davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1902-05-11

Street" And so it is with "The Second
in Command" and others of the current
successes of the season, too many to
enumerate.
Almost all the plays that have been
prosperous in the last decade have been
aimed at the audiences risibles.
And Of all the different classes OF the
light or humorous entertainments. none
is higher in the popular idea and favor
than that in which humor is mixed with
music and color. The musical comedy is
an amusement institution which was prac-
tically a rarity decade ago. while to-
day it stands as a form of entertainment
theatric which has achieved height in
popular favor all his own.
This growth is due mostly to our Eng
lish cousins. who haze supplied us with
series of musical coLledies such as THE
Geisha.' THE Runaway Girl" The Cir
Gus Girl" San Toy" "Florodora." The
Toreador." and "The Messenger Boy
For some reason American librettists
and composers can't approach their Brit
ish compeers as manufacturers OF musical
comedy. On the other hand, British stage
directors and actors can't approach their
American cousins as interpreters of
British musical comedies-for American
audiences at any rate. So when you have
n frst-rate British musical comedy inter-
preted by first-rate American company.
you get about the best that's going in this
particular line of entertainment.
The Washington times., 1902-05-11
Fiddle Dee Dee" at Chase'S.

"Fiddle-dee-dee, with Rice and Cady
in the principal roles, will be the attrac-
tion at Chase's this week. This light, nom
sensical and musical affair In three sec
tions comes opportunely. and causes a
welcome break after the winter of vaude-
willie.
The cast. in addition to the two German
comedians named. embraces Robert North,
John c. Sparks. John Alden. Truly Shat
tuck, Dorothy Drew, the Cardownie Sis
tiers. the musical Johnstons. and the News
boy Quartet. The chorus numbers forty,
according to the press agent, and in the
third act, travesties of the "Florodora"
sextet. "A Royal Family" and "The Gay
Lord Quex" will be introduced. Robert
North assumes the part in which David
Warfield first jumped into prominence.
John Alden is the Hoffman, Barr and
John G. Sparks, the Irish comedian. has
the Celtic role. Truly Shattuck is Mrs.
Meadowbrook. and Dorothy Drew is cast
for the dashing character assumed by Fay
Templeton in the original presentation
Many innovations and specialties have
been interpolated By the present cast and
according TO the management, the produc-
tion has been brought up to date in every
way. Mr.. Chase reports a very large ad-
vance sale of seats.
The Washington times., 1902-05-11
Summer Decorations at Chase's.

Manager Chase announces that the sum
mer season at his theater will be inaug-
urated Monday, May 10, and in the mean
time. when performances are not being
given, the house will undergo its annual
transformation.
The main entrance. and what is called
the drawing room Just above it. will be
embowered by artificial apple and peach
trees in full bloom. There will be a
tasteful grouping around these of lawn
and porch chairs. settees of oak, and grass.
leather and rattan furniture, in harmony
with the color scheme of decoration.
The pariors or reading rooms will be
made into palm gardens. with palm trees,
potted plants, and trailing vines in pro-
fusion. The auditorium proper will have
Gordon Of hanging baskets of plants and
flowers, and fifty electrical fans will send
cooling drafts Of air in every direction. In
the iron balconies. the suggestion of a cool
and inviting retreat will be created by
deep and comfortable Japanese chairs.
tables. and multi-colored lanterns, con-
cealing minute electric bulbs.
Perhaps the most interesting fact OF
all is that there will be free service of
ice cream and ices to the audience by uni
formed walters during the performances.
The Washington times., 1902-05-11
The London Bellies Bnrlesduers.

Rose Sydell's London Bellies will pay
their annual visit at the Lyceum Theater
commencing with tomorrow's matinee
Vaudeville features of more than ordi-
nary interest are promised by the press
agent. The Dunhams. described as cham
pion bar artists who turn a somersault
from the first bar over the second and
land on the third, will be the chief fea-
ture of the show. Billy Hart. the come
dian, assisted by Laura Lanction and Mel
lie Foster. will undertake the contract Of
entertaining with new act the Ker-
nan patrons. Hafford and Worth will
present an original dramatic concep-
tion called "A Night in June" in which
they are said to sustain their regulations
as singing comedians. James La Clare,
the juggler, combines comedy with dex-
terity. while Miss Tony Devere is said to
possess an attractive personality which
lends a charm TO her original contortion
dancing.
The farcical travesty. Transforming, ~
which illustrates the ups and downs of
theatrical life, will open the entertain
ment and is described as 'replete with
laughable situations and absurd scenes.''
"Satan's Wedding Night" the closing
travesty. is an allegorical absurdity, in
which the domain of Satan is fairly well
depicted. 1t affords an opportunity for
the display of Il multiplicity of grotesque
costumes and weird scenes. which should
lift it above the average production of its
class
The Washington times., 1902-05-11

