The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-12-23
FAVORITES IN GOTHAM
Approach of Holidays Stimulates Interest in Things Theat-
riCal--Very Few Novelties in Dramatic Line
However, for Christmas Week

NEW YORK, December 2Z-Fashion IS
whimsical i'm theatrical as liz otaer n-
fairs. That fact is illustrated here this
week douhly and very differently. Who
would guess that our people OF extreme
mode would take. an of a sudden TO
esther Browning drama. ore to a con-
c-:t han show of the female minstrel
sort? Yet Broadway theatre was crowd
ed one afternoon. at 81 per seat in the
parQuet to s. i'm tile top gallery. for
"Colombe's Birthday" and another was
overlooked every afternoon and evening
at the normal low prices raised TO what
ever the sidewalk pcdiars could lit them
to.
a Fashionable charity. n hospital for
women, accounted for Tho uncommon
audience at Colonies Birthday" Tho
motives of tho players may have boon
mixed. They may have mounted tho
hobby of BroWninslsm TO ride into dis
tinction, while II is circling the theatri-
cal carousel They may have been true
blue Browningites; and as they came for
this matinee from regular employment
iu two current dramas OF mnlonairism
ana poverty. the recourse 20 am ideal
poem may have been solaco for their
artistic souls Orrin Johnson and Grace
Elliston were their clever leaders. bul
they could not impart histrionic aspect
or feeling To- "a composition NOT meant
10y its author 20 Doe acted
A Whim Of Fashion.
80 point of charity. literature or ant
counted i'm the question why there were
long lines of carriages twice a day for
the Coy Coyotes" the "BuncO Butcs.''
the "sirenic Sylphs'-the company with
another alhterative name at one of the
dozen New York theatres. which make
a weekly change usually among the
fa rrf
hooked here for the first week i'm Decem-
Der contained man closely resembling
David Warfield and a woman ass similar
Go Ethel Barrymore. That is to say. DE
spok0 with "a Gcrman-J.vfs1 ar..n. Ike
David's, and her voice was cooling like
Ethels. Then. too. some OF the chorus
girls had been hired for their ability to
make mp FOR Maude Adams Maxine FL
lott. blanche Bates and Fov wamnlcton.
Although these lay figures wore the cos
tunes of the actresses in favOrite char
acterizations, they didn't attempt word
of initiative speech. But I can give no
further explanation why this show. rather
than any other among the half-hundred
Of its kind reached out beyond the usual
supporters Of smolIe-and-beer burlesqus ry.
and drew in people whose visits were i'm
the nature OF stunning. Yet 80 it was.
and insted of going on fits way at the
end OF ore week. il is staying where il is
a month or more A whim Of fashion:
that's all
II it is a new sensation for the women
IN those audiences to see q lot Of chair
warmers" seated in q stage semi-circle.
10 rise and come forward as a chorus
or a ballet 10 back up saucy SOU
brettes and impudcnt comedians. it must
be quite as new q sensation for those
chair-warming women to face an au-
dience Of ladies and gentlemen. AS TO
the emotions Of the managers. their re-
greet at the slump 90 cigars and beer is
overbalanced by clation ar the boom in
the ticket traffic What Of the show IT,
self? Tt would be disdained by it's new
audiences if they came across 81 I'm "a
legitimate theatre, but as siummace 81
gives the keenest enjoyment. It's rows
If slcn-tght young women, its set OF
crude comedians. its clumsy transfers
from the musical farces. ana it's humor
too dan OF point for the joke column Of
any newspaper. make up show which
can entertain its unaccustomed beholders
for 10 other reason than that 70 attend
e As a social exploit.
one Of tho things that no buriesque
company VIII try 10 get along without is
high tenor who Is fat and the low bass
who IS lean the bold baritone and the
shy falsettO-and the -FOUR Of them such
awful cut-ups a quartet now In evil
dcnce, after being as funny as 30 can with
1il manner OF Glowing, seems 10 feel
That IL serious drama needs connie re-.
lief then comic act must need serious
relief. So a.. foot and border lights are
turned out suddenly there is a black
minute ~ silence. and then q spotlight
is thrown on aemhlance OF an altar. IN
front % which stands the quarters tenor.
iut Doc Isn't the funny fellow that he
was. lie las put on surpilcc. his face
has assumed an expression OF holy calm.
hc holds an open book in bis hands ana
he proceeds 20 s'nE-very finely, t0o-the
hymn Of "rho Palms"
THE White Chief" d Dramatic
Novelty.
The week before Christmas is the scan-
uest ~ the season FOR dramatic novelty.
eNcept'nE Holy Week and nftcr seeing