Evening journal., 1904-03-08
THEATRICAL NOTES


,oes noises; the flashing Of lightning and
,he strong roaring peals Of thunder; the
sism OF some poor unfortunate strusgl.
ms against the demons OF hcll incarnate
behold the demon-like forms that belcf
forth the curses OF damnation. Mephlsio
-"fiy good Doctor. look. see: all this YOU
SHAH feel and moro: you shall know whai
q is 90 mock the pure and innocent: tc
sive thy soul into my keeping l. satan
whom an the universe fear and tremble.
ol Tor the soul OF one wise man 10 show
on Judgment day-ithough gather fools
and my work Is never done" With this
night grows darker; the storm RACES: the
demons gather IN midnight rovelry and
curse the immaculate angel-ihe Virgin
Mary; and Is his bidding from the throne
Of torment. Then there comes a lull. and
an roars forth IN a wreathng mass OF
fire with enchanting hideousness. and the
curtain falls TO hide from view the re-
morse Of the lost souls.
THE Sign Of the Cross" which will
be given a superb pictorial presenta-
ton at the Grand Opera House on
Thursday night was the first play in
the history OF the American stage to
win to the side of the theatre the
priests, ministers Of all denominations
and thousands upon thousands OF lay
people, who before the advent of this
heart stirring play had condemned the
playhouse. The scene Of the play is
placed in Rome just before it's down
fan when vice and wanton prodigality
held sway under the despotic rule Of
Nero. In contrast to the luxury and
excesses OF the Roman court are the
gentle modesty and sublime faith of
the little band of Christians whose per-
secuton adds much to the sympathetic
quality and realism Of this wonderful
play.
In "The Earl Of Pawtucket" there is
not a single departure from actual real
ity in the scenes Of the play. They are
an duplicates of the real parts Of the
Waldorf Astoria hotel The first act
being laid in the Palm room, the sec
ond being an exact duplication of Suite
354 and the third act a duplication of
a corner in the Turkish room. Kirke
La Shelle, the owner Of the play. gave
orders that every detail Of the hotel
must be carried out in the staging of
the play and the scenic artist painted
this scenery from photographs made
especially for this purpose, as we'll as
from sketches which he himself drew
In the hotel All the furniture is an
equally close duplicate. In fact. for
for the first two weeks of the play's
run. all Of this was stuff which George
Boldt, the proprietor of the hotel, had
loaned 10 Mr.. La Shene. because il
was impossible for him to have such
rich and intricate patterns carved on
the furniture in a short space of time
less than two weeks which elapsed be-
tween his acceptance Of Mr.. Thomas
manuscript and the opening night Of
the play. THE Earl of Pawtucket"
comes to the Grand Opera House on
Friday night.
Ezra Kendall viii make his appear
ance at the Grand Opera House tonight
In The Vinegar Buyer" a new three
act comedy by Herbert Hall Winslow.
His managers, Messrs. Leibler & Co,
have supplied their new comedy star
with very picturesque production and
an excellent supporting company COM
prislng c. II. Crosby. Frank A. Lyons,
Ralph Dean, Roy Fairchild. John d.
.Garrick, Harry Hanlon, Frank A. How
son, Jr. Helen Salinger, Lottie Alter,
Lucille La Verne, June Mathail. The
first act of The Vinegar Buyer" shows
the main street OF a small Indian town
called "Bascomb's Corners;" the second
is the exterior and grounds of the VIII
lage sanitarium, and the third is the
drawing room of a beautiful Indian
apolis residence.
Curiously enough. although he has
attained all he sought in youthful
parts, James X. Hackett has always
wanted to play an old man, an eocen-
trio cheerful old fellow such as the part
William II. Thompson is now playing
in THE Secret Of Polichinelle," which
by the way, is under the management
Of the distinguished romantic. Mr..
Hackett maintains that there is more
real humanity in part Of this kind
than in any other, and some day he
hopes to appear in such a part. He
come to the Grand Opera House next
Monday night in his new play, "rhe
Proud Prince"
There was a top-heavy house at the
Grand opera House last night to see
the war play Winchester" Miss Enid
Mayo as Virginia Randolph. a daugh-
ter Of the confederacy was clever and
won lots Of applause.
Dare Devil Dorothy" musical
melodrama, opened an engagement at
the Lyceum Theatre yesterday after
noon and pleased the audience, which
was rather small The work Of Toby
Craige as Dorothy was above the aver
age and she made a hit The play will
continue at the Lyceum this and to-
morrow afternoons and evenings.
1t is a bill of headliners at the Car
rick this week. and yesterdays audi
ences witnessed one of the best pro-
grams that has come to the little play
house for several weeks. Bert Howard
and Leona Bland presenting "A Strange
Boy offer one OF the best features and
received a veritable storm of applause
yesterday afternoon and last night
In addition to some excellent comedy
Howard introduces some piano playing
that brings him much favorable COM
ment. The Fillmore Sisters, two Of
vaudeville's best character condolences
appear in one-act comedy entitled
The Adventures Of Bedelia Delaney"
1t is one Of the star features of vaude-
vile, and as such is sure 10 be a strong
attraction at the Garrick this week.
The Mangeans, a family Of five expert
acrobats. give a performance that is
remarkable for its real excellence. They