The sun., 1903-11-26
GOSSIP OF THEATRE LAND.
prpOLISHING OF SOME PLAYS,
WITH TWO SAMPLES.


The Old Friends and Cherished Stage Sue.
cessss DOne Up Like New In ''The
county Chairman"--A Theatre Hill in
Congress-Iatest ShOcker In London
Victor Mapes has met his just deserts
He wisely refrained from taking a curtain
call during the first performance Of his
romantic melodrama, Captain Darlington"
now playing at the Manhattan; but, dragged
on by Charles Richman the second night,
he wished himself both an orator and a
thousand miles away. All Of which proves
that second thoughts are not always the
wisest. However, stage fright with authors
is no new. combination, and let US hope
the the fire Of the footlights when his new
problem play is produced. We understand
that it Is to be entitled He Changed His
Mind or the Columbia Glass Yell" 1t is
said to out-Ibsen Ibsen In its psychologist
exposure OF an undergraduates soul and
lungs.
The reference in several quarters to
captain Darlington" as being play re-
polished, practically made over, is correct,
though the statement has puzzled many.
We believe that Mr.. Sargents pupils pro.
dlced the early version some time ago OF
the piece. 1t was then called "The Tory
Guest
If you do not understand how an antique
pattern Of comedy can be refurbished until
It shines like new, 60 see 'The County
Chairman" which contains almost every
thing from The Old Homestead" to Lovers
Lane" not forgetting Joseph Arthur's
Cherry Piokers, Hoyt's "A Midnight Bell,
Way Down East" and the odds and ends
Of half hundred barnyard dramas. Only
Mr.. Ade has omitted the rooster. We see
no peaceful kline, and while there Is much
-oshing' among the inhabitants the actual
Josh, the perennial nuisance Of such STIR
ring works, does not appear But the types
are as old as the hills. They are-the
county chairman, man of great renown;
two country editors not brilliant "crea-
tions;' a manager Of a fife and drum, corps,
the local orator. old settler, storekeeper,
station agent the lady who keeps the
boarding house, the milliner, the orphan,
and SO on down to the dime-novel reading
youth who asasses' every one without dis
tnction The travelling man Is not absent,
the best characters on the boards. In
this particular he is a drummer for a wind
mill company. He flirts desperately with
the village milliner-who has 80 many ac-
Quantances with members Of his wandering
guild that she often forgets his name. Grace
Fisher who assumed the part, makes de-
cded appeal to her audience. The smart
boy. impersonated by Fred Santley. also
scored. Ed Chapman as stout person
ever in the foreground was funny. So
was Anna Buckley as vivacious orphan
We have spoken of Maclyn Arbuckle's
excellent assump ton OF "The County Chair
man" Rose Beaudet must not be forgotten.
She was not on the opening night, for she
a, he, f,lt tbo I,,p .bc
keeps the boarding house. Best of all
humorous as ever. He belongs to the old
time school" of Billy Bryant, Johnnie
Wild, Dixey, of Carncross and Dixey, and
ether mirthful gentleman OF "color." Yet
lie cigar smoking trick went amidst
laughter the same sort Of laughter It pro-
Noked-how many years ago shall we
say?
The County Chairman" is a comedy
Jet us call it COMEDY proves again
that novelty is not only an improbable,
slowly We laugh at the jokes our grand
fathers split their sides over. and we brush
away the furtive tear" Iwhat a line for
effects But the Ade comedy. which he
quantity enough describes as quaint,
is not tear-compelling. Its pathos is thin,
T. attempt, at drama really comical.
windows, doors, roofs, pumps, with real
water; peering disconcertedly as if to
say Hello! what's this! Papa Ade put
ting on theatrc airs; trying to play the dram
atstl Never on your sun-freckled soul"'
And then the drummer gayly goes Off with
the girl in the green frock. Both wink.
The County Chairman" is at Wallack's
1t is likely to stay their some time; that is
all any one may dare to predict in this sea-
son of uncertainty.
Nj James Paxton Noorhis informs
rs that Mr.. Miers, who introduced recently
the bill TO provide for the theatre Of Ma
tional Education in the House Of Repre-
sentatives, cons ders it "the most salts
factory measure yet submitted to Congress
upon this subject" Mr.. Miers expects
20 work bard for the passage of the bill
Mr.. NoorLis drew it up. 1t asks for en-
actment by Congress of provision for a
site upon which to erect national theatre.
TO be called The Theatre of National + fdu-
Dation: also for an appropriation of $500, 900.
There is to be board consisting of three
directors with manager. The arguments
brought forward for this site and appro-
priation are: The necessity exists for
the fullest development of Knowledge,
upon such enlightment depending all hopes
&C human happiness the stage offers for
the instruction Of humanity the lesson Of
fe in living, pictured form-graphic, inn
pressive, complete all means of edu
,1fiOn should, as our CONSCIENTIOUS duty,
uc employed for the relief and succor of
llo human race.
Shades of Jeremy Collier The stage
n, work of mercy! an educator! "hopes of
human happiness" ct cetcrr. Times have
indeed changed Every word of the above
petition is solemn truth but will our friends
w Congress view the stage in this light?
can't YOU see some slab-sided Representa-
tive going home to his constituents at the
.lmpng-ofr place, endeavoring to explain
hi reasons for voting in favor of the bill!
And his spouse, who looks upon the stage as
S"tan's special ally. especially framed to
destroy souls-what Of her? Can he or his
fellow Representatives face the fight, with
~" Buntown Home for Senile Orphans
short of iurds' We wish Mr.. Voorhis and
Ills associates the best of luck hut we have
our doubts. The artistic element does not
rule in our halls of legislation; besides as
Jin Hacklor would ask in The Count yChair-
man, what s in it for us?" This q question
will be very plainly put never fear, by the
very crowd which always groans over the
immortality of the theatre.
The Nultures Of London; or, the Tolls
Il Terror" is the choice title of piece