one Of the most illustrious figures in the
history of the world. The early life of the
heroine in her simple home in the valley
of Domrenly IS shown in the first act.
Then. successfully, her leadership OF the
armies of France: her capture; her trial
for sorcery: her miserable death by burn
ing at the stake. and. finally. in beauti-
full allegoricnl picture, the ascension Of
her soul to heaven. borne in the arms of
angels.
The production will be thorough. OF
course. the great scene of the play is that
showing the death of the heroine. For
the first time in the history of the stage
death by burning will be illustrated in full
view Of the audience. It has cost years
Of endearor and many thousands Of dollars
to accomplish this effect, and the assur-
ance is given that the scene will be start
ling in its realism. The production will
be under the direction of Frank Wise. who
has participated in the presentations of
loan of Arc" by Margaret Mather and
Fanny Davenport. The company will in
clude such well known actors as Virginia
Johnson. who will be seen as Joan; George
W. Denham. who viii enact the comedy
part OF Valianto: Edward Emery. Willard
Bowman, Wade J. Morton, II. Dolan, w. II.
Thompson, Charles Drake, p. J. Durgan.
Helen King Russell, Florence Kessler, and
others
The Washington times., 1902-05-11

came into reputation through their humor-
Gus writing.
The stage develops hundred comedians
for one tragedian.
The models that young players most
earnestly admise' are Sarah Bernhardt.
Edwin Booth. zEleanora Duse. Henry
Irving and Richard Mansfield; not Joseph
Jefferson, Sol Smith Russell, Ada Rehan.
Felix Schweighofer or Constant CoqueIin.
II left to fellow tLeir own fancy, the
native entertainers would run riot In
bloody murder, Hamlet Macbeth" :"
Romeo and Juliet" THE Kings Jester"
"othello" and other similar tragedies.
David Belasco drew plenty Of mirth into
"Zaza," and has done the same thing in
"Du Barry" There was an abundance of
comedy in The Heart of Maryland" one
of the earlier productions from his pen.
Laughter was as frequent as thrills in
Secret Service" and to a great many OF
the critically inclined. the acting of Will
liam Gillette in Sherlock Holmes" is
excellent humor.
"Cyrano de Bcrgerac'' is smart in wit.
and "Beaucaire," Mr.. Mansfield's latest
play, contains comedy of the finest strain.
The sorrowful endIng of Barbara
Freitchie" is prefaced by much good
humor, while Miss Marlowe's piece of the
present season has vein Of comedy run
ming through 1t. Captain links" Is gen.
uine. delicate comedy. ''The Little Min
lister" is fine comedy. and SO is Quality
The Washington times., 1902-05-11

With the advent of THE Messenger
Boy is brought another typically sue
cessful English musical comedy, and 1t is
worthy OF some mention in connection
with the fact that 1t points out that our
national characteristic is an inclination
toward good humor. This cheerfulness Of
temper is declared constantly in the the
ater.
Any performer who has a gift OF genuine
fun wins reputation easily. Any play
wright who can construct reasonable
comedy finds fortune. Weber and Fields
were strolling merrymakers four or five
years ago. Now they possess their own
theater on Broadway. The Rogers Brothers
were struggling along in vaudeville only
a few years ago, and now head the
most successful entertainment organiza-
tion of its character in the world
John J. McNally. the late Charles Hoyt.
William Gillette, George Broadhurst and
many other authors have come into
wealth through farces. Augustin Daily
built up his famous company on laughter
So long as his stage was devoted to such
light amusing pieces as '7-20-S,' "a
Night OF" and Love on Clutches" he
remained prosperous. And in his later
period he restored his financial. If not
his artistic, fortune by the production of
the series of English musical comedies.
Paul Potter. Clyde Fitch. Augustus
Thomas. Martha Morton. Madeleine Lu-
cette Ryley. Marguerite Merrington,
Henry Guy Carleton, and Bronson Howa.
The Washington times., 1902-05-11
The Theatrical Year Rapidly Being Brought to Close at the
PIauhouses of the Capital Ciy-The Stock Company at
the Lafauette Square Theaer Bids Farewell to Its Pat
rons-The Latest Gossip of the Stage and Its People.

