The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-11
....NFW YORK THEATRES....
 MansEelds Bruus and Sotherns Hamlet Appeals to Out sG sE sders-Mrs. Langtrys Gowns Win. sG sC
BY ALoNZO NEWCOMER.

by Frank Baum, founded upon a curious little fairy tale which in printed from has been widely popular It's story Is the adventures of a little Kansas girl. Dorothy Gale who was blown away by a cyclone with her pet calf, Imogene. to a mysterious realm known as Oz. where she encounters all kinds of queen adventures among numberless whimsical creatures. good and benevolent fairies and malevolent witches.
 The stageing has been done by Julian Mitchell. formerly stage manager at Weber &r Fields. At the head of the cast will be Paula Edwardes. Anna Laughlin, Helen Byron and Bessie Wynn.
 
 Gretna Green" at the Madison Square is a romantic comedy of the days of 1901 and Miss Tyree plays the role of Dolly Ersk- inc, a sprightly belle of Harrowgate, a little resort in England, where, in that period the beaux and beles gathered to take the waters" The young Earl of Basset tired of London's social frivol- ites, comes to the quaint picturesque little town incognito and falls in love . with Dolly. A romance develops that at one moment perilously approaches tragedy, but in the end or the story takes a happy turn. and the course of true love finally flows along in a smooth cur rent. As the title suggests, the play takes the chief characters to Gretna Green, and some of the exciting incidents made familiar by old time novels and pictured in quaint prints have place on the stage.
 Mir. Henry B. Harris, Miss Tyrees man. ager, has provided her with a company which includes Messrs. Max Figman and Arthur Barry, Mrs. Felix Morris, Miss Frances Grant Miss Sibyl Klein, daugh-
  the well known comedian, who makes her debut; Miss Eva Vincent and others. The period of powder ana patches," of cinging robes and classic cultures of buff brooches, top boots and beaver hats gives opportunity for most picturesque costuming.
 Affairs have not been going any too well at the opera of late, and the indis- position of singers. necessitating num- erous changes of bill. has resulted in a great deal of grumbling on the part of the general public and especially among that valuable clientele, the season sub- scribers Even when all is going smooth ly the opera habitues are hard to please, and of late they have been saying things in not over amiable tones, of the man. agement, the singers and the repertoire -"The toujours perdrix repertoire" as they call 1t. Well perhaps affairs will improve-and perhaps they won't. One can never tell what is going to happen at the opera house.
 To be sure, the company now at the Metropolitan is as good as, If not better than. any gathered anywhere in the op- cratic world; yet there is undoubtedly growling going on-in the orchestra chairs, in the boxes, in the foyer in the drawing rooms and the clubs. ''Y-e-s, a good season, if you like" one person will say grudgingiy, damning 1t with faint praise; but somehow it doesn't seem up to the mark. How don't know, or just where, but is doesn't seem to be quite right" Its all very we'll" says another 'but the season is so weak in tenorsr' Going to the opera tonight-not much" said one who has been familiar there. I'm tired of the constant repetition of the same old thing" So 1t goes; but perhaps matters will mend and the operatic ennui give way to feeling of more contentment with the goods the gods provide.
 Miss Viola Allen continues her triumph in 'rhe Eternal City" at the Victoria. The week before Christmas usually shows a greater or less slump at the box office of theatre. but at the vic- toria yas one of the best weeks of the J