The Savannah morning news., 1903-10-30
AT THE THEATER

The sale of seats for the Wills Com
edy Company's presentation of 1.-TWO
Old Cronies" Monday matinee and
night, and Sweet Sixteen" Tuesday
matinee and night began yesterday
morning. The company will play at
popular prices, 10. 20 and 80 cents for
the matinees, and 10, 20, 80 and so cents
for the night performance. Headed by
the Dutch comedian, J. B. Wills. whose
style is so different from the rest of
the slap stick comedians, and support
ed by James Leslie, who plays his &C.
centric son; Dick Thomas, whose style
of work has won him the title of
Young Tony Pastor; John B. Moore,
as the erratic bell boy, who causes lots
of trouble, and George T. Raymond, a
dignifed Van Colt, the company is
said to be a capable one in every way.
Among the female portion of the show
is the young soubrette, The Great Rich
ards, whose singing and dancing win
her part, the Vassar girl, and her
speciality is some dancing out of the
ordinary for women. and in the sex
tette of the first act, all participants
general possess what is lacking in most
shows, good looks and good voices.
John c. Fisher, who owns the Amer
lean rights of THE Silver Slipper"
was also concerned in bringing over
"Florodora," between which and the
Il 49,.
common. No other manager wanted
"Florodora" while it was running in
the English capital. Everybody said it
was good enough for effete Europe, but
would never do in the up-to-date
United States. Mr.. Fisher and his
partner, Thomas w. Ryley, had views
of their own on the subject and
"Florodora," when once started in New
York, broke all sorts Of records.
When the authors of "Florodora"
completed 1.-THE Silver Slipper every
manager in America was anxious to
secure it, but, of course, Mr.. Fisher
had the preference, and decided on
making it the most gorgeous produc
ton ever seen in America. He bought
big hampers of costly gowns from
Worth, ordered elaborate scenery,
secured the earth for beautiful women,
and engaged a company Of well-known
established favorites and when the cur
tain went up on 1.-The Silver Slipper"
for the first time at the Broadway
Theater, Mr.. Fisher had spent over
$50, 900.
The net results of all this is that
THE Silver Slipper" has just COM
pleted a phenomenal engagement of
six months and reeord-breaking re-
ceipts in New York, and the younger
sister of "Florodora' lis a worthy re-
lation and will be introduced to Sa-
vannahians next Wednesday night. The
sale of seats will open Saturday morn
ing. The prices are: Orchestra, $3.50;
balcony, 81 and 75c; gallery, soc.
Next Thursday, matinee and night,
Richards and Pringle's Georgia Min
strels will be the attraction.
The personnel of the organization is
made up of young men of talent, the
only ones retained from last season
being Kraton, the hoop controller;
Simpson and Pittman, musical ex-
perts; Dudley and Kelley, Clarence
Powell and the tough Jim Jackson"
who will this year make visit to the
"Policy Shops"
The new features are "Boomsky'' in
illusions; the three Toneys acrobats;
Cooper and his walking and talking
figures and six high salaried singers,
and at least a dozen new comedians,
prominent among which is Emmett
Davis, Bunk Campbell and Charles
Scott
The company carries two bands IN
der the direction of Frank Claremont.
Paul Gilmore, who won new laurels
last season by his clever assumption
of John Drew's old role in 1.-THE Tyran-
ny of Tears" will appear Friday night
in THE Mummy and the Humming
Bird" In this play, also, Mr.. Gilmore
will be seen in a. character created by
Charles Wyndham in the London pro-
duction, and by John Drew in New
York. There are few actors better
qualified by nature to enact roles re-
quiring the display of the gentler and
nobler phases of the human mind and
heart. In such characters as William
Prescott in Men and Women" the
husband in THE Wife," John Van Blu
rem in THE Charity Ball." and as the
dashing heroes of THE Musketeers"
and Under the Red Robe" Paul Gill
more has made a name for himself.
The character of Lord Jack" Lumley,
in THE Mummy and the Humming
Bird" enables him to appear to the
company is said to be an unusually
strong one.
Fire which destroyed the Auditorium
Theater in Asheville, N. c., destroyed
all the scenic equipment, costuming
and the properties of the George Faw-
cett Company supporting Miss Percy
Haswell in her production of THE
Favor of the Queen" This has neces-
STATED the discontinuance, for a time
at least. of Miss Haswelrs starring
tour.
"The Favor of the Queen" was to
have been seen here week after next,
but it will require at least four weeks
to restore the production, and it may
be that the tour will be discontinued
entirely until after the holidays. Up
to the time of the fire THE Favor of
the Queen as a play and Miss Percy