kelcey as In diana Saltwater in "Her Lord and Master" play. by the way, which has been unanimously conceded hy both press and public the most distinguished triumph of the current season.
 fsFOXY QUILLER''
 One of the finest performances of comic opera that can possibly be ar ranged will be presented at Polls this