Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-03-03
PLAYHOUSES OF THE METROPOLIS
BY Acton Davies,

or Ferdinand Gottschalck, gave a re-
markably fine performance Of the hus-
band and IN some OF the scenes Miss
Charlotte Walker was extremely et-
fectiye as Perses The "rriangles'
chances OF success, however, are limit
ed to the one final scene.
There was a good deal Of interest in
the production of "Abyssinia" for the
reason that It was the first time that a
first class Broadway theater like the
Majestic, had sheltered play written,
acted and staged entirely by negroes.
The color line was drawn sharply at
the first row of the balcony no colored
spectators being allowed In the orches-
ira. but between the acts, the occupants
awaited themselves of all the standing
room in the lobby and foyer and greatly
TO the CONSERVATION OF mine host Herr
Pabst. droves OF negroes invaded the
beautiful restaurant and cafe next door,
In search Of liquid refreshment, 1t was
a rather extraordinary spectacle and
the Maiestic's clientele did not seem
to appreciate II any more than they
did the play. "Abyssnia" is a hopeless
proposition from any point OF view
Williams and Walker are uncommonly
clever comedians, Of that there is 10
question, but their new play has no wit,
no situations, no tunes and absolutely
no fun in Il. Walker and all the other
members of the company, except Will
liams. who used his familiar burnt cork
makeup seemed possessed of the one
desire to act and look as much like
whites as possible The result was, that
the women in the troupe, made up with
rouge and powder, presented a ghostly
appearance and the entire absence of
any Senegambian flavor to the per-
Torrance ruined It from commercial
point OF view. Williams, wise In his
day and generation, was content TO re-
main the same soft-spoken, lazy
slouchy negro, that he has always been
upon the stage and whites and blacks
alike applauded him for his genuine
ness. His old song Nobody which n
sings inimitably. was the only real hit
of the night. 1t Is safe to say that It
will be long time before a theater OF
the Majestics standing will try such an
experiment again In their old line OF
work, williams and Walker were eX-
cepJonally funny men, but they ought
to remember the old proverb about
trying to gid the lily" for it works
both ways.
| won't dwell on the little Mart at
the Madison Square for the very
good reason that Mr.. Winston Church
III. It's author, has already thrown up
his hands and announced that II viii
be Withdrawn AS n play, II was en-
tirely unworthy OF the man who wrote
those successful novels, Richard Car
vel" and the Crisis" Its humor was
OF hard shell brand and it's charac-
ters just so many old-fashioned i'm
possible stage types which lost all
their usefulness years ago.
The happiest manager In New York
today, Is undoubtedly G.. G.. Gilmore,
the veteran manager Of the Academy
Of Music. The enormous financial sue
cess of Mrs. Leslie Carter's six weeks
engagement at his theater at popular
prices has practically proved the turn
ing point in the career Of this famous
old theater which most Of the theatre
cal managerial pedagog res were be-
ginning 20 regard as being out OF the
running on account of It's being 50 far
down town Bnt since Mrs. Carriers
immense success In her repertoire
there. Mrs Fiske has declared her IN
tention OF playing there for three
weeks IN April and one of her first
conditions, which MIR. Sothern and
Miss Marlowe imposed In their con-
tract with the Shuberts was that they
should be booked at the Academy for
several weeks next season. Bertha
Kalich Margaret Angin De Wolf
Hopper, Warneld, Blanche Bates. and
Jefferson De Angels will also play en-
gagements there.
Charles Frohman. who sailed for
England n few days ago intends TO
make series Of new predictions of
English plays at his London theaters
between now and June Those that
az a.. 4
here next season, but the immense sue
cess which MIR. Hopknson' the Eng
fish farce has scored at the Savoy has
considerably shaken the faith of an
those managers who turned II down
IN their ability to pick out a London
play which America Is going TO like
Nesta Victoria. the new head-liner
at the Colonial, Is a clever Cockney
comedlenne who made a hit twelve
years ago IN that old delight Daddy
Wouldn't Buy Me A Bow wow"
In response to a general demand this
singer Will revive her old success. She
made this decision rather suddenly
when some old-tlmers with little hair
and long memories (recallng the
palmy days OF the 400 club" and Pas
toTs) insisted on the old number as an
encore.
Az WIZ pe interesting 10 see them ar
rayed comparatively side By side. the
hygone ditty and her recent success
My Wife Won't Let Me" The latter
has had so great vogue In London
that the title has become one OF the
catchy phrases Of the year.
one theatrical day IS as 80. and i2
years as 800 therefore the tunef1 song
OF a decade ago may seem very ancient
history TO the younger generation. BIT
Is DO nd 10 awaken memories for the
Did play soerS.