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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (April 29, 1900)
, r, - - THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN; PORTLAND, APRIL 29, 1900. IT cThAMA Take Precaution. If you would tell toiuii'i age, Auume a gentle toce. JLsd tell It to her with tbe all Of a tosx-dlataaoe 'phone. Chicago Ken. WITH ENTIRE FRANKNESS Local Lovers of Minstrelsy Hare a Surfeit of Good Thins Dar ing Week. Solemnly rolling eyeballs in. & setting of black cork, good-atured grins, gorgeous t satin waistcoats, buttoned with brilliants: the surprised Ingenuousness of Mr. "West as Interlocutor who could resist these? Seated on green stools, arranged In tiers at the Marquam, Friday night, Mr. West's I minstrels, sober-mannered, black-skinned. I coral-lipped, with white, blinking eyes and , rose-satin coat lapels, looked like nothing eo much as a nosegay of grotesque, exotic flowers. It Is a great pity a clerer minstrel com pany like Mr. West's cannot get Its jokes copyrighted, or patented, or otherwise se cured for its own exclusive use. A good many of the songs and Jokes had already been heard over at Cordray's, where the Barlow minstrels had been spouting them all the week. But that In no way inter fered with the laugh et the Marquam, for there Is a contagious hilarity about the "West minstrels and their way of delivering a. Joke that invariably carries an audience by storm. They all enter Into their work with such freshness and gusto; the va rious transformations are made with such lightning dexterity that there Is not even the hundredth part of a second allowed for a yawn. Carroll Johnson enters in gorgeous blue coat, blue ellk hat and float ing blue ribbon streamers, Hid to his cone He tells a racy story that brings down the house; retires amid uproarious,' merri ment, and, in the twinkling of an eye. re. turns In scarlet, to tbe confusion and mystification of the audience. All Done Prestissimo. Everything Is done prestissimo; there Is a wonderfully clever adjustment of stage mechanics, and this makes it possible to Introduce the element of surprise, with great success. Into the various acts, and surprise will be found, upon investigation, (a be the basis of most of the humor of the world. The voices are fresh and sonorous, but this "one has learned to expect, for mu sically Mr. West's company has always been strong too strong. It may be said, for the sextette would be more enjoyable if the voices could be softened down a bit; sweetness rather than strength should be sought In vocal work of this character, and this applies also to Mr. Weber's bari tone solos. Richard Jose, who, for sev eral j ears, has stood at the head of Mr. West's list of vocalists, has the figure of Dickens' fat boy and the voice of a siren; he seems to have lost none of his power over an audience. It Is doubtful whether anything mora clever than the olio specialties Introduced into the second part of Mr. West's enter tainment has ever been seen on a. Portland stage. The marvelous acrobatic feats of the Luken brothers, the grotesque dancing of the .three Marvelles, those brilliant spec tacular Innovations, the signal light drill, the storming of San Juan Hill and the exceptionally fine military drill at the end these were absolutely flawless, one" and all. with no weak spots or unpleasant waits. The finest touch of real humor that was given during the entire evening was Ernest -Tenney's act. In conjunction with the Waterbury brothers. With rare skill and discriminating musical taste, he has taken advantage of the peculiarly clownish character of the oboe. Of all the wind Instruments, there Is only one (the bassoon) which lends Itself more easily to buffoonery. And with all the drollery Mr. Tenney put Into his antics with the oboe, there was no flagrant loss In melo diousness-, il it anstt The Barloif Minstrel. Lovers of burnt-cork comedy should bo reasonably well satiated by this time, since It has been holding the boards also at CordTay's. The Barlow Minstrels have given a week of clean and wholesome fun. There was a refreshing absence of oir color stories; they had, moreover, the ad vantage of arriving first on the ground with this season's stock of new songs and mots. The chief strength of the company lies In their musical equipment, which irf unquestionably good. It Is pleaeant to chronicle, although they have two brass bands at their command, they have not made the mistake ot substituting noise for music The voices are fresh and true and not over-loud, and the ensembles are thoroughly pleasing. More care has been expended upon perfecting the old-time min strel features than upon the olio spec ialties, which are barely able to pass mus ter. It would be hard to excel the open Ins stage picture that Inaugurates the en tertainment. In its queer mixture of splen did coloring and pompous formality, with darky drollery. MERIWETHER. Sonata. All these difficulties he over came easily." Following Is the programme that will be rendered tomorrow night at the Metropolitan: Sonata No. 3, In Q major, violin and piano E. Grieg Allegro. Roxnnnza. r Finale. MM. Petschnikoff and Lachaume. Sonata, Op. 57, "Appasslonata" L. von Beethoven Assal allegro. Andante con rooto. Allegro man non troppo. M. Mark Hambourg. Concerto. No. 2. in D minor... Wlenlawskl Allegro moderate Romania. Finale. M. Alexandre Petschnikoff. (a) "Tempo di Ballo" Scarlatti ID) --uapnccio ;....&canaiu (c) "Two Etudes" Chopin id) "Melodie" Gluck-SgambatI (e) "Gavotte Modeme" (Schlrmer. N. Y.) Hambourg M. Mark Hambourg. (a) "Melodie" Tschaikowsky (b) "Calabrese" Bazzlnl M. Alexandre Petschnikoff. "Rhapsodie Hongroie" No. 2 Liszt M. Mark Hambourg. "Variations," for two pianos.. Saint-Saens MM. Mark Hambourg and Alme Lachaume. i counts, when compared to the atmosphere or traany xarce-comeay. in which mucn oi the fast-waning theatrical season la en-voloped. K5 OBS O TESXESSEE." Hal Retd's Plar to Rnn a Week at " Cordray's Theater. 