The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-09-20
NOTES OF. NEW
 YORK THEATRES

In the parlance of the first nighters who gathered to receive Lillian Rus sell in her new comedy, .'The Wid- ow's Night in New York the past week, the consensus of opinion was that the fair Lillian wins again. Ed mund Days comedy of Wall Street, which is her stellar vehicle for the present, turns out the play that per lrits Miss Russell to shine in new sur roundings with all the charm and fem mine graces that have long combin- ed to make her an institution on the American. stage.
 A surprising element Iof her new character which was particularly mo- ticed was that the former Queen of comic opera has ripened in her art as a comedienne and the fact of most note was the splendid advancement she has made in this difficult branch of art. Her development has added to her poise and charm, and withal her work in the, central character of this interesting story of Cupid and the Stock Exchange was so clean cut and convincing that Miss Russell lifted the piece into success and by force of presence made it a decided hit.
 There is always an element of a Russell production which makes her task the more difficult. Long recog- nized as the peer of her sisters in stage land, her feminine admirers look
 
 procession in sartorial establishment of her characters The role entrusted to her is opportune in this, but even blase frstnighters were startled by the Parisian gowns that Miss Russell brought oyer for her use this season. They constitute an array of wearing apparel too wonderful to permit of de- tailed description other than they are the newest styles to be had and pret- ty enough to make one envious were
 
 Russell. The first dress is a shopping costume of gray Liberty satin trim med in silver lace and natural lynx furs. It is a pretty combination of Napoleonic and Directoire effects, with a tri-cockade hat of the First Empire period that sets off Miss Russells ra- diant beauty. The second act presents the star in a dinner gown of clinging white Liberty satin with plaited skirt and made effective by it's simplicity of outline. The design is known in Paris as a moitiere creation and ul- tra-modern in treatment. The gown is studded with rhinestones and arc en ciel Tainbow) pielettes. The sleeves and neck are of silver voil.
 The third act is a ball room scene and here Miss Russell wears a won derfu1 creation of blue and gold bro caded silk draped in surplice style and hung in Grecian folds with the aim of silhouetting- the figure without accentuating the li~' too strongly. There is a winged back of gold cro- cheted lace. Tie neck and sleeves are of Venetian point. For the final act Miss Russell wears carriage dress of white cloth with satin hem around the bottom. Over this is a Byzantine coat of transparent Russian scroll lace embroidered with silver. ation of turban and Russian toque of moonlight blue velvet with an osprey at the side of the same shade. This is the most extreme Parisian bit of mill linery, consisting of folds upon folds of the same texture that winds about the head and extends down in the back to the coat collar, hiding all the hair excepting a fringe that shows over the left temple.
 Fannie Ward will open her season in America in a play by Forrest Hal sey and Lee Arthur entitled " Van AL lens Wife" H. Reeves Smith has been engaged as her leading man. Miss Wards London season was personal success. Her development in her chosen field of endeavor has been sure and most artistic. ''Van Aliens Wife, is a modern play. Its scenes are laid in New York City and on Long Island. The characters depicted are those of men and women of good breeding into whose circle circumstances force young woman of the best instincts and sterling worth, but a toy of the F'ates. Her life falls in pleasant paths and happiness comes to her. In the midst Of her contenment she again becomes plaything of the iunforseen and is forced out of the warmth of her hus- bands home and her childs heart to take up the life of paying the penalty for the misdeeds of others. The com pany will be carefully selected and the play staged with taste and dis cretion.
 The next production to be made by Klaw & Erlanger and Joseph Brooks will be "The Barrier" which opens in Rochester the latter part of this month. Eugen Presbrey, who has dramatized Rex Beach's novel, is re- hearsing the players. The dramatiza- tion is in three acts. The strongest situations in the novel have been re- tained and the plot closely followed. All of the characters of the novel will appear in the play. Theodore Roberts will play the part of John Gale and w. s. Hart is cast as Don Stark Florence Rockwell will assume the part of Necia. Other members of the ioIo or5