The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-08-13

NEW YORK, Aug. 13.-David Be-
lasco. who can always be depended
upon to do the thoroughly original
thing, whether planning a stage dinner
or writing a play, has outdone himself
in preparing for the production of Leo
Ditrichstein's comedy, rs Matrimony
a Failure which will have it's pre-
miere at Atlantic City next Monday,
then shift quarters to the Belasco the
alter, this city, for metropolitan COM
mendation or criticism.
Mr. Belasco has had a hard time get
ting a cast together for rs Matri
mony a Failure?" because of the unique
quail .fications demanded of the candi
dates for the various roles. to-wit-
that they themselves should have ex-
perienced matrimony once at least, and
if possible parenthood to boot Just why
the playwright manager producer has
seen fit to thus discriminate against
the baC helor and the spinster in favor
of the benedict and matron, he has not
seen fit to explain, but whatever the
explanation. Belasco makes no bones
about adm ting the fact that matri-
mony and its inevitable and worthy
corollaries, maternity and paternity.
have been powerful factors in the Sc
ho J,aS
appointed as protagonists on the sub
ject of the external query
The cast has at least been COM
pleted. however. and the personnel
stands as follows:
Husbands (many of them fathers)-
Frank Worthing, William Morris, W.
J. Ferguson Frank Manning, James
Bradbury. Edward Langford, John F.
Weber. Newton Lindo, Robert Rog
erS.
Wives (many of them mothers)-
Kathryn Osterman. Jane Cowl, Louise
Mcintosh. Louise Woods, Julia Rein
guson. Jessie Morris Sullivan.
Engaged-Jane Grey. On. BAT the
last moment Mr.. Belasco was persuad
ed to raise the embargo sufficient to
admit Mss Grey upon that young lady
giving substantial evidence that she
was and is engaged to be marriedD
The Florist Shop by oliver Her
ford, was one of the new productions
of the week opening at the Liberty
theater last Monday night The play
shows HEREFORD at his best and there is
in it a big scene which affords an at
trao tive novelty.
It is laid in a fashionable shop pre-
sided over by a French florist. who is
at the same time. Hundreds of dol
lars worth of American Beauties, vio
let's, carnat ons, gardenias and roses of
all varieties are required to stock the
stage. The house is fragrant with the
seductive odOr of beautiful flowers
brought fresh from the hot house daily.
There are q speaking parts in the play
making an unusual cast.
At the Lyceum Miss Marie Doro be-
gan the final week of her seasons
work. She is appearing in 1.-The Morals
of Marcus aid sails next week for
Europe for a rest from ten months
continuous acting The current week
also saw the reopening of the Gaiety
theater. where J. E. Dodson is con-
tinuing his last seasons success. 1.-THE
House Next Door," and the reappear-
ance of James T. Powers in Havana"
the popular and tuneful opera, at the
Casino.
The first New York performance of
'The Ringmaster," a new American
drama. in four acts, took place at Max
inc Elliotts theater on Monday even
inc. The Rngmaster" is the work
of Miss Olive Porter and deals with
conditions in the financial district OF
New York city Among those in the
cast are Arthur Byron, George Howell