Boy" The comedy itself Is by James T.
Tanner and Alfred Murray; the lyrics
by Adrain Ross and Percy Greenbank, and
the twenty-odd musical numbers by Ivan
Carryll and Lionel Monckton. Each of
these has achieved fame in his particular
line, and the harmonious blending of their
efforts has resulted in what is described
as the brightest. most tuneful melodic
musical comedy yet sent here from Bri-
tain.
1t is pleasing fact to note that the
fun in THE Messenger Boy" is Of the
clean, wholesome kind. 1t contains no
tights, no fiashy soubrettes, no loud, OBJ
jectional comedians, no vulgarity. 1t is
from Daly's Theater, New York, the home
of theatrical refinement and cleanliness
in stage art. 1t is the cleanest and incest
of all musical comedies which have been
brought from the noted Gaiety Theater,
London. Yet for all this 1t is said there
isn't dull moment in the piece-not one
moment when one is not holding ones
sides at the antics of funny Jimmie Pow
ers or screaming with delight at the gro
tesque eccentricities of May Robson.
The players who will be seen, besides
the two leading ones previously men
TONED, are George Honey, Paul Nichol
son. John B. Parks. Harry Kelly. Tom
Hadaway. George DeLong, Harold C.
Crane. John p. Kennedy. Almond Cortes.
Jobyna Howland, Flora Zabelle, Sally
Hattie Waters and Rachel
Booth.
The Washington times., 1902-05-11
MORGAN SHERWOOD, @Joan of Arc" at the Academy

the plays submitted to Charles Froham,
recently returned as unavailable a manu-
script that marked the pinnacle of care
full preparation.
Each of the five acts. printed on thin
vellum, was inclosed in separate harid-
| fooled volume of red leather. The scenes
we're illustrated in water colors, and the
various acts had elaborate head and tail
pieces. especially drawn to typify their
meaning.
The entire affair suggested, more than
anything else, an old time illuminated
missal.
An example of the length to which
would-be playwrights will go to evolve
something new was suggested by the plot
of this play. Its story was that of
wealthy Chinaman. of liberal ideas, who
refused to allow his daughters feet to
be bound in the customary Chinese FASH
ion
AS a result of this omission the girl
is pariah in her own class, and much
misery for her follows.
The play, despite its rich binding. is
said to have some literary value. but
seemed mot available for production.
The Washington times., 1902-05-11
Local Interest in Joan Of Arc"

Interest in the presentation of Joan of
Arc" at the Academy this week is height
ened by the fact that Morgan 4. Sher-
ducers. are Washingtonians.
Both have had long and successful ex-
perience in theatrieals. They have spent
many months and thousands of dollars in
devislng and perfccting the scenes of the
play, and have brought to bear all their
stage craft and experience in its de-
velopment.
Mr.. Sherwood has long been connected
with the National Theater. and his ability
and skill are known throughout the the
atrical world, yet but few OF the people
who patronize the playhouse have seen
yet his art is seen the moment the cur
tain goes up. The audience is aware of
a complete scene, beautifully painted and
perfectly set. but its effect had to be
rounded out and made the more complete
By the constructors skill and taste. All
the hangings, draperies, armors, statues,
antique furniture, the furnishings OF
dltlC. All
the messy banks. tree trunks. are the
work of Mr.. Sherwood, the ''man behind
the scenes" whose unseen hands are in
dispensable.
Mr.. Sherwood has put his best thought
and work in the production of Joan of
Are" and his invention of the burning of
Joan in the last act is absolutely new and
as thrilling bit of realism as was ever
placed upon the stage.
George W. Denham is wider known be-
cause his work has been done in the glare
of the calcium. He has played many
parts, and played them well, and is ranked
as one of the best of the legitimate come
dians on the stage.
The theatergocrs of today know Mr..
Denham best through his connection with
The Washington times., 1902-05-11
Eva Mudae's Quick Costume Chaposs

Since Manager Chase first intrcducad
vaudeville to the theatergoing public of
the Capital almost every sort of vauds-
Vile turn has been presented for tn,
entertainment of local audiences.
Last week the Chase bill included al
exceptionally clever performer in Eva
Nudge, who gave lightning change act
which was unlike NEST other offerings cf
a similar character because Miss Mud g
actually made her changes of costume in
n manner that suggests the adjective
lightning"
Miss Nudge, during the progress of her
act. makes five changes of garb. Whom
she first appears. it is in the uniform of
a soldier and after the singing of n verse
or so of a patriotic song, she backs on
the stage gracefully and almost before
the audience has become accustomed TO
the sight of the unoccupied stage-a mat
ter of exactly four seconds-she Is in full
view once more, this time dressed as a
Red Cross nurse. with gown, cap, apron.
and neat little collar.
Another song concluded and the actress
retires, to appear in another quartet of
seconds in the garb of sailor. The next
costume is that of Confederate officer.
and when she next bows to the audience
she is wearing a dainty Partisan creation
The Washington times., 1902-05-11

