davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1902-01-12

might ask for. the Faversham boom was
launched in the most auspicious manner
| imaginable. and the morning after New
] York accepted the new luminary and com
menced to pay the homage of the box Of
| fee TO The new occupant of the centre of
the stage.
Manager Chase's programme for this
his third anniversary week, covers the
domain of spectacle, pageantry, athletics,
comedy, novelty. music. monologue. and
dancing. Nine acts are listed. and they
constitute. il would seem, one of the
most diversified and entertaining bills of
the season.
The Picchiani Sisters. the chief novelty,
were imported from Europe for this sea-
son for the purposes OF native vaudeville.
There are seven of them. and all take
part in an act which is acrobatic but of
a variety that is said to be vastly differ
ent and superior to the kind that usually
passes muster. They perform in ball
room scene, and all wear handsome even
ing toilettes throughout the act. In Eu-
rope they have been the leading features
at the music halls and winter gardens for
several seasons past, and form the largest
ardous work.
The second conspicuous act is the Drill
of the White Hussars, another of the
Keith military spectacles. employing
twenty four of the girls used in the Keith
production of last week. They perform a
number of attractive German and English
military movements and original fancy
figures.
Frank Lincoln, an American humorist,
but better known on the other side of the
Atlantic. will offer a monologue. There
are few better-known and fewer still
better-liked teams than Gertrude
Mansfield and Caryll Wilbur. who will Of
fer new sketch that has reputation
for brilliancy and action. 1t is called "a
Bird and Bottle" and was played in
London last summer and accounted
great success. Two familiar faces will
be seen when Willard Simms and Cath
crime Linyard appear in the comedy skit
FLINDERS Furnished Flats" Both have
been at Ghase's before in the best tour
ing companies. but their sketch is new.
Angela Norton. formerly the vaudeville
mate of Sydney Grant, under the name of
Grant and Norton. Will give a single act,
to which she has given the title THE
TaIkative Miss Norton as indicative of
its character. Mr. and Mrs. Swickards
will appear in an operatic travesty for
the first time here. The Pageant of Ma
tions and the Venetian Ballet will be re-
tained to augment the bill
At the Lafayette Square this week the
tragedy to modern society
The Washington times., 1902-01-12
mss MANAM<
IN '>An TOY.
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musical comedies. The music. which
frames a trivial and ipeonsequentaI story.
is equally inane.' and very seldom is there
a single melody carried away in the
memory of the audience.
The extrayagant incidents which make
the story do not call for the services Of
singers or actors, and buffoons gyrate
wildly through them, standing on their
heads, twisting their legs in fantastic
dances. while persons who are labeled
singers regale their audiences with such
melodies as Sew a Button on Papas
Trousers B iil
The mere success of such horseplay
and so-calIed singing does not predicate
a decline of comic opera. 1t only exem
pliies that composers do not write. and
librettists fail to construct consistent
works any more. Like joke which. oft
repeated, becomes stale and soon for
gotten, the average musical entertain
ment lasts but season.
Genuine comic opera may be compared
to its parallel of the dramatic stage. The
romantic play, if full OF dramatic and
heart interest. and adhering to certain
established FORMS will live forever: for
in its structure are balanced and nicely
aiiusted the elements of love, romance.
and comedy never obtruding. but adj
juncts to each other in the complete de-
veiopment OF the story.
During ny many years experience in
management and singing" Mr.. Barnabee
gees On. Il have been connected with a
great many comic opera productions. and
ne cnes which failed to please were lack
iay in the adjustment have mentioned in
hs construction of the successful play.
"The best proof of the non.success of
The fimsy material is shown where they
The Washington times., 1902-01-12

his hands has never been known to give
Mr.. Drew any cause for worry.
But just how he will look and carry
himself in regimentals is a mystery to
the Washington admirers of this very ex-
cei!ent actor, and will not be known until
next week
Mr.. Drew's character in THE Second in
Comma nd" is that of numbering good
natured sort of chap, the major of an
English regiment. He is as unfortunate
in his love affairs as in everything else
he undertakes. although Mr.. Drcw's love-
making is said to have novel as we'll as
q most agreeable favor about it, and TO be
entirely different from everything else OF
the kind he has ever done.
Augustus Thomas play Arizona" hav-
Ing enthused the American people for the
The Washington times., 1902-01-12

