The San Francisco call., 1906-06-17

and May. through all the principal
cities of the .,tates and Canada, thus
enabling many places to enjoy night
or a short season Of grand opera that
have heretofore only been given an
occasional perfol nance; and as 1t has
been decided to charge only mod
crate scale of prices it Will readily be
seen that the possibilities for such a
tour over the entire country are of
a most encouraging nature.
Mr. Russell has already arranged for
the famous American prima donna,
Nine Lillian Nordica; Miss Alice Mel
son and other prominent artists to be-
come members of the organization,
which will also include an orchestra
of fifty musicians. a splendid chorus
of, sixty and a ballet (the latter under
the direction of Sig. Albertieri, so long
with the Metropolitan Opera-house),
while the productions will be superbly
mounted and the costuming all new and
elaborate.
Further announcements as to the
personnel of the company and other de-
tails will be made known as soon as
word is received from Mr.. Russell,
who is now visiting Milan and Paris
in the interests of the organization.
The repertoire of the company will
include La Boheme." "Gioconda.'
Romeo and Juliet" "Rigoletto." "Tro-
vatore," Faust" La Tosca," 'Daugh-
Comare." Barber of Seville" Car
men," Don Pasquale," Aida" "Travi-
ata,'' Don Giovanni" ''Nanon,"
Lucia" "Pagliacci," "Cavalleria Rus
ticana" and others,
After a month of deliberation
Wagenhals & Kemper were able on
Wednesday to announce definitely the
opening attraction at their new Astor
Theater. The announcement includes
nothing less startling than a splendid
presentation of "A Midsummer Night's S
Dream" with dainty, demure Annie
Russell in the rollicking role of Puck.
Before Miss RusselPs managers could
persuade her to make so radical a de-
parture from the class of characterize
tions with which she has been identi-
fed her adaptability to the role was
the subject of many protracted de-
bates, in which the actress stoutly
maintained the negative. It was final
ly decided that Miss Russell should
have a fortnight of probation so to
speak, before any announcement was
made plans for the contemplated
production put into execution. The
fortnight has been devoted to study
and rehearsals and to reconciling the
actress to Robin Goodfellows some
what airy attire. The enthusiasm
aroused by the preliminary rehearsals
is best attested by the unqualified an
nouncement that "A Midsummer Nights
Dream will have prominent place
in Miss Russell,s repertoire in the
fall, and that the star has violated all
the conventions by selecting the role
of Puck for her own.
Miss Russells metamorphosis from
the ingenious stage maiden to Shakes
peare's sauciest boy will be as re-
markable as Maude Adams transforma-
tion from Lady Babbie to Peter
Pan. Miss RusselPs friends believe
that 1T will also be as delightful At
any rate, large force of scenic
artists, electricians and carpenters are
already engaged in building the equip
ment for the, production, which will
be unique in many respects While
the aim is to make the presentation one
notable for its artistic beauty, good
taste and accuracy will not be sub
served to spectacular effects.
There is possibility that Sarah
Bernhardt may appear in Tess Of
the dUrbervilles," in which Mrs
Fiske won one Of her most notable
triumphs. Nine. Bernhard has an
piled 10 harrison Grey Fiske for the
rights of the Lorimer Stoddard
dramatization of the Hardy story, with
view to her appearance in II N
Paris. Mr.. Fiske has sent her the
manuscript, which she is now consid-
ering.
lbsen was gifted as were few Of his
contemporaries with bold conceptions.
facile variety of expression and an al,
most superhuman insight into the depths
OF modern social tragedy. He is the poet
OF protest the invader or hypocrisy, the
relentless Nemesis Of present day fol-