The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-10
NEW CRAWFORD THEATER
BEGINS ITS SEASON.

Crawfcrd's new theater, bright with lights
and comfortably appointed was christened
and opened yesterday. The attraction was
Cora Van Tassel in THE Volunteer! Just
before the matinee performance, Miss Van
Tassel appeared in the lobby accompanied
by ]. Guy Atkinson. her leading man.
Manager Crawford gave to her the bottle
OF champagne, and In the presence Of
large part of the audience that was to see
the initial performance she christened the
playhouse by breaking the bottle. Mr.. At
kinson. in a brief speech, outlined the policy
of the theater, and the doors were formally
thrown open.
THE Volunteer is romantic military
drama by Henry Guy Carleton. AS pre-
scented by Miss Van Tassel 1t Is infinitely
better entertainment than hurly-burly farce
or noisy melodrams While not new. the
piece Is we'll written, and. above all. II II
logical. Miss Van Tassal plays Pansy
Chadburn, merry hoyden In love with a
young army officer. Mr.. Atkinson is the
soldier
There are four acts. in which Is outlined
some stirring incidents OF the Civil War.
A neat scenic effect Is produced at the
close Of the second act when a vista among
the clouds, as seen from war balloon, IL
shown.
After many vicissitudes, the Germania
that was the Crawford that is, seems to
have begun a profitable career. The new
proprietor has announced a series Of appro-
pirate attractions and the patrons comfort
has been provided for in every way. The
theater is decorated IN Louis XIV style, the
coIors being yellow, ivory and gold.
"Pousse Cafe was again the offering at
Delmar Garden last evening. 1t contains q
good bit Of burlesQue and presents the Del
mar principals in parts that give them
fair opportunity to show their ability. Miss
Freda Gallick as Cornda Mccain repeated
the SUCCESS which she made earlier in the
season. and Harris and Sidman, as the two
German comedians with doll for sale,
were as funny as ever.
Louis De LANCE played the part of the
Hebrew and made hit. Mr.. De LANCE
ought to play oftener. The ballet and chorus
were again pleasing feature Of the per
Torrance.
A large audience was present, and from
the way the piece was presented 1t seems
safe to say that "Pousse Cafe will prove
quite as entertaining as any Of the Weber
and Fields shows. 1t Is one of the shortest
OF the Weber-Fieidian offerings, and as
result nearly every one present remained
for time to hear the concert by Coutou-
rier's band
Colonel Hopkins made no mistake when
he kept Primrose. his $1,000 attraction, an
other week at the Highlands. Mr.. Primrose.
Ill Wnltc Satih 1lQ III lTOut VI Lie toesoh-
field setting. il more attractive than he
was as the little man in red before the
luscious watermelon picture. Primrose Is
said to be the best drawing card the High
lands has had this season. He broke all
records last week. and last nights house
promise a repetition Of the business. Pa
pinta's last week at the Highlands finds
her as much admired as in the first.
New acts are presented by Jessie Courthoul,
whose monologue work 10 highly entertain
ing. ALI. Holt gives some animal imita-
tons. A novel act Is that Of the Josseltn
trio. whose trapeze performances are cut
short only by the height Of the stage. Bur-
ton and Brooks do good conversational
speciality.
That good music can be rendered eHec-
tually in the open air was demonstrated to
the satisfaction of audiences at Suburban
Park. The Innes festival. combining the
was well received. and the piece bids fair
to be the best thing offered at Suburban
this season. The local chorus Of 200, be-
sides having the ability to sing well those
songs that were assigned to 1t. includes
1e5 pretty girls and in their dresses Of
white they added materially to the picture.
The tableaux. the military, the mechan-
ical effects and the band music is all that
was promised. 1t was . surprise to those
who. though expecting something good In ,
music were not preparing themselves for q
production.
Mabel Geneva Sharp, who was to take |
the soprano parts In the festival, was un-
able to appear on account Of illness. but
her substitute. Miss Emma Partridge. sang
in a manner that pleased the night au-
dience. Grace Whistler Misick. the con-
tralto, was enthusiastically received, and
her singing was one Of the features at both
concerts. Edwin C. Rowdon. the basso. al
80 sang well.
The electric fountain display. and the
Destruction OF Mont Pelee" are other
novelties at Suburban this week
The Imperial, cooled by electric fans.
opened yesterday for the SEASON The Play