! Of heavily embroidered satin, fringed with
| a wealth of yiolets. Even to the high
| heeled shoes and the correct coiffure,
Miss Nudge is a stage fashion plate.
A Washington vauaevii.e gathering has
never beheld an act that so completely
captivated its fancy as did this offering
Of Miss Nudge, and notwithstanding that
she was surrounded BY number OF we'll
known performers, she easily led the bill
and won the greatest share Of critical as
well as popular approval.
To a Times interviewer yesterday Miss
Nudge confded the fact that she has been
Oil the stage since she was five years Of
age.
Said she: 'I have appeared In nearly
every branch of the theatrical profess
sion, from farce comedy to tragedy, and
now / am doing my vaudeville act two
times every day. am going to England
in September to fulfill four months en-
gagement. and from there I expect to go
to Australia. l shall visit the Philippines
or my return to this country and play in
San Francisco and through the West be-
fore returning to the East
The Washington times., 1902-05-11
Earle Ruder a New Local Plauer.

Mr.. Earle Ryder. the new leading man
of the Harry Corson Clarke company,
will make his initial appearance with the
organization in this city this week in
Why Smith Left Home" Mr.. Ryder will
play the important role of Smith. whose
accumulated woes drive him into con-
spiracy with the family cook, the part to
be taken by Mr.. Clarke
Mr. Ryder has had abundant experience
of the very best sort, having played under
some of the best managers of the pro-
fession
He began ms stage career some years
ago in support of Otis Skinner. with whom
he played both the Ghost and King in
Hamlet" and Lorenzo in THE Mer-
chant of Venice" He then played leading
parts with Robert Hilliard. and was
afterward leading Juvenile in Jacob Lifts
revival of Shenandoah at the Broadway
Theater, New York. For two seasons Mr..
Ryder was leading Juvenile in W. A.
Brady's Way Down East" company. and
later played an important role in Charles
Frohmans production OF "Eben Holden
The Washington times., 1902-05-11
"Mhu Smith Left Home"

This week, at the Columbia Theater.
Harry Corson Clarke will present his
company in why Smith Left Home" the
third light comedy in which he has ap-
peared during his present engagement in
Washington A special scale of prices
ranging from % to so cents, will prevail
The story of Why Smith Left Home"
IS that of young man recently married.
whose honeymoon has been sadly inter-
rupted by the continuous arrival Of visit
ing relatives.
In addition to the annoyance of a house
full of troublesome guests, the young
Smiths suffer further inconvenience at
the hands of their servants, who are all
members of unions and societies, and
work together in their organized strength
TO enforce their own ideas of household
government.
The cook. who is secretary Of her fed
erAfion. and person OF the greatest i'm
portance, is the recognized leader of the
house, and meets any opposition of the
family to her rule with threats OF cut
ting OF their ice in summer and their
coal supply in winter.
A novel scheme occurs to Smith by
which he hopes TO rid himself OF one
enemy with the assistance of the other, to
drive out the inroads from without by
means Of the insubordinate forces within.
He interviews the cook lady, who prom
ises for a neat consideration to furnish
Smiths guests with food so badly cooked
that It will be impossible for them TO
prolong their stay.
Mr.. Clarke will appear as Lavinia. the
grim, autocratic cook who presides over
the Smith family and offers them the
worst bad cooking possible. In all his
career as a character actor this is the
first time Mr.. Clarke has ever attempted
a feminine role. TIE remaining charac-
.ers are in good hands. the cast calling
for the full strength OF the Clarke com
pany.
The Washington times., 1902-05-11

