The San Francisco call., 1905-05-21
Notes Of tie Plays
and tie Performers

The London correspondent of Brook
lyn Life gives some interesting infor-
nation about the newest playhouse to
be opened in England under American
management. He says:
1.-The Messrs. Shubert, who have come
to London to open the new Waldorf
Theater this MONTH are proposing a dar-
ing innovation in organizing cheap opera
with expensive casts to run in opposi-
ton to the expensive opera at the old
| Covent Garden Opera-house. Despite the
fact that London is fast becoming the ay-
tistic center of the world it is doubt
! full if it will be able to digest two operas
at the same time, particularly so since
grand opera is not overpopular and is
necessarily confined either to the ultra
musical or the ultra-fashionable public
But the arrangements made by the
Messrs. Shubert seem to indicate that
they have studied every possible chance
in connection with their project. In any
event they are going to have a theater
which will undoubtedly astonish London
ers by reason of its gorgeousness, it's size
and its position. 1t is located IN the CEN
ter of the old Dickens district, the very
neighborhood where Little Nell and Bill
Sykes and Oliver Twist used to do bust
ness
The Waldorf Is. to be opened On May
| q, when Calve will be heard in ''Caval-
| lerla Rusticana."
| Here is List of the ages of a number
| of prominent actresses: Lillian Russell,
As. Fay Templeton, 40; Isabel Bateman,
! 81; Kate Bateman, e.; Sarah Bernhardt,
81; Agnes Booth, e.; Kate Claxton, 81;
Rose Coghlan, So; Effie Elsler, A.;
Rose Eytinge, IS; Mime. Gerster, 49,;
Mrs. Kendall, Sc; Mrs. Langtry, 50;
Maggie Mitchell, 73; Nine Modjeska, 81;
Clara Morris, So; Mime. Nordica, A; Ada
Rehan, 45; Nine Sembrich, AZ; Annie Yea
| mans, SO.
! Some of these statistics will be surpris-
| ing to people who think they know all
about stage matters Miss Russell, for
example, generally is supposed to be over
so. This faIlacy is due to the fact that
she has been before the public most Of
| her life. Few men who have seen her in
Lady Teazle'' would acknowledge that
she had got beyond 20.
| New Yorf's current theatrical season is
coming to close with a rush. Six play
houses, the Criterion the Garrick, Lew
! Fields the Majestic, the Manhattan and
the Princess, turned of the lights of their
electric signs for the summer last Sat
urday night 1.-The Education of Mr..
Pipp and San Toy at the Liberty
| anu LAZY CtO5e ILLS NtGh, Tic 1yC Ccull
and Wallacks close the following week
and the Empire a week later. This will
| leave but seven first-class houses open
with 1.-The Heir to the Hoorah,' and the
now almost classic college Widow" the
only non-rnusical plays IN town.
! Guy Bates Post, the young actor whom
/, Kirke La SheHe translated from the "Vir-
ginian,'' playing away out in San Fran
4
the new comedy, 1.-The Heir to the Hoo
rah,'' is rapidly developing into a real
matinee idol. The first demonstratve evil
dence of this fact came last week when
properly chaperoned committee of
demoiselles called at the stage door OF
the Hudson Theater after rne Wednesday
matinee and formally requested Mr.. Post
to address the class in English literature
at Miss Loomis Academy, Yonkers. on
American Plays and American Play
wrights." John Drew and Dustin Far
mum the star of the .'Virginian'' COM
pany, are the only two actors who have
been similarly honored by the young la
dies of this exclusive educational institu-
ton.
Ralph Stuart, who was a personal
friend Of the late Joseph jefferson, says
Mr.. Jefferson always clung to the feeling
that the uncanny spirit at the bottom of
| the RIP Van Wrinkle story was its
potent power OH the audience. He want
| ed the unreal to appear real. As an in