The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-01-03
MRS. FTSKB RETURNS
TO STAGE IN COMEDY
Makes Successful Presentation
OF "Erstwhile Susan" in
Pittsburg.
LATE THEATRICAL GOSSIP

Mrs Ffske made her appearance last
week in Syracuse after a retirement, Of
some months and there has been no
other event Of equal Importance In the
world or theatricals during the pres
ent season. TIL famous actress has
TINS time selected comedy as the means
or her return to the footlishts. The
title OF the play is "Erstwhile Susan"
and its author is Marion de Forest, who
was more or less concerned with the
dramatic version Of Little Women"
The source Of the drama il Helen r.
Martins move "Barnabetta."
Mrs. Ffske plays the wife Of a crusty
farmer In the coal mining regions Of
Pennsylvania. She has come to his
house to marry him In answer TO an
advertisement In a Newspaper and fnds
him already twice a widower. the father
Of two crops Of children. II Is In one
OF these. Bornobctfa, that she especially
interests herself. To rescue this child
from the tyranny OF her father and
brothers she consents to become the
vile OF the old man. Her illustrations
not only serve TO tighten the gloom Of
existence in the Dreor family-for this
is the name OF the home into which abe
moves-but save B%drrdbetto.
Mrs. Fiske is said to have a part
admirably suited to her best comedy
spirit In the new play. which intro
duces to the public a new form Of i'm
presarios in Corey, Williams 4 Ryter.
who are soon TO present Mrs. Fiske and
"Erstwhile Susan In New York. Madi-
son Corey has long been the admins
trative head OF Henry W. Savage's en-
terprises. John d. williams is we'll
known as an author and the personal
manager OF the late Charles Frohman.
while Joseph Ryter IL a resident OF
Pittsburg who has veen for some time
interested In the theatre. He founded
the Pitt Theatre. where a stock com
pany produced the best available plays.
Paul Capellani. the we'll known
French actor, who was to appear NJ the
Theatre Francais. has resolved to take
part only in performances intended for
his countrymen's relief. He is a men,
Der Of the Coincide Franchise and after
a years service In the army was re.
lieved on account OF serious illness. lie
ha. posed In some OF the moving pic
lures made here by his brother. bu'
will take part In no dramatic perform
ances and this resolve will deprive New
York of the opportunity to see one Of
the best OF the contemporaneous French
actors.
Il Grace La Rue Is the latest 10 follow
In the footsteps OF Anne ~Swinburne ant
take TO serious music. She will begir
long recitals devoted to Shubert. Schu'
mann and Brahms. Richard Strauss and
Schoenberg also will be represented or
her programmes.
Evidently there Is some quality In
English speaking audiences which makes
the success of morbid plays impossible
The actors OF the Paris Grand Guignol
who have lately been in London. have
decided to drop all the thrillers from
their programmes produce oniy thel'
comic pieces.
John Hines. who is well known az {
short story writer. will make his frs
appearance here In musical comedy whe'
''SybIl" is acted next week AZ the Libert!
Theatre.
Horace Annesley vachell. now that h
L. -..tar,t. min yuriuhf
mas won popua r. 90, -, "a,
seems 10 oe s""m".s m.n,Un r,a
sleeve ~ nc nnaXs" .srb,
! Seare"nsn" .rna ~ r. case,. thor
/ Chier u o - Wv ,,,inh Hen,
comes "no - o,n nraw nns, ~
Nn.y NJ. s,ar. thai n. \. TOO ma,ur
for the leading role. one attack o
p, Vachell a year is enough for any acto
20 sunel iro.n, .s p.,ioc Douna
E one ron. na,ar. u ia .freeI,
!. oa.so ,ha man tha, in IN
play only suspec'en Oh SUI"
: the result IL just n happy tr1ne ABOUT
few murders with n sort Oh JdSh III