The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-16
PARAGRAPHS OF THE
NEW STAGE OFFERINGS.

NGV HOI vi ]
Checkers" Henry NJ. Blossoms own
dramatization of his engaging story, is 10
he presented at the Century tonight. Rirk
La Shelle. who is directing the production
has arrived in st. Louis from New York.
Mr.. La Shele has become quite parsonage
in the mimic world because of the many ex-
celent entertainments associated with his
name. He was the first manager to see
merit in Arizona Augustus Thomass
stirring play. He made a star Of ]. H. Stod-
dard and Of Marguerite Sylvia.
La Shelle Is an independent manager. That
is he does not belong to the syndicate"
so-called. Incident ally. he is not allied with
the new opposition syndicate" At pres
ent he controls Checkers THE Earl OF
Pawtucket," the two Arizona companies
In America and the one en- tour In England
The Princess Chic opera company, the
Frank Daniels opera company playing MISS
Simplicity" and the Sergeant James" COM
pany. All are listed as successful attrac-
tons.
incidentally. La Shelle is a lbrettist.
poet, an essayist. and biblio-phile, be-
sides being the manager of publishing
company. He wrote the book of the "Prin-
cess Chic" lyrics and all; his Poker Ru-
biyat'' is out In de luxe shape from the
Ban-der-Log press, and the Cosmopolitan
recently published a monograph from his
pen on advance agents and advertising.
La SheIle began his professional career
as printers devil, and has lived the siren
uous life ever since. He became typograph-
ical boss of the Chicago Evening News as
a boy, and before he had a mustache was
city editor of the Chicago Mail. He grad
uated from newspaperdom as literary and
dramatic editor of the Chicago Post IN
its painiest days. and became advance
agent for z 8. Willard. Later on he man
aged the "Bostonians. in English opera
and then took a flyer as proprietor OF the
Frank Daniels opera company. He pro-
duced the Wizard OF the Nile" and the
'Idors Eye" and laid the foundation OF his
fortune and that of Mr.. DanielSs thereby.
| ton which cost him H,00o forfeit money.
decided that Augustus Thomas's play "Ari-
IONA would mot please kid-gloved audi
| ences" La Shelle produced 1t. In three
years his profits aggregated more than $780,
| 900 and Thomas collected in royalties some
| $0o00.
When Charles Frohman returned Mr..
Thomas's manuscript Of The Earl of Paw
tucket" with a check for sl.00o forfeit
money! and the remark that he couldn't
see a play in IT, La Shelle took one Bessie
Tyree's temporary rental contract Of Mr..
T.! Frohman's own Madison Square Theater in
New York, hired, by Mr.. Frohman's CON-
| sent, Mr.. Lawrence Dorsay-who was un-
der contract to Frohman-and made Of THE
| Earl of Pawtucket," D'Orsay, Miss Tyree
| and some other elements a combination
which has broken recent records in the
acquisition of applause and dollars.
At the Grand Opera house last night. for
| the first time in years, the week did not
| begin with a change Of bill. York State
| Folks held over. Those in the cast knew
| 1t was a unique occasion and they strove
| to be worthy of the compliment. Not one
| Of the names on the programme ever saw
l no Ho1z oP IA MIA
| appeared IN a Frohman production or gave
a modest lift to an imported triumph. but
| they can act.
| Ray L. Royce, who. as Myron Cooper.
l gives such striking picture Of good, relfa-
| Bile, American integrity, was the bright par
| ticular entertainer in concert company
| seasons ago. Strolling musicians be 1t I'M
| derstood are several times more successful
] than prairie Hamlets. yet their lot Is not
| far removed from picturesque poverty.
In this unpromising field Royce studied
country characters. He also came to be a
very excellent instrumental performer. HIS
| musical bent was given full sway.
| After sleepless nights, tedious journeys
| and weary work came his opportunity in
york State Folks" Manager and author
| cast about for some one whose face showed
the refining influence Of music. The creator
| Of Myron Cooper, the quaint old organfst
must be an actor who loved melody. Royce
had lived on it. Better STILL he knew coun-
| try life. Through sheer sincerity he made
| hit. These facts explain how he gives
such delightful performance and how
he moves you to sympathy as he does.
| Alaska" a drama of the far North, is
| on view at Havlin's. The first act pictures
| the interior OF Hunter Jim's cabin on the
island OF Akutan. with the death OF Dali
| ton, a frontier trader, MS the tragic feature.
| Next Is Dalton's store. this being five
days later. The third act opens with a
| ruined hat in the mountains. This Is fol-
| lowed by the pursuit on the trail and this
by one Of the most sensational Of realistic
| incidents. the crater OF the volcano. The
| act closes with thrilling escape over the
| crater. The closing scene shows the deck
| OF United States revenue cutter. Miss st.
| George Hussey, as the Widow Casey does
some Of the most natural-character work
| that has ever fallen in her line. Charles
| F. Keane. A. W. Ellis. T. F. Griffin. Grace
| welby, Nanon Everett and Rose Emerson
also come In for individual mention.
THE little Church Around the Corner. u
at the Imperial. il q well built melodrama,
but It's story is by no means new. A dishon-
est attorney, in order to appropriate for
tune Of 100000 intended for q child he wa.
hired to find, places the mother Of the little
one in an insane asylum She escapes, aidec
by a newsboy who has been friend of tht
sence, caused by what he thought was his
wife's unfaithfulness.
Tho last act represents The Little Church
Around the Corner" where the child, now
| restored to its mother. Is q member Of the
choir. The recreant husband returns to
the church. where he was married eigh,
years before, to md his child wandering
about the street in = snowstorm. The VII
lain IL arrested as q forger. the husband
and wife are reconciled to each other
through the medium Of the child, and every
body goes away happy. Clarence Heritage.
who took the part Of Phillip vinton, the
dishonest attorney, secured the Kisses of
the audience. Louis Haines. as Jimse.
pleased the gallery. Thomas Meegan as
Barney OToole and Kathleen Kinsella as
Nora OBrien afterwards Mrs OToole)
were also wen cast. Olive White was seen
| as Agnes Grey. the wronged wife.
Bandmaster Wen had his benaa& n the