The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-08-07


 lar prices and the indications are that large and brilliant audiences will be pres ent.
 SUMMER THEATRICAL GOSSIP.
 Frank Vernon, the English actor and producer, has been engaged by Charles w. Allen to come to America to stage Viola Aliens revival of "The Winters Tale" for next season. Besides being one of the best known producers of clas- sic plays in London MT. Vernor Is an actor of rare distinction. For several sea- sons he has played leading parts with Martin Harvey, and has besides essayed important roles in other prominent Lon don productions. During his career on the English stage, MT. Vernor has played in fourteen Shakespearean productions, and has been the producer of revivals of Hamlet" Richard H." The Merchant of Venice" Much Ado About Nothing" King Lear" ''Richelieu," and "The School for Scandal" During the past season he produced and played in the court theatres revival of Romeo and Juliet" MT. Vernor's ripe scholarship, long experience as a producer, and abili- ty as actor should prove of inestima- ble value to Miss Aliens production of The Winters Tale" for next season.
 
 Plays may come and plays may go. but Tn Old Kentucky will doubtless go on forever. The twelfth annual tour of this successful drama will be inaugura- ted about the middle of August in Osh- kosh, Wis, and after playing engage ments in Milwaukee, St. Paul and Min neapolis will make a tour of the south returning to Chicago for the Christmas holidays opening at McViclSer's theatre Christmas day. Last season was one of the most successful in the history of the play. It will be seen In this city dur ing the fall.
 Raymond Hitchcock and "The Yankee Consul" company will give but one per formance en route from New York to Chicago, where an engagement begins Tn that city August 8. A special perform ance will be given in Auburn, N. T., August D. MT. Hitchcock will give this one in Auburn as 1t is his native town. An invitation was sent to MT. Hitchcock from the officials of the town and this is said to be the first instance on record where a municipal government has in- vited an actor to give special perform ance.
 Henry w. savage's English Grand Opera comapny will go to the Pacific coast dur company will go to tho pacific coast dur first trans-continental tour of this famous organization. Festivals will be given in sixty-five different cities. Frank c. Payne, the advance representative of the company, is now making a preliminary visit to all of these cities.
 Madam Kirlsby Lunn, who has been en- gagged by Henry w. Savage to create the role of Kundry in the first production of sParsifal," in English, has been a feature of the performances of the "Ring of the Nibelung," given at the Royal opera house, Covent Garden, in London, this summer under the direction of Hans Richter. Madam Lunn sang the role of Erda in "Das Rheingold' and in "sieg- fried" and was also heard as Ortrud in "Lohengrin," Brangaene in Tristan and Isolde" and Amneris in Aida" Madam Lunn was born in Manchester, Eng, and studied at the Royal College of Music in London, where she gained the national scholarship. In addition to being one of the leading concert and oratorio sing CTS in England, she has also won success as an interpreter of Wagnerian roles at Covert Garden, London, and at the Met ropolitan opera house in New York. Madam Lunn has already sung the role of Kundry on the concert stage. and she will attend the performance of Farsi far' at Bayreuth this summer to perfect herself in her part.
 Another important engagement has been made by Klaw & Erlanger for their mus- cal comedy stock company, which is to be permanently located in New York at the new Liberty theatre in the autumn. The latest acquisition is Miss Virginia Earle, who will play opposite parts to Eau a ip- cluding Fay Templeton, Virginia Earle. Peter F. Daley, Joe Coyne and Lee Har- rison, a season of exceptionally good musical entertainment seems in store for New Workers and visitors to the metro polls. Klaw & Erlanger propose to make this company so strong that it will prove one of the big attractions which every theatre-goer who visits New York will want to see.
 The Rogers Brothers and their company. although they do not open till August %, are rehearsing day and evening" Even- ing rehearsals have begun earlier this season than in past years When the curtain rises on the premiere at the Star ! thetre in Buffalo. the reason for this most painstakng advance preparation will be plainly apparent "The Rogers Brothers in Paris will be quite "the biggest and best" of the McNally farces Klaw & Err langer have produced for the Rogerses. Herbert Gresham is staging the comedy parts Ned Wayburn the dances and en- sembles and Max Hofmann. the composer is directing the rehearsals of his music George V. Hobart has provided series of lyrics that are likely to attract con- | siderable attention. John J. McNaly's | book is described as a rapid-ire battery of fun that will discharge sixty laughs a minute without cessation for three hours. | A paragraph has been energetica1ly cir culated in all parts of the country to the 1 effect that through decision of the ap- | pellate division of the New York su-