New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-21
NOTES OF THE STAGE.
An Old Problem Revived by Ulysses
The Sunken Bell" Comes Up.

The Sunken Bell Comes Up.
The production of Ulysses at the Garden Thea
| tire offers numerous themes for discussion. the
lobby conversation between acts amply testifes.
| and. among other things provokes the old discus
sion whether actor is justified In stepping out
OF the picture dispeing the illusion. TO respond to
applause. Doubtless the discussion is frutless
one; for If Mr.. willard remains to argue by exam
pie for one side. most actors are very human To
plead for the other. But it is aroused in Ulysses
oddly. and by plain perversion OF the poets
intention that the facts in the may be stated
for who will to debate
At the end of the first act Ulysses freed from the
bondage of Calypso's charms. leaps into his ship
and sails away. leaving Calypso standing alone at
gaze the beach. The curtain falls. Then. accord
ing to the stage directions of the poet which plainly
order after tableaux to complete the act. the
curtain rises slowly again. disclosing Ulysses ship
black speck against the sunset moving rapidly
further away. while Calypso still stands gazing
after her vanishing lover. The curtain again falls
on the picture.
But that is not what is done at the Garden. Mr..
Power. as Ulysses mounts his ship and sails from
view the curtain falls for the first time. but
when ii rises again and the eye seeks for the black
retreating speck against the sunset, in accordance
with the poets conception, ship IS to be SEEN
Calypso still gazes. but there is the awful thought
that perhaps the ship got stuck and could make
the open sea. The curtain falls. but the audience.
as II to satisfy themselves that Ulysses really got
clear of the bar. keep applaudng. and IT rises
for a second time. Calypso leaves her position on
the beach and disappears for instant around the
of her to reappear at once leading the
smiling and bowling Ulysses by the hand On this
spectacle the curtain finally falls 1-,-
the other night. He couldn't get away from her.
But how human of Mr. Power" said his com
panion.
Charles Henry Metzer. who translated Haupt-
mann's "Sunken Bell into English verse for Mr..
Sothern's use a few seasons ago says that the play
has been Unexpectedly i'm demand ever since and in
increasing demand for all of produc-
lions. Only last week he received letter from
Boston asking for the rights to produce it at
public performance in that city with the members
Of private school in the cast Letters insuring
other productions and public readings with the
musical accompaniment during the coming season
have also been received. As n performance OF the
play means the payment Of good in royalties.
Mr. AIeltzer argues that there must be considerable
interest in the work Last year there were five per-
formances given in widely separated places. Per
haps the most interesting production made in
ST. Louis by ''self-culture" club. composed of
young men and women who work for their livings
and spend their evenings in mutual study and
mental improvement They built all their own
scenery. made all their costumes. played all the
parts and even invented and installed their
electric lighting scheme. ,'Furthermore." says MI
MeItzer. they gave the play without single cut.
money with It,"
The effect or Mr.. warner : aCtlnE IN Drlnk AZ
the Academy was strikingly illustrated the other
night and without causing ripple OF laugh
ter from any part OF the house Mr.. Warner was
approaching the bottle. eft for his destruction
the table in his chamber. hesitating, drawn back.
but unable 10 resist As his hand stole out toward
the bottle voice. warning pleading. was heard 10
issue from the upper EaIery clear ana D oSt th
it, cried the voice
William H. Gardiner Of Boston the author Of
al 1vrics VIII r A Mcdowell q
music. the best known perhaps. being those in the
group Of songs that contains Thy Beaming Eyes
has written the book of comic opera, The OmOs
Of Omona." which has beer set to music by Herbert
Forrest OdsH. The opera will be produced next
month at the Bjou Theatre. Boston. and il is said
fbat several New-York managers will go to
the Performance
Another musical comedy by George V Hobart
with music by Luciano Conterno. the bandmaster.
has been produced in the West by the Walter Jones
company 1t is called The Sleepy King" There
Is 'ah b,s civ Later in the season since ii has so
far met with success on the road
Richard Mansfield has taken for future use the
drar,atizstion by the author and George II. Broad
hurst Of Justus Miles Forman's novel. The Garden
Of Lies"
Miss Julia Marlowe viii be for the first time
tonight In New-Haven. in H V Esmonds new
comedy Fools Of Nature" This play will he the
first Miss Marlowe has appeared in for some time
those Of to-day. Miss Virginia Harmed begins her
season tonight in Washington in a new play by
her husband f II Sothern. called The Light That
lies in WOman's Eyes" Mr.. Sothern has rehearSed
the company. and win he present at the first per
formance. He will then hasten to Detroit. where
his own company Is rehearsng The Proud Prince
preparatory TO the opening there next week
Miss Maxine Elliott begins her season in Buffalo
on Thursday night in Her Own Way" She will
come the Garrick Theatre the following
Monday.
Miss Marie Cahill has written a book about her
self which she calls Its Hard to Convince You"
Perhaps she should stick TO singing songs: it's not
hard then
Tonight: Ben Hur' at the New-York; grand
opera at the Brooklyn Academy: Jim Bludso'
the American.
The attraction ProctOr's Fifty-eighth Street
Theatre for this week will be c z. Jefferson's
vival Of Shadows of a Great city" At Mr..
Proctor's theatre in Newark all star vaudeville
programme has been scheduled for the week The
show will be headed by Miss Josephine Hall Tom
Nawn s. Co. will present Edmond Days mythical
comedietta. Pat and the CENT" and Lewis and
Ryan. The Two Actors: Snyder and Buckley.