davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-29
MParslfaI.v

No more sublime subject, and no more beautiful or interesting story WAS ever eembodied in q play than is witnessed in the mystic drama, "Parsifal" The story of 'Parsifal, in somewhat varied forms, is moro or less familiar to English read CTS by their acquaintance with Tenny- sons Knights of the Round Table" or Walter Maps Welsh legend of the same subject. German scholars and readers have gained their principal knowledge of the story from the pen of their famous poet, Wolfram von Esenbach, who wrote his lengthy but wonderful poem before Wagners time. French readers are sim ilarly acquainted with the sacred theme through the medium of the grand work of Chetrein de Troyes. Other writers, poets and philosophers, of all climes and ages, have gloried in showing their gen- Jus In prose and poetry through the me- alum of this absorbing legendary story. Artists have vied with each other in per petuatng its glorious scenes upon can vas. In our own land today the famous paintings of Edwin Abbey grace the walls of the Boston library, beautifully Illustrating the Quest Of the Holy Grail" It remained however. for tho genius of the immortal Wagner to gather and study the many legends, myths and mystical stories pertaining to the Holy Grail, and with all this acquired knowledge, supplemented and aided by his own poetic nature and artistic temperament. to construct what is universally known as "Parsifal." A version of this musi- cal drama as a play, will be given at the Jefferson ths week.
 Correct historical costI1ming. archltee- ture and appointments, as well also scenic investment, will be n special fen ture Of the production, A competent CO., terle of artists will be neen in the prln- clpal roles and Il well trained and in teligent corps of auxllaries will also be used in this spectacular offering. All of the Balreuth customs will be carried ont except the time of commencing, which has been slightly changed. The dividing of the performance into two sections,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-29
"The Umpire"

The dashng musical comedy sent out from Chicago by Harry Askin, with Joe
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-29

handsomely mounted and well equipped In every respect. The story, though far cieal, is not altogether disconnected The troubles of an umpire are wildly and feelingly pictured with Q fidelity that cannot fail to appeal to even the most perfunctory student of baseball stories to say nothing of scores and averages
 re following is taken from a New Orleans paper of recent date
 "The Umpire Is very much above the average and it is not at all astonishing that should have achieved phenomenal success in Chicago.
 The dances and choruses are invariably of higher class than those usually found in musical comedies, and even the later comic operas, while some of the lyrics are undoubtedly destined to enjoy several years of popularity and very gen eral Nougue remarkable feature of , this production was apparent in the quick ness and certainty with which the au- dience was impressed with the fact taht | it was witnessing no ordinary, everyday | musical production.
 | The cast was an excellent one through out, and a particularly strong feature of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-29
The Four Mortons.

Beginning tomorrow night, the Biiou will offer as it's attraction comedy, with music. entitled. "The Big Stick" featur- ing as the readliners of large company The Four Mortons. whose entertaining capabilities are not surpass by any oth- CT family of American artists. Sam, Kit tie, Paul and Clara-father mother, son and daughter--they are without question a most talented family of professionals. For years they have been headliners in vaudeville of the highest class, command ing high salary.
 For the past two seasons the Mortons have been starring in musical comedy. and their success has been so pronounced that their managers decided to furnish them a pretentous vehicle, and after reading dozens of manuscripts they con- missioned George " Hobart to write a play that would fit the talents of that clever family That he succeeded, is at tested by the opinions of the press througout the country and by the sue cess which has attended "rhe Big Stick since it's first presentation.
 The story has to do with the aspirations of Danieli Donahue, an eX-laborer, who has arisen to the distinction of being a contractor, in a small way, and who, after having been awarded his first con tract, is confronted with conditions which prevent him from carrying out his agree ment. There is grasping money lender, a scheming woman, an Italian Padrone, a -~~~-0----->~~
 CONFINED ON NEXT FACED
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-29