ray that will undoubtedly be of the
Cmedians own manufacture.
Kendall has occupied a position at the
head of his own company before. and the
experience will be nothing new, except
for the fact that he will not be compelled
to worry about the financial side of the
venture. "A Pair of Kids was the undig-
nified title of the farce comedy in which
he toured the country, with but slight
financial recognition, a half dozen years
ago. Kendall was just as funny in the
piece-even funnier-than in most of his
work in the continuous and twice day
houses, but the good people in the small
towns in which he appeared did not ap-
parently realize that they were being en-
tertained by one of the brightest fun
makers of the day.
When Sol Smith Russell retired several
seasons ago il was suggested that Mr.
Kendall succeed him. but at the time he
was vigorously debating with William
West. the minstrel. whether il was abso-
lutely necessary for a monolcgist-even
if he spoke his little pieces from the
minstrel stagc-to put burnt cork on his
face. West had the affirmative side of
the question and when he wouldn't be
convinced Kendall quit wcrk with the
merry minstrels and took to the vaude-
vil!es. He received $3.50 4 week while
with Vests minstrels and during the past
two seasons has been paid just twice thst
amount for his vaudeville appearances.
When Ezra Kendall was starring in "A
Par CT Kids" if the entire aggregation
of comedians and condolences had seen
$500 pass into the box Office during an en-
tire wdek they would have experienced
a sudden attack of vertigo and inquired
If the wealth CT the Old World had been
dumped into their Golfers.
THE Toreador" after its preparatory
week in Washington entered the ring of
metropolitan productions Monday night
ard scored only a fair degree of sue
cess.
The music of the imported comedy was
generally voted tuneful. but the chief
comedian, Francis Wilson, was handled
without gloves by some of the Gotham re-
viewers. He was never before criticised
so severely. and the .'roastings" must
have injured the feelings of the star Of
the company all the more because Joseph
Coyne was given many paragraphs of
praise. Christie Macdonald too, scored
a big hit.
THE Toreador" is not apt to make
fortune for its promoters during its New
York career
Elgie Bowen and Paula Edwardes of the
San Toy" Company, were both members
of the musical comedy stock company that
was located at the Columbia Theatre last
spring presenting string of the sue
cesses that we're given by the late
Augustin DAILY at his Broadway Theatre
during the latter years Of his life.
In his new play, 1.-THE Second in Com
mand," which comes to the National Thea
ire next week. John Drew will appear in
4 uniform for the first time in his career
Everybody knows how we'll the actor ,an
wear his evening clothes. and the Fact
that the conventional romantic play cos
tune has no pockets in wt4eh to thrust
The Washington times., 1902-01-12

past three years as very few native Pl-
have done, is going to be sent to Londc
to show our English cousins what a req
American play is like.
The company that will interpret tn
Thomas drama sailed yesterday. and in
clUdes a number OF weil-known actors an
actresses.
There are still two Arizona" corI-
panies presenting the play in this coUn
try. and the principal one-which has Just
concluded a prosperous engagement
the New York Academy OF Music - i,
scheduled to arrive at the Columbia Thea
tre. this city, next week. II will include
many of the original players, and as 'Ari-
zona' met with the hearty approval of
local theatregoers long before it was
taken to New York. there is hardly any
doubt that this seasons visit of this ex-
cellent play will be as much of a success
as in years past.
When Mrs. Fiske leaves New York and
goes on a tour she will be succeeded on
the stage of her Manhattan Theatre by
Frank Keenan,, who viii play THE Hon.
John Grigsby.''
This is the last piece presented by Sol
Smith Russell, and on his retirement he
was succeeded in the title role by Mr..
Keenan,. who had previously won consid-
cradle popularity and pecuniary success
in another of Russeii's plays. "A Poor
Relation"
The Hon John Grigsby" has never
been played in New York, and Mr.. Kee
nan will thus have a splendid chance for
his Gotham debut as a star, which will
occur January 81.
klaw & Erlanger will, during the COM
ing twelve months, erect two new the
atres in New York. One Will be devoted
to large productions, en- the order of THE
Sleeping Beauty and the Beast" and the
other will be for the Rogers Brothers.
Both playhouses will be located in the
reighborhood of Forty second Street and
Broadway.
Impressario Maurice Grau, forgetful of
past disaster to grand opera in Washing
tou in recent years, is endeavoring to ar
range for season of opera here He has
applied to Mr.. Chase for time at Chase's
Theatre in April and the local manager
has the offer under advisement. Grau has
urged upon Mr.. Chase the necessity for
the engagement at the Grand, as it is the
largest Washington playhouse.
1t is more than likely that Mr.. Chase
will decline for the same reason that he
did in the case of Minnie Maddern Fiske.
which was that polite vaudeville is Iaying
more handsomely than any other form Of
amusement can do at Chase's. as has been
amply demonstrated by numerous expert
ments this season.
Mr.. Chase naturally feels that he ought
to profit by his experience.
The Russell Brothers, who have been
using their Irish Servant Girls" sketch
for the past twenty years or SO are sched-
uled to present a new piece during their
engagement at the Bijou Theatre this
week. The new piece is the handiwork
of George NJ. Cohan. who is quite an ex-
pert in the devising of vaudeville plays,
The Washington times., 1902-01-12
E2zSSszSSsHz# z#zEESESS SsgSgSssHzSzyz9 M

