The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1907-11-30
DONALDsONvIILE La, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER SO, 1907
NEW ORLEANS LETTER.
Astonishing Feats of Houdifii, the Hand
cuR King-A Few Knocks for ''George
Washington, Jr.''-Mme. schumann-
Heink Delights Music Lovers.
STAFF Correspondence Of The Chief.
New orleans. La, Nov. 27. 1907

does HOudlnI,- Inc Two weeks WOnQeI
at tho Orphenm Theatre, who's finished
his local engagement last Monday and
departed for pastures new, leaving
the patrons of that popular vaudeville
house mystified almost to the point ol
crediting the "Handcuff King" as he
generally known, with supernatural
powers. There seems to be no lock or
bolt made that can feaze Houdini; he
extricates himself from str aightjaekets,
cunningly contrived manacles, packing
boxes into which he has been securely
nailed, trunks, padlocked mail bags,
condemned cells in any old prison any
old where, with an ease and agility
that is nothing short of marvellous.
Houdini is just a simple little every
day American-b Hebrew, whose
real name is Weis, If remember cor
rectly, and I understand that he dis
covered his remark able faculty for un-
locking locks through being i'm
prisoned once in his early youth, at
which time he picked the lock of his
cell and made his escape. also un-
derstand that his weekly salary
amounts to s125o, and Judging by his
success here and the thousands of
spectators he drew at the two daily
performances at the Orpheum, he's
more than paying investment for the
Circuit even at such q handsome
figure.
Brown of Harvard" is ripping
college play that is showing at the
Tulane this week with Henry Wood :
ruff in the leading role. 'George
Washington, Jr.,n one of Geo. NJ.
Cohan's clever comedies, is the Cres-
cent Offering for the current week.
read somewhere some time ago that
Cohan was writing a play for Nat
Goodwin, and | am trying to figure
outflow it will be possible for play
wright of Cohan's calibre to evolve a
good, high,class play. dealing with
good, high-class conditions. to serve
as vehicle for good, high-class play
ers. Cohan is undoubtedly clever, and
all OF his comedies are bright, breezy
and original, but there's no denying
they're built along "horsey" lines,
all for go and show and rip go bang
fun. The first scene of George w ash
ington, Jr., - is laid at Mount Vernon,
with the father of his country his
toric old home as a background, and
The Man Who Takes Me to the Theatre
laughed when l commented with dis
approval upon the fact that the one
raightforward, honorable senator in
the piece conceals himself behind a
post of the Washington home at one
stage of the play and deliberately and
designedly eavesdrops. And OF all
unholy incongruities, to commit such
an offense in the shadow of Washing
toms home! At least, that was the
way | looked at it, but The Man Who
Takes Me to the Theatre declared that
that was straining at gnats, and re.
minded me very gently that one
scarcely quibbled over minor details,
or looked for the exploitation Of high
handed principles and lofty ideals in
a comedy that was nothing more or
less than a patchwork of bright lines
and amusing situations pieced to-
gether with catchy melodies. One
more little knock. 1t always gives me
the creeps to hear an actress who
is not of the south, southy, trying to
get off the proper accent in southern
play, and I am more than sure nc
human Virginia girl ever talked with
the egg fip accent that characterizes
Miss Parker's speech in "George
Washington, Jr.n
New Orleans music lovers enjoyed
rare treat last Sunday in the sing
ing of Nine. Schumann-Heink, who
appeared at the Tulane for single
afternoons engagement. Her selec'
tions were characterized by charm
ing variety, and her voice is of tht
kind one dreams about and hears bu
rarely. The Tulane was packed from
pit to parquet with large and fash
ionable audience. E. B.