Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-27
MUSIC


vicissitudes tonight. Few actors have had
more adverse conditions to contend with
personally. although professionally his star
has risen steadily toward that Zenith OF
theatric ambition, recognition as worthy
,xnonent of the Shakespearean drama.
Mr. Sothern some years ago nearly perlsneu
nv drowning; recently his scenery was
burned: and in addition to his mishaps by
flood and fire. a number of minor accidents
have befallen him. like the indispositlon
which made it impossible to use his voice
In st Thursday night. However there Is no
reason to believe that he will not ne able 10
proceed with the work. now so finely pro-
crossing of introducing Shakespeare 10
New York city. An occurrence OF much IN
terest during the Sothern engagement was
the performance of Nillon by Sydney Z.
Nather on the occasion of Mr.. Sothern
Illness The work was done in manner
which attracted the most favorable atten-
ton.
At the Columbia. THE Two Schoois
proved diverting entertainment ana an
interesting Renaissance of the days Wneh
"Divorcons" regning comedy sue
cess The play is not of the KIND "hlcn
could be guaranteed not TO bring blush TO
the cheek of propriety. 1t was undenlaby
clever and well acted but contained the
characteristic sneer at conjugality that mas
made the French farce odious. Fortunate
~ for the piece here the sheer was SO art
fully masked by gayety that the diversion
apparently outweighed the aifront IN the
minds of many theatergoers.
!: X \
The Lafayette Opera House had York
State Folks" a bucoic bit of comedy
which introduced James Lackaye of this
city in a character part which he played
finely Chase's entertained big holiday
crowds as usual. The theaters did well
without exception. after the customary
ante Christmas dullness had been passed.
X
Writers of plays have found that little
hit Of tender music will go long way to-
ward making a scene effective. In the sit
uation where the lover and the sweetheart
meet, 1t is the old song that frequently gives
more impression to the audience than any
thing else. Go over the plays of recent
months. Pick out the pretty songs and
you will recall that the playwright has
added tenderness to his or her lines through
the medium of some old love song that has
come signing down the years with its never
falling tender touch to the heart. In her
latest play. Mice ard Men" in which
Charles Frohman is to present Annie Rus
sell. Madeline Lucette Ryley uses one of
these tender love songs An old bachelor
IS training a young girl to be his wife-the
kind of a wife he most desires but there is
younger suitor. and he, meeting the
bachelors pupil. looks into her eyes and
remarks:
You remind me of song 1 sometimes
chant to the harpsichord. %. my love is
like a red. red rose. that is newly blown in
June
Which every one recognizes as one of
those pathetic songs of the sweet singer of
the Scots the poet Burns. And these are
the words of the song:
O. my love is like red. red rose
That's newly sprung in June;
O. my love is like n melody,
That's sweetly play'd in tune
As fair art thou, my bonnie lass.
Sac deep in love am |:
And | will love thee still, my dear,
Till a the seas gang dry.
y :;
Annie Russell was born in Liverpool but
when very young came with her family to
Canada. None of her family ever had any
thing to do with the stage. Miss Russell
herself says that it never entered her head
a. a girl that she would be actress. But
time makes changes and after years not
only Miss Russell and her sister had be-
come identified with the stage, but also her
brother Tommy who was the best known
Miss Russen's fondness for acting was de-
veloped by amateur theatricals and her first
appearance was at church fair. The
|. aiding woman in the play that was 10 be
presented was taken i'll at the last moment
and Annie Russell. bit of a girl was call
ed into service and made the hit of the
piece. Her professional debut was made
with Miss Rose Eytinge and it was in
childs part. Miss Eytinge advised that this
was followed and little Annie Russell be-
came member Of Haverleys Juvenile
Pinafdre Company AT first she was only
IN the chorus, but afterward sang the part
OF Josephine Her first important engage
ment was as "Esmeralda" at the Madison
Square Theater at New York, when she was
but sixteen years old. In this play she APP
peared in 80 performances, $50 OF these in
New York. Her next appearance was in
similar success, Hazel Kirk" but her
greatest success next to "Esmeralda" was
In "Elline' produced at the Madison Square
Theater in 1887 with memorable cast that
Included Alexander Salvini, Marie Bur-
roughs. Minnie Seligman and L. NJ. Hol-
land. ill-health then caused her to retire
from the stage. She spent five long and
dreary years of suffering. In 1894 she re-
turned To the stage. appearing in number
of Successes and finally in Bret Harris
drama Sue" For the past FIVE years Miss
Russell has starred with great success un-
der the management of Charles Frohman
always appearing IN wholesome, clean ana
daintiy written plays These have been
Catherine" Miss Hobbs" the princess In
"A Royal Family" her last creation in
Clyde Fitch's play, The Girl and the
Judge" and now in Mice and Men" by
Madeline Lucette Ryley.
Nearly every person who has witnessed
the performances OF the big travelling "A
Chinese Honeymoon Company will be sur
prised to learn that Miss Toby Claude. the
diminutive Coincidence Of the organization,
IL an Irish girl This pocket Coincidence,
who has made a hit the love-lorn cock
ney slavey Fiji" was born in Dublin, but
her education was cosmopolitan and OBJ
tanned in Paris. Germany and England. She
says that in her early gir,ish years she was
brought a society bud and never had
any intention OF going on the stage. How
ever. an acquaintance with George Ed
wardes resulted in her going into 1.-THE
Geisha" as one OF the little tea house girls
In spite OF her dminutive size she had a
great opinion of herself and was quite dis
gusted that the manager did not remove
the prima donna In order to make way for
her. Consequently Miss Claude left the
company and returned to Dublin, where she
entered Alexandra College. the annex for
ladies to old Trinity. However, she had
once been on the stage and the magnetism
OF the footlights drew her back. She re-
turned to London and had a part in MY
Friend the Prince" an English version OF
AIn-1 |rRA V1lt