St. Tammany farmer., 1905-11-04
The TAC SEASON
MANY NEWsPLAYs OF UNUSUAL
MERIT ARE OFFERED.

Interesting Letter Concerning the
Latest New York Productions
Promising Outlook for the Winter
Edna May ID ! New Musical
Comedy Sarah Bernhardt's In
tended visit-The Matinee Idols.
By CAMPBELL MAC CULLOCH.
Copyright. 1906. by Joseph B. Bowles)
New York. Sept Decidedly In.
teresting. IN point Of promise ct lesst,
are the dramatic offerings scheduled
for production this season, and
should they turp out one-half as we'll
- they appear in prospect, 1t would
seem that the managers have expe-
rienced change OF heart, and are now
about to give the American stage
something better than the regulation
skim milk that has characterized It
during the last few years.
OF prime Importance at this writing
| is the offering Of Hall Gaines latest
play, The Prodigal Son. which has
its premiere in Washington. and has
now come into New York for run.
The peculiar quality Of Mr.. Gaines
writings, which would be stigmatized
as melodramatic in any other at
mosphere, are always attractive to the
theateT-going public all over the coun-
try, and in this instance they are
backed up with a cast that for pure
competence can hardly be excelled..
William III. Thompson, marvellous
character actor that he is, has been
associated in this instance with such
competent nlayers as Miss Marie Vain
wright, Miss Drina de Wolfe, Aubrey
BoIclcault, who has returned to mis-
kingdom from the wilds of musical
comedy; j. 3. Dodson, George Boni-
face and Henry Bergman. The prin-
cipal feature in the play is Edward
Morgan, who originated John. Storm
in "1ha Christian" and David Rossi,
in ''The Eternal City" When sThe
Prodigal Son" shall be seen en- tour,
the verdict will be at once that Mr..
CaiEe has awakened from the in
irrespective torpor that is said to POS
sess him, and has turned out an in
tensely human story in excellent dra-
matte form. Good writer that Mr..
Caine is, it must not be forgotten that
he has been interpreted in nearly
every instance by an extremely clever
Stage manager, who has interjected in
the Caine manuscripts some remark
ably satisfactory situations.
AS far as the production itself is
concerned, the Lieblers, who have fa-
thered the piece, have spared no ex-
pense to make it all it should be.
Well over 100 people are employed in
the company, and the scenic investi-
ture is both brilliant and satisfying.
When The Prodigal Son" takes the
road as it will in a short time, it
4 will be found to be .marvelously ef-
fective production in every way and
one that will prove thoroughly salts
factory from all standpoints. While a
trife heavy, as the Caine plays ere
apt to be, it ie worthy effort and
deserves to rank with the best.
| In the lighter vein, but of hard. y
less Importance, must be regarded the
4 offering Of Miss Edna May, in "The
Catch of the Season This frivolous
LONDON Offering at Daly's theater has
caught New York as few plays have
done of recent date, and while some
small portion Of the credit must be
handed to Miss May herself, the story
ct the play in itself is such a refresh
ing novelty that one is inclined to
grow trifle enthusiastic over it
Imagine, please modern society YER
sion Of the old fairy story Of Gin
derella and the glass slipper Bring
this thoroughly up to date with smart
dialogue, twentieth century situations
and a score of really meritorious mu-
sical numbers with pretty women
Il comprehensive idea OF what is going
on.
4 For some occult reason Miss May Is
interesting to New York, though il
must be confessed that New York was
unable to discover the interest until
London had placed the hall mark o1
4 approval upon the Casino chorus girl
Just what peculiar charm she exercises
over the public it is hard to say, foz
outside Of certain pulchritude In ex-
preston, her charms are largely o1
the negative order. She has no par
tlcular voice, yet a charming tone; she
Is without dramatic ability, yet i'm
/ ;nA r1, Z
could act If she were not too tired. in
her present vehicle she is decided
Improvement over herself in THE
Schoo. Girl" but one instantly won
ders what would occur il ar. Frohman
| ihad not thoughtfully surrounded his
star with cast of thoroughly capable
principals to sustain the burden Of the
play Still the young woman makes q
dTst-ciass appearance and, owing &c
the Intelligent manner in which Ben
Teal has put the play together, the
deadly British atmosphere has become
Ihghtened to gossamer touch of real
pleasure.
One Of the surprises Of the season
has been the work Of Raymond Hitch
cock in Edward e. Kidder's new com
edy, Easy Dawson" For some un-
founded reason the critical New York
er has decided in his own mind tha,
II Hitchcock could never exist outside q
4 play that was hedged about with
tights, short dresses and music OF a
{ doubtful character With these inti-
mate aids to complete outline Of art
lMr. Hitchcock 1t was admitted was
passable, for had not his work IN @The
yankee Consul proved this. Then