New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-26
IEATRICAL INCIDENTS AND NEWS NOTES.
MATINEES THAT COME BEFORE THE SWALLOW.
7gg1E DARES-"JANE SHORE" AND "FLORODORA"

of more than common interest. because they
will mark the production of three short plays
by Mrs. Fiske. Though she viii not herself ap-
pear in the casts. she has staged the plays and
the casts will be made UP from her company.
The plays called THE Rose" "A Light from
ST. Agnes and 1.-The Eyes of the Heart"
The Rose" is a little drama OF Orleans
at the present time. The Count de Rohan. an
old noble1nan Of France. has taken young
Creole bride in Louisiana. Despite his attempt
TO bridge the gap Of years between them. he
succeeds only in winning her affection. Her
physician falls in love with the Countess. but
on discovering his passion he determines to
leave New Orleans as the only honorable course
open to him. BY accident the Count learns
the truth and proves his devotion TO his young
wife by an act OF supreme self-abnegation
George Arliss will appear as the Count while
Edward DonneiIy Etienne Girardot Gertrude
Graham and Lucy Spencer viii I'LL the other
roles.
"A Light from st. Agnes" is laid in Louisiana.
but it's atmosphere is entirely removed from
that of The Rose" The action takes place in
a swamp hovel at the foot of a Hill on which
stands the chapel of St Agnes. In this howell
dwell Michel Kerouac and his companion 'Iol-
nette. Their life is brutal and sodden. but into
1t there comes the influence of a sanity woman
who the seed that blossoms finally In the
redemption of the unfortunate 'Toinette. In
Michel Kerouac John Mason VIII be seen in
character dissimilar TO any that he has ap-
peared in on the New-York stage, but the trans
formation Will enable Mr.. Masons admirers to
measure his abilities in new field. Fernando
Eliscu, an actress in whose promise as an inter
prefer of realistic tragic and emotional roles
Mr.. and Mrs. Fiske have great faith. Will be
seen as Toinette. while that accomplished actor
Of diversified characters, William b. Mack. Will
appear priest
The Eyes of the Heart is in strong contrast
with the other plays. It is a comedy, with it's
a
concerns the efforts OF various members OF
well born family 10 conceal from very OLD
man-the grandfather Of its youngest member
their sadly changed fortunes The old man,
who sees through the eyes of the heart will
by MT. Donnel!y Mr.. Mack, 6 5 v, 7 e e[ u
son. Monroe Salisbury, Emily Stevens and Mary
Madden. Mrs Fiske acknowledges her indebt-
edness for the principal incident and title TO
two-act Italian play by Gallina.
Two special matiness are announced at the
Madison Square Theatre, on Tuesday and Fri
day afternoons next, when Margaret Wycherly
who recently produced three of the shorter
plays of the Irish poet, w B. Yeats, returns TO
this city for the first production here of a four
act mystical drama by the same writer, en-
titled THE Countess Catheen" This is Mr..
Yeats's most ambitious work. In London the
play was greeted with definite praise; in Dub
lin its reception more boisterous. Certain
factions took umbrage at it's religious element,
or rather, its lack Of religious element and
stones were thrown at several performances. In
spite Of the riots, for the row soon grew to be
that, the play kept before the public and
ultimately its place.
The story of the play concerns a famine IN
Ireland Yeats is somewhat indefinite as to the
period and contents himself with the phrase
Long ago" The first act shows the interior
Of a small inn Starvation has made the land
waste, and men and women are dying. To the
inn come two demons in the guise Of travelling
merchants, for Satan has taken advantage OF
the woes Of the land TO send agents TO buy
souls The Countess Cathleen is the most beau
tiful and Yirtuous woman IN ireland; she typl-
fes in the drama the perfection of womanhood.
She stands betweersthe demons and the people;
she feeds all that come to her and gives indis-
criminately TO all that apply for aid. When her
money is gone she sells her castle and estate in
order TO keep in her charitable work. Final
ly the demons come to her house, and in the
night steal all her money, leaving her penniless,
with all the woes and terrors OF her people
pressing upon her.
The fourth act shows the demons seated at
table in the inn buying the souls Of all who
come One woman even tries to sell the soul OF
her child. Then comes the Countess Cathleen,
and she bargains The price of her soul is the
freedom of all the souls that have been bought,
and gold enough to end the famine. The bar
gain is made and the demons disappear. The
Countess Cathleen dies but Satan is cheated Of
his prey. Angels come and rout the demons,
carrying the soul Of the Countess Cathleen to
the throne OF God, because the Almighty heeds
the motive and the deed regards not. The
drama is in blank verse. Miss Wychery has
secured a special company for the presentation
Of this play. which calls for an elaborate scenic
display.
Richard Mansheld's first week at the New
Amsterdam Theatre success in every
particular AS the next fortnight is devoted al
most exclusively to a repetition of what has
gone before. it is not difficult to prophesy
brilliant continuation of this important engage
ment Mr.. Mansfield inaugurates his second
week with his first appearance during this en-
gagement as the Baron Chevrial in "a Partisan
Romance; the other plays OF the week are:
Tuesday, Or JekyIl and Mr. Hyde; wednes-
day. king Richard III; Thursday. "A Pa
risian Romance; Friday. Beau Brummel";
Saturday matinee THE Merchant of Venice:
Saturday evening. Ivan the Terrible" The
third week. the last week Of the repertory is
disposed follows: Monday DIR Jekyll and
Mr.. Hyde: Tuesday. Beau BrummeI': Wednes-
day. Ivan the Terrible; Thursday 1.-The Mer-
chant Of Venice; Friday, "A Partisan Ro-
nance; Saturday matinee. Beau Brummel";
Saturday night, King Richard III" The fourth
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