"HE past week was one of the most
uneventful periods in the theatri-
i cal history of the season just
about ended. With the National
and Empire theaters dark, and with
the Lafayette stock players giving
their farewell performances. the field was
practically left to Harry Corson Clarke s
comedy company in Sydney Rosenfeld's
farce, "His Absent Boy" which pleased
good-sized houses at the Columbia during
the week, and which showed a remarkable
lack of the customary earmarks of a
stock production. Mr. Clarke has never
been seen locally in 4 character that
fitted his abilities better than Mr.. Pennie,
In the Rosenfeld piece, and the entire
company was happily cast, with the result
that a performance of uncommon even
ness and merit was presented at the
Luckett & Dwyer theater during the week.
The offering of vaudeville at Chase's
was better than some of the recent pro-
grams at this house. and the attend
ance was uniformly good. The Academy
of Music's patrons appeared to like "A
Romance of Coon Hollow" for the theatcr
was kept well flled during the engage
ment.
Kernan's had the usual offering of bur
lesque. given by the Irwin Big Show. with
a wrestling match thrown in for good
measure at every performance.
Bronson Howard's zone of Our Girls"
was used by the Lafayette stock company
for its final week and that the organiza-
tion has many friends in this city was
manifested throughout the week, when
the audiences were large and unusually
demonstrative, the climax in the matter
OF enthusiasm being reached. however,
last night. when the theater was filled
with admirers of the members OF the Bel
lows company. When the different fav-
orites made their appearance each was
given something of an ovation. The per-
formance was one of the best Of the sea-
son, and there were many regrets ex-
pressed that Washington must do without
a regular stock company next season.
The Washington times., 1902-05-11
Scene from the Musical Comedy Messenger Boy

the company of Joseph Jefferson, but old
time play-lovers have pleasant memories
of him and his art when he was the lead
ing comedian with John T. Ford's stock
companies, in which were included such
noted actors as Mines Levick. George C.
Boniface,- Louis James, Robert Downing,
James t. Galloway. Henrietta yaders.
Eleanor Carey. Ellen Cummings, octavia
Allen. and others.
Mr.. Denham's Interpretation of "Har-
vey Duff. ''Sir Toby Belch,'' Bob Acres,
and long list of original creations long
ago placed him in the front rank as an
actor. In Joan OF Are he will play a
comedy part that will afford him a wide
range for his powers.
The Washington times., 1902-05-11
CURL Maude to Invade Hdre's Field.

Cyril Maude, whom many critics speak
Of as the best comedian in London. bar
ring Irving and Wyndam, is going to dare
comparison with John Hare. by playing
Eccles in Caste
That role is regarded in England as
the property of Mr.. Hare. as we consider
RIP Van Winkle'' Joseph Jetfersons S
own.
Esther and Polly will be played by
Winifred Emery and Marie Tempest. who
acted them in the recent extraordinary
cast fer the Mackin benefit that included
Mr.. Maude as Sam Gerridge. Beerbohm
Tree, John Hare, and George Alexander
The Washington times., 1902-05-11
Leah Lessi's East Lynn" "

The attraction at the Academy Of Music
next week will be Leah Lessi in East
Lynne
Miss Lessi appeared at the Academy
last spring and gave a performance that
was exceptionally good, and there is every
reason to believe that she will repeat this
success on the occasion OF her visit to the
Stair playhouse next week.
The press agent is authority FOR the
statement that the company that will be
seen in the support OF Miss Lessi is
better than ever.
The Washington times., 1902-05-11
Lulu Gldser and the Washers.

81 believe most women stars, particu-
larly those who are possessed Of the finer
temperament. are greater favorites with
those Of their own sex than men stars
are" declared Lulu Glaser recently.
My observation has been that the pro-
fessionaI mash note writer isn't worth
paying any attention to. He is nearly al
ways weak-miaded and uninteresting.
had a rubber stamp made. which reads:
Now. run along home. or III tell your
mother. which stamp on the backs of my
mash notes. and return them to the writ
err"
The Washington times., 1902-05-11
srThe Messenger Boz"

.'The Messenger Boy" which will be
seen at the New National Theater this
week, will be undoubtedly the most pre-
tentious production of a dramatic or mu-
steal nature which has been or will have
The company is said to number 100 peo-
pie. II is the same production, the same
people and the same piece in every detail
ss was seen during the long run this sea-
son on Broadway. 1t is an attraction
which theatergoers who keep track of the
atrical successes will appreciate as most
excellent.
A full half dozea authors and composers
bn6 hand In writing THE Messenger
The Washington times., 1902-05-11
Close of Mrs. Carter's Season.

David Belasco has decided to set def
mite date for the closing of Mrs. Leslie
Carter's remarkable run in his play. "Du
Barry" notwithstanding the continued
enormous business.
The reason of this is his wish not to
endanger Mrs. Carter's health by permit
ting her to play this long and exacting
part too far into the heated term.
Accordingly he makes the announcement