it's work was uniform earnestness and at tention to business. The whole production gave evidence of stage management that might be regarded as practically fault less.
 or course Joe Whitehead. who played Jimmie Dolan. the umpire was the cen tral figure, and his performance was one which makes him deserving of an en- Vied position among the comic opera and musical comedians of the present genera tion. He showed an intelligent compre- hension of the intensely humorous char acter intrusted to him, and that quick and keen sense ot humor that is inva- riably essential for the successful com edian in any line. Besides this, he dis played a thorough appreciation of the value of broadly comic stage business Grimaces as expressive as words could be and ncomparably quicker to reach the understanding of the audience were made to do splendid service for him. while at times just sudden dropping of the cor ner of his mouth, or a look of hopeless resignation, proved sufficient to set the audience in a roar of laughter without the aid of a line of dialogue. His comic dancing was in itself an accomplishment of which the average singing and dan cling comedian might well feel proud
 MsS Dorothy N ebb. the soubrette of the con pany as Mirabe Lewton was the other of the two really great features of the cast, which stood out with note worthy prominence.
 Virginia AinsWorth, Helen Wilton and Helen Salinger all aided in creating a generally favorable impression, while the male principals were deserving of favor able II enton.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-29
"The Bondman."

One of the most interesting offerings of the season will be the coming of Wilton Lackaye in Hall Caine's "The Bond man." MT LaclSye will be seen here at the Jefferson theatre Wednesday, Octo- Der 2.
 'The Bondman, that is to say. Hall Gaines own dramatization of his novel of the same name, has been running for over a year at the Drury Lane theatrte, London. In England it has created sen sation and Is accepted as the greatest of all the Hall Caine successes. When VII liam A. Brady visited London this sum- mer, he secured the American rights for Mir. Lackaye and also made arrange ments with Arthur Collins for the inn portation to America of the entire Drury Lane production. This in itself is prob ably the greatest undertaking ever at tempted by an American manager. The novelty of the scenes and effects, how ever, were such that MT Brady felt that it would be impossible to faithfully repro duce the same without months of study and much hard work on the part of American scenic artists and mechanics. The production, therefore, which will be seen Wednesday night. is practically an English production with an American cast.
 It is interesting to know, too, that MT. Caine was willing to release the Amefl- can rights to MT. Brady, inasmuch as he is manager for MT. Lackaye, probably the the one actor in America whom Mir. Caine deems absolutely suitable to portray the powerful character of "Jason," the lead ing part of the play.
 The play will be found to follow very closely the lines laid out in Mir. Gaines novel. The British critics have publicly stated, however, that "The Bondman" as a play is infinitely superior to the novel the many dramatic scenes offering excep- tional opportunities for clever stage craft which lends much additional interest to the play. Six scenes are used in which to tell the story, all of them being of novel character and particular attention is called to the second scene showing the Manz harvest fete and the second scene of the third act, depicting the Solfatara sulphur mines of the convict settlements in Sicily.
 A large company will support Mir. I4ackaye, included in the cast being many well known players, especially se- lected for their ability to portray the various characters. In addition to the scenery and effects all the costumes have been imported from England and will be exactly similar to those used in the Dru- ry Lane production.
 This production is probably one of the largest and most interesting that Will visit this city this season. Two car loads of scenery are used in the production while the cast requires a large company
 "The Umpire"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-29

with a two hour dinner intermission has been eliminated. The only intermissons that will be given will be those of five to eight minutes duration between the acts, but owing to its length the perform ance will begin at 7:45 sharp, and will conclude at II o'clock. It is one of the rules of the performance-and the man. agement gives every assurance that the rule will be strictly enforced-that every one must be seated before the house Is darkened which means before the rise of the first curtain Late corners will not be shown to their seats during the ae- ton of the play.
 "Parsifal" will be given at the Jeffer- son theatre Monday evening, September 30
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-29

Whitehead as Jimmie Dolan," the lead Ing role, will be the attraction at the Jefferson theatre next Saturday afternoon and night, October 5. The company is one of the strongest on the road and the play one OF the best that will be seen here. The play Is in two acts The book and lyrics are by will M. Hough and Frank R. Adams, and the music by Jo- seph E. Howard. 1t Is splendidly cast, beautifully and artlstically .costumed