tures cf Western life that have been seen
in recent years.
AS Hal Reid is the author Of the play,
there is hardly any need of saying that
the story must be thrillingly interesting.
That very illusive element sought by
every person who writes for the stage
and called. for want of better term,
heart interest" is said to be very much
in evidence in ''At Cripple Creek" which
means that there will be plenty of love
episodes.
The leading male part will be played
by Frederick Mosley. and Annie Buck
ley will enac. the chief feminine role.
Others who Will appear in the perform
ance are Frank Beal, Colin Vary. M. J.
Jordan, Edward Meas, and dozen or so
others.
So many claims regarding the superiori-
ty of The Thoroughbred" burlesquers,
this weeks attraction at Kernan's. are
made. and with such positiveness, that
one is almost led to believe that here, al
last, is a travelling burlesque combina-
tion that has departed from the cut and
dried path pursued by its contemporaries.
and has something new to offer in the
shape of stage entertainment.
''The Thoroughbred" will not, how
ever, do away with the familiar opening
and closing burlesques-only their offer
ings are reputed by the press agent to
possess degree OF merit seldom even at
tempted by others in the same field.
These burleseues are called The Isle OF
Bliss" and The Thoroughbreds." the
latter evidently giving the title to tn,
organization.
Besides these mixtures of nonsense ano
melody. there will be an oiio. given By
Polk d Tresk. acrobats; McHale Carew.
sketch artists: Hesley & Farnum.
dancers: Mackie & Walker. parodists;
Gypzene q Roma. pantOmimists. and
Josie Flynn, singing comedienre-
The Washington times., 1902-01-12

are exploited on the French and German
stages. There they are utter failures.
There is another reason for the in
crease in the lighter forms.
This is the dearth of good singers, and
by this l mean singers who are adapted
for stage work. There are hundreds of
pupils turned out every year from the
studies of the best teachers who are
amply qualified for concert and chamber
entertainment, but who are singularly de-
void CT appreciation of the histrionic re-
quirements OF the lyric stage"
Ezra Kendall. one of the most promi-
nent of the vaudeville ''headliners," is
to be starred by a firm of importan,
theatrical managers next season in
The Washington times., 1902-01-12

