Evening journal., 1902-04-21
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Kyrle Bellew. the distinguished ac-
tor. who comes to tho Grand Opera |
House tonight in "A Gentle. !
man of France" is acknowledged both
in England and America, to be "the |
foremost romantic actor of the day."
And this judgment has been delivered !
many times by the recognized authorl- |
ties of both countries William |
Archer. foremost of the English crit
les. recently placed Bellew with Irving, !
Tree. Robertson and Willard as one of
the first group of English players. and |
in conclusion he said "Of these Kyrle !
Bellew is undoubtedly the foremost in |
Nromantic parts as we'll as in many OF |
the classic roles" J. Rankin Towse,
New York's most conservative critic at
the present time, wrote only the other
day that to see Bellew
act should be "a liberal |
education to the young stars of
the. Fayersham and Hackett class,
Continuing, he said: "To find a parallel
for Bellows graceful and finished art,
as shown in his rendering Of Castor de
Marsac in "A Gentleman Of France
one is Obliged to go back to the mem
ories of Il. L. Davenport, James w.
Wallack and Frederick Lemaitre. |
Bellew is easily at the head Of the ro- !
mantle actors of today"
The morning after the first night of
"a Gentleman OF France" at Wallack's |
Theatre. some five months ago. the |
New York Sun said: "One incident |
alone in this play will cause talk |
enough to draw crowds to Wallack's |
for a long time to come. It Is the |
single-handed fight of de Marsac
against six swordsmen. This fight |
occurs in a castle whittier de Marsao |
has gone most daringly to rescue Mile
de la Wire. Standing at the head of |
great staircase the redoubtable CASTOR |
holds the advantage Of his adyersaries. |
One after another he stabs them and
they fall down stairs dead or wounded. |
One falls over the balustrade headlong
to the ground. During the course OF
the fight de Marsac has broken down
a door with chair and thus enabled
his lady-love to enter into the scene
of slaughter At the end he has q
four-minute encounter with the arch
villain, Fresnoy that is the best
sword-hghting We have ever seen on
our stage. 1t is grand melOdrama-
pictorial and exciting" Mr.. Bellew
viii be seen in "A Gentleman of
France at the Opera House tonight.
"The Heart of Maryland" by David
Belasco. is one of the foremost Ameri-
can plays Of the present decade.
Wherever it was presented, however,
prOtracted its first series Of perform
ances. a return visit has been invar-
iably and urgently sought for, and IL
; possible, procured. AS story of love
and war, this production has achieved
a phenomenal popular significance
Few if any American plays OF our
time have aimed such a worldwide
fame and brought to the author SO
large a share .of, reconpense. On
next Friday night the performance Of
it's return visit Will be given at Grand
Opera House and will beyond perad-
venture be greeted by a repetition of
the crowded audience which character
lied its previous visit.
The famous Blondells in the elab-
crate pantomimic spectacle, THE
Katzeniammer Kids" will occupy the
stage at the Opera House on Wednes-
day afternoon and night The Kat
zenpammer Kids" has had successful
runs in New York, Philadelphia and
other large cities. A new York eX-
change comments upon its merits as
follows: Long before the curtain
went up there was nothing bat stand
ing room left. The people went for a
laugh and got a scream. 1t is un-
doubtedly the cleanest and funniest
farce comedy that has been presented
at the local theatre this season. Such
incessant laughter has seldom been in
evidence and after nearly three hours
of good solid fun it was a welcome
relief when the curtain went down and
gave the audience a chance to breathe
without laughing Edward Blondell,
one of the kids Is the funniest propo-
sition that has come to this city in a
long time. Every one of his moves
is a laugh and he has able support in
Libbie BlOndell. whose resemblance to
Anna Held is striking" The company
supporting the Blondells include the
names Of the Cosmopolitan Trio, Hen
ming Trio, Bates Musical Trio, Ramsey
Sisters. Professor Heck, Brandeck SIS
ters and many others.
Mary Mannering will make her first
appearance as a star in this city at the
Opera House tomorrow night in Frank
McKee's production Of Janice Mere
dith.' a play founded on Paul Leices-
ter Ford's Revolutionary romance OF
the same title. dramatized by the au-
thor and Edward z. Rose. Miss Man
nering played for three months in this
production at Wallack's Theatre, in
New York. last season, beginning
December 10, and during an entire
month at the Walnut Street Theatre il
Philadelphia. Miss Mannering's Ions
run at Wallack's in New York estah