The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-19
THEATERS In NEW YORK
MUSICAL COMEDY AND VAUDEVILLE
IN "GooD OLD SUMNER TIME"
Sometimes Queer Things Please the
Inhabitants of Americas Metrop-
oIis-New shows.


comedian, Is now giving spectacular min
strel show in the theater at Manhattan
Beach, but aside from this there Is little or
nothing that is new in New York summer
amusements. The managers and players are
now preparing for the important "frst
nights at the opening OF the new theatrical
year. The first of the big new productions
will be "A Princess of Kensington, the
English musical comedy by Basil Hood and
Edward German. which enjoyed a long run
I'm London and which is now booked TO be-
gin its American career at the Broadway
Theater during the last week in August
John c. Fisher and Thomas W. Ryiey, the
American managers who have secured the
rights of production for this country, ar
rived from London the first Of the week.
They have engaged a special complement OF
English stars for the American presentation
OF the piece. including Miss Cecil Engle-
hard, a youthful prima donna who has
made a big hit in England and Australia
Messrs. Fisher and Ryley are also to pro-
duce later on THE Medal and the Maid.
by Owen Hall. the author Of "Florodora,"
and Sydney Jones, composer OF The
Geisha" lie Sieurs de Virgy," the latest
musical comedy of Paris. will also be pro-
duced before long by this same managerial
firm, William Brookfield having already
been engaged to make the American adapta-
ton.
Very elaborate preparations indeed are
being made by Klaw & Erlanger for Nat
c. Goodwin's forthcoming production of "A
Midsummer Nights Dream" and when the
curtain is raised for the first performance
at the Knickerbocker Theater early in Oc-
tober the public will be given feast in
the way of costumes and scenery. Nor will
the histrionic end of 1t be neglected for
although the beautiful Maxine Elliott will
not be in the cast. Mr.. Goodwin's support
ing company will be stronger than ever be-
fore It will include White whitlesey, now
the leading man of the famous Alcazar
stock company in San Francisco; William
Farnum, the handsome ''Ben-Hur' of last
season. who made so strong an impression
In Indianapolis; Boyd Putnam, Florence
Rockwell. Dorothy Donnelly, Suzanne Per-
ny and Katherine Hutchinson.
XXX
The extensive alterations now being made
to the Metropolitan Opera House stage
will make 1t. when finished the most COM
plete stage in the world, and will add i'm
measuTeably to the artistic side of the
'Lohengrin.' The Flying Dutchman" and
other pretentious wagnerian music dramas
requiring elaborate staging will now be
presented with artistic completeness.
''Parsifal." too. which will be given for the
first time in America this season. is to be
presented by Manager Conried on a most
magnificent scale The entire storm scene
on the ocean in THE Flying Dutchman'-
thof aIxx bod fa1
at the Metropolitan-wil be beautifully
shown from the new stage. The old stage
floor has been torn out, and in its place
will be two floors. either of which may be
used. according to the scenic effect to be
produced One is made in two large Sec
lions. which separate in the center and by
a system of counterbalance weights may
be pushed into the wings and out of the
way. Below this will be the other floor
built in sections. eight by four feet, sup
ported by carriages. which move on per-
pendicular tracks. The space under the
stage has been excavated to a depth equal
to the height of the stage itself. Entire
scenes can in this way be built under the
main stage on these disappearing carriages
and then raised noiselessly into place. To
operate these stage sections counterbalance
weights are again used. Side scenes will
stand on carriages below the stage and will
simply be rolled into place through grooves
cut in the floor at the proper angles. Drop
scenes, which now require a complicated
rigging loft and a regiment of men to
handle them. will be raised and lowered by
a system of counterbalance weights and
two men can easily operate them. These
great improvements at the big opera house
on upper Broadway will cost sls5.oOo.
William A. Brady and his wife, Grace
George. arrived in New York from England
yesterday. During his stay abroad the
energetic manager arranged for a number
Of productions. 1t is now settled that Miss
George will appear in London next spring,
playing Pretty Peggy at wyndham's
Theater. From the other side Mr.. Brady
has secured a pantomime called Santa
!, Claus. jr," which he expects to produce at
Oscar Hammersteins new Drury Lane
Theater. For the starring tour of Aubrey
Bouccicault he has secured the right of
three plays, and by an agreement with
Frank Curzon. who controls five theaters
in London. Mr.. Brady will have the right
TO bring forward anything that the English
manager produces on the other side of the
water. Miss George is not to appear i'm
Twelfth Night after all, but will possibly
present a revival OF Much Ado About
Nothing late in the season. "Girls Will
Be Girls" the English operatic comedy
which Mr. Brady will produce In this coun-
try. will have its American premier at At
Iantic City early next month. Charming
Pollock has just completed the dramatiza-
tion OF Frank Norris's novel. 1.-The Pit" in
which Wilton Lackaye is to star under
Bradys management, and rehearsals of the
new play will begin in New York within the
next month. II looks very much as If the
hustling little Mr.. Brady Is going TO have
his hands full throughout the next theat-
rical year.
IL was definitely concluded last night
that the new PLAY to open the Victoria
Theater next fall is to be called my LADY
Lola" The piece is a free adoption from
the French and German. having been stimuli
taneously produced in both languages i'm
Paris and Berlin, each version meeting
with great success. The American produc-
ton will be made by George w. Lederer.
who Is TO have large number of interests
under his direction next season than at
any time since the halcyon DAYS of the
Casino He will control the Music Hall in
the New Amsterdam building, atop of the