ago playing with Sadie Martinot in The
Marriage Game" He has just accepted
six weeks engagement with a San
Francisco stock company
During his stay on the Pacific Coast Mr.
Arden will produce his own play, 20
| rah," among others.
Following "At Cripple Creek at the
Academy of Music will come ION the
Suwanee River" play that tells in a
peculiarly quaint and simple manner a
story of men and women as they really
are down on the Suwanee
There is nothing of the hair-raising
business about the play; neither are
there any startling mechanical devices
all the elements of the regulation melo-
drama are lacking. but the piece is of
more than ordinary merit however and
IN seasons past has proved its drawing
strength by packing the Academy of Mu-
sic to the very doors.
When the jefferson de Angels Opera
Company presented THE Jolly Muske-
teer" in Washington three seasons ago,
Grace Van Studdiford was the principal
soprano of the company, and while her
voice was commended by the local re-
viewers. she did not create a particularly
strong impression.
The next news that came from Miss Van
Studdiford was TO the effect that she was
married and living in St Louis. where she
was studying voice culture.
The inevitable return to the footlights
followed and last year the former mem
Der of the De Angels organization came
to the Capital with the English grand
opera company and scored a great big hit
and set everybody to asking 'Who is
Grace Van studdiford. anyway" Where
is she from and who has she been with"
Is she graduate of the Carl Rosa com
pany. or is her voice the product of one
OF our own tone incubators?" ETC.. etc.
ad infinitum.
Last week Miss Van Studdiford created
a still greater surprise by her splendid
singing of the role of Maid Marian with
the Bostonians. and the theatrical wise
acres in discussing the chances for the
Smith-De Koven comic opera when it
strikes New York conceded that there is
every probability that Miss Van Studdi-
ford will carry the opera to success
To a Times interviewer Miss Van
Studdiford said: After the collapse of
the English grand opera company in
Washington last year, went into vaudc-
vile for a spell and was so successful
that I determined to try the foreign
field. l was booked to commence an en-
The Washington times., 1902-01-12

and is called "a Romance of New Jer-
sey."
Another vaudeville team that shares
with the Russells the honor of HAVING
used the same Offering year after year
with great profit-McIntyre and Heath
last season sought to get something new,
and THE Man from Montana" was the re-
suit. II was given at a local vaudeville
house with but little success, and there
were many requests sent to the manager
during the engagement to have the pair
OF black-face comedians discard it in favor
of the familiar Georgia Minstrel" act
The public that goes in for vaudeville
shows evidently does not look for any
thing new from either Mcintyre and
Heath or the Russell Brothers, and In
perfectly content to put up with tho
sketches that have served SO well during
the past score of years.
1t isn't every day that the public is af-
forded an opportunity to come into close
touch with royalty yet this privilege was
granted to the patrons of Chase's last
week when the Colibris Midgets did a
vaudeville turn twice day.
These mites of humanity are Hungarians.
with the exception of Prince Giovanni,
who was born in Vienna. They are all of
royal birth. and although they do not be-
long to ruling house and are not hoa-
ared by having their names printed in
Sarke's 'h-erage." they are fully as
proud of their royal blood as any of the
titled people of the Old World
The Princess Mathilda will at the end
Of next season return to France and
marry wealthy gentleman who measures
just cne inch more than herself-and she
stands about twenty-five inches high.
The real star of the troupe. however is
Prince Giovanni. the comedian. who Gre
ated no end OF amusement by his singing
of I'm Little, but I'm Good" The Prince
confesses to an ability to speak seven
languages fiuently. and at present he is
engaged in utilizing five of these tongues
for the purpose of pouring out his heart
10 the little woman who performs the Diff
icult fests on the slack wire. 1t is said
he wedding invitations are to be issued
N the spring.
Edwin Arden. the leading man of the
Lafayette stock company OF last spring
and summer. has been engaged to create
the title role of Jim Bludso.' the
of Secretary of State Hays
poem. which will have its first stage trial
in Chicago March Is
Mr.. Arden was until few weeks
The Washington times., 1902-01-12

