New-York tribune., 1903-04-15
NOTES OF THE STAGE.
The CLARA Norris Benefit Yields
Ouer SO 900 in Spite of the Rain

The benefit performance for Miss Clara Morris.
who IS at present both sick and financially en-
barrassed, was given yesterday afternoon at the
Broadway Theatre. under the management OF Miss
Amelia Bingham. In spite of the rain. the theatre
was nearly fIled with enthusiastic audience,
and the receipts We're over $6.000 Because OF the
weather, Miss Bingham announced, several Of
the performers scheduled did net appear. fearing
injury their singing voices; though just Why
Willie Collier or Peter Daley Weber & Fields
should very that score is hard to see. As it
turned out, the performance was quite long enough
without them while Miss Adele Ritchie came for
ward and did what she could TO ill the wait he
tween curtains. Their absence, TO be sure made
the afternoon almost unbroien series Of one-act
plays, but the players were of acknowledged popu-
larity. and all went we'll
The benefit was opened by a brief and admir-
able foreword by the Rev. Andrew F. Underhiu,
of Yonkers Miss Morris's pastor and one Of the
1uost earnest workers for the benefit He was fol-
lowed by A. S Witmark with songs. and the first
play was then presented oae-act comedy called
Frederick Lo Iaitre," by Clyde Fitch, caDitally
acted by Henry Miller J. z. Dodson and Miss
Annie Irish appeared in the od-fashioned farce
a Kiss in the Dark and Miss Blanche Ring
sang ''The Belle Of Avenue A" and her summer
time dtty. Miss Agnes Booth next appeared, with
Boyd Putnam, in Bronson Howard's "Old Love
Letters" Miss Booths appearance on the stage
the signal for long and hearty burst OF
applause that showed her she is still a favortte
Joseph Haworth presented "a Man OF the World,
the Thomas sketch Maurice Barrymore used 10
do in vaudeville; and Creston Clarke and Mrs.
Nina Gale Haynes were warmly welcomed in the
trial scene from The Merchant of Venice" All
the audience remained late for the last number,
the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet,
played by Edward Harrigan and Mrs. Yeamans
introduced in Investigation many years ago
Perhaps interesting than anything on the
programme, however, the letter of thanks from
Miss Morris herself read by Miss Bingham. 1t was
a and lovely letter. written while the actress
lay in her bed. In part it was as follows:
All my life have felt a sort of amused wonder
their bread W upon the %aters and then anxos
aWating Its return IN time Ter them TO c Gne re I
even after many days!" And so cast my small
he never f oa' E gESd not A8d e the
and the months and the YEARS hays & past and lGo 10;
into full. unbroken oaves have returned TO me;
tr9G the TaIers oI d me m Pa s ana 9rs r Is and kind
words. and I stand abashed as one convicted with
lack of faith
There was also cable from Sarah Bernhard.
That charming and somewhat elusive book.
Tangled Up in BeuIah Land" whose author, J. P.
Mowbray C'Nym krinkle') has so recently died,
is to be put on the stage. Eugene Presbrey VIII
make the dramatization, using portions of a
Journey TO Nature" as well, and W. G. Smythe viii
produce Broadway next fall with ti1,2 Miss Minnie
The annual ladies garnbol' of the Lambs will
he held in Days Theatre next Friday afternoon
The chief feature of the bill will be a minstrel
show given by English actors. The end men viii
be ". I. Abingdon and Laurance D Orsay, and
already they are struggling hard to see the point
Of the Jokes that have been prepared for them
Here's another musical comedy star. by or with
o1It vour leave! Edwin W. Rush and Lawrence
Weber vaudeville managers. who seem to be press
ing into the legitimate" field, have signed con-
tract to star Elfe Fay in musical comedy in Broad
way next season. It is said they viii manage Mrs
hey al a
ferest in Miss Mary Shaws ventures and IN
koeian, the yiolinisL
This afternoon souvenirs will be distributed at
the Majestic Theatre, in celebration of the 100th
performance Of The Wizard Of o.
Friday afternoon, April q. has been set apart by
the managers Of Resurrection" for special per-
forrnance of that play for the cergymen OF greater
Nev-York to whom tickets will be issued on VIII
ten request 4 great opportunity, gentlemen OF the
cloth!