drama. and produce Lady Windemere's
Fam" one of the most brilliant plays of
its class ever written.
The story told by the play has to do
with the foibles of London's ultra fash
ionable society. and although for the
major part told in a comedy vein, it
grows at times intensely dramatic. Its
most attractive feature is perhaps the
brilliancy of its dialogue. From the open
ing to the closing line it is fairly jeweled
with dainty witticisms and sparkling epi-
grams. In this respect Lady Winde-
mere's Fan" may be 'truthfully said to
have no superior among plays of its class.
Lady Windemere's Fan" has had a re-
markable record. Originally produced in
London, it created almost sensation in
the English metropolis. and later enjoyed
a long run in New York. Like most
society comedy dramas. IL is we'll adapted
to stock purposes, and it is anticipated
that its production this week will add
still another success to the long list al
ready scored by the Bellows company dur
ing the present season.
For this weeks offering at the Bijou
Manager Schlesinger has arranged what
he believes to be bill of vaudeville and
burlesque of supreme merit. 1t will be
headed by the Russell Brothers, who will.
for this once. put away their old act.
THE Irish Servant Girls" and present
their latest sketch, called "A Romance OF
New jersey written especially for them
by George Cohan. In addition to .he
RusseIls the piece will call for the serv-
ices of two other players. and it is cx-
peeted that the New Jersey romance will
prove splendid vehicle for those we'll
known vaudeville performers.
Jennings and Alto will present comedy
sketch in which Miss Alto will offer sew
erai ideas of her own as to the manner
in which the piano should be played. Vera
King will sing some of the newest songs,
and the Patterson Brothers viii exhibit
feats of strength and daring on the bars.
donkeys VIII also contribute mirth to the
bill. The stock company will be seen
in new burletta.
play new TO Washington is the
melodrama. AT Cripple Creek" which
will hold forth at the Academy nj Music
this week with the usual trio of after
noon performances. The scenes of the
play are laid in a mining camp in the
Rocky Mountains. and ii is said to be one
of the best and most correct stage pic
The Washington times., 1902-01-12
PLAYS AND PLAYERS.
ENRY cfAY 1ARNABEE. of .-Thr
Bostonians. is a firm believer IL
Tho old fnrr,, r,f nn.,,ic onera an

Bostonians, Is hrm believer It
the old form of comic opera. anS
gives as his reason for the ALLEGED
decadence OF this type of musical enter
tainment in this country the fact tbs.
there are but few real comic operas c.
native construction,
THE stage Of todat." says the coined
an, lis filled with a score of so-caIlc,
operas. which are nothing more thai
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-31
Iowa state News Notes.

The Iowa prohibitionists have got busy
enough to call their state central COM
mittee together to ~inaugurate, as they say,
an aggressive fight on the rum power.
At Chelsea there is a woman so tender-
hearted that she could not kill.a chicken,
so she plucked the bird of all it's feathers
and had her husband kill It when he came
home.
An Iowa Falls woman has had to put in
much time caring for husband when he
was drunk, and now she brings suit for
hersservices against the man who sold the
booze.
A verdict OF l cent damages is the punish
ment meted out by a Knoxville jury for
the Islander involved In the statement that
he saw another man coming out of a
neighbours chicken house.
The burning issue I'm Cedar Rapids has
ers are arrested and fined il they sell their
produce at any place except a certain loca
ton, known as the market.
The parents of an clipping young couple
only l6 and II years Of age captured them
at Dewitt. After an exciting chase in n
raging snowstorm across two counties. The
father Of the boy gave him a sound whip
ping.
No sooner had a movement been started
to secure a pardon for a Monona county
murderer who has been in the penitentiary
since 1871 than the murdered mans sister
started a protest which has now been
signed by hundreds.
The only explanation given by a Burllng-
ton man for the destruction Of his resi-
dence, which he had half completed. was
that the Lord told him to do IL, which was
so unsatisfactory that he was promptly
sent to the insane asylum.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-31
RUNNING FIGHT WITH ROBBERS
Night Waterman at Maxwell Surprises
Them at Work and EK-
changes shots.

PERRY, Ia, Dec. ~S0.-(Special Telegram.l
About 1870 this morning, as Night Watch
man Cure was on his rounds at Maxwell,
Ia, forty miles cast Of here on the Mil
waukee railway, he saw two men trying to
get into the state bank Calling on them
to throw up their hands, he fred two shots
at them. At the same instant they ordered
him to throw up his hands. AS soon as he
shot at them, Cure turned and ran in the
opposite direction looking for help. Passing
by a store building another man stepped
in front of him, firing point blank at him.
The charge missed his head but took the
entire top of his hat along with It. The
three men then ran to their horse, tied
conveniently near, and left, riding at a
rapid rate toward the west. A posse was
made up and started in pursuit, but was
unable to get any trace OF the bandits. 1t
is supposed they hid in the woods along
Skunk river a few miles west and have
made good their escape. The entire town
was reused by the shooting and Cures
friends are congratulating him on his mar
row escape. There is absolutely no clue
to the would-be robbers.