1 Hal Reld's latest dramatic creation, "Knobs O Tennessee," will be produced, under the management of Charles H. Haystead. at Cordray's Theater tonight. "U5CLE TOM'S CABIX." L. B. Btoclcwell to Open m Three Weeks' Cordray Season With It. The announcement that L. R. Stockwell, the popular comedian. Is to begin a short season at Cordray's Theater, opening In the old favorite, "Uncle Tom's Cabin," ! will cause a great deal ot Interest among local theater-goers. Mr. Stockwell. of course, will appear In his original char acterization of Marks, the lawyer, a part in which he first became famous. Many years ago, he presented "Uncle Tom's Cabin." when Mrs. Harriet Beech-er-Stowe occupied a box at the theater and witnessed, for the first time, a drama tization of her successful novel. So pleased was she with the play that she gave Mr. Stockwell a letter of Introduction to the original Uncle Tom, whom the comedian met, some months later, and who then also witnessed, for the first time, the play In which he had been made the hero. He was a minister up In Can ada somewhere, and. If recollection serves, hl9 name was Howard. He admitted that the play was. In the main, a counterpart Iot his early slave days, and the only correction that he offered was that. Little Eva's real name was Hannah. '. The forthcoming production of "Uncle I Tom" at Cordray's will be an elaborate one, and Mr. Stockwell will have the sup- PI AM ST MAniC HAMBOURG. and running the entire week, including Saturday matinee. Robert Germaine ant. Louise Carter, both well-known players, I will be In the lead, and another member of the company Is Alice Marble, charac ter performer, i The play Is said to have been doing a ' good business this season, and Its story Is I lalA In ftw TonnMc. fMthtll nmnnr the "moonshiners." It Is said to be con structed with considerable skill and accu rately to portray the primitive life of the people of whom It treats. The whiff of mountain air, which comes from the sur roundings. Is refreshing, according to ac- port of a strong company. Among thosa who will appear In the cast Is Max Steinle, who was with Stockwell last season, as Martin Tripp, in "A Midnight Bell," and who Is a favorite with Portland play goers. Mr. Stockwell's Cordray engagement will be for three weeks, beginning next Sunday evening. He will probably pro duce Hoyt's "A Temperance Town," fol lowing "Uncle Tom's Cabin." "QTJO VADISt" THIS WEEK. It Will ne Presented nt Marquam Grand Thenter. "Quo Vadis?" the Eastern dramatic MUSICAL TREAT IX STORE. Petschnikoff, Itambonrc nnd Lnch nmc nt the Metropolitan. Petschnikoff, Hambourg and Lachaume. the trio of musicians wbicn has been tour- t lng the Western Coast and met with the approval of the press and music-loving public, will appear at the Metropolitan Theater tomorrow evening. They come direct from San Francisco, where they achieved no Inconsiderable degree of suc cess, and will open to a good house here. To show how well the San Francisco public thought of these performers, the following, from the Chronicle of that city, may prove of Interest: "Both Hambourg nnd Petschnikoff were recalled many times after each number, and although the programme was long and exacting, the- yielded and gave encores. Their aud itors could not eeem to get too much of them. Recalls were as Insistent after a sonata, which took 23 minutes to play, as after something which took a fourth of that time." "His ttehnlcque Is astounding." said the New York Post, of Petschnikoff. after a ; recent recital; "ami he had the ccurago to play. In the same hour, two of tno moet difficult compositions he could have found for his Instrument, theTschalkowsky concerto end tuque, from Bach's 'Fifth ' METROPOLITHN THEKTER THE GREAT RUSSIAN -PIANIST- One RecitaL.Monday, April 30, 1900...One Recital THE GREAT RUSSIAN VIOLINIST AN EVENT that will live IN MUSICAL HISTORY "The young Siegfried of the piano a gen ius." Marflnex. New York World. THE DISTINGUISHED FRENCH . PIANIST . AND COMPOSER GREAT TRIUMVIRATE OF MUSICAL PRINCES HAMBOURG PETSCHNIKOFF LACHAUME "POET OP THE VIOLIX." These great artists use the "Knabe" piano only. Two large Concert Grands will be supplied by The Wiley B. Allen Co., general agents, for their use on this occasion. The following reasonable prices will prevail Orchestra. $2 00; .Orchestra Circle, H 50; Boxes. f!2 50; Dress Circle. $1 SO; Balcony, $1 00; 75c. Three artists for the reasonable price of one. SEATS NOW ON SALE AT THE BOX OFFICE from 10 A. M. to S P. M. Loge Seats. J2 00; Gallery, Popular With the People. CORDRAY'S THEATER Maunee Saturday Week Beginning Tonight, Sunday, April 29"" CHAS. H. HAYSTEAD PRESENTS MR. ROBERT GERMAINE AND A STRONG COMPANY IN KNOBS 0' TENNESSE IX THE FOOTHILLS OF TEXNESSEC) f BY HAL REID, AUTHOR OF "HUMAN HEARTS' A Story of Intense Heart Interest USUAL PRICES Best Reserved Seats, 50c; Loge and Box Seats, 75c and $1.00; Gallery, 25c. r " JOHN F. CORDRAY. Manaoer Hi lliII ffjg 'XSrt success, will be seen for the first time In Portland, at the Marquam Grand. Fri day and Saturday evenings. May 4 and 5, and Saturday matinee. The play will be produced by what is claimed to be a good company of players, and with what Is said, to be adequate scenic accessories an Important particular in the presenta tion of a piece, strong drama that It Is, In which mechanical and other stage ef fects are so largely depended on, as In the dramatization of Sienckewlcz's famous novel. The latter, bj the way. Is not largely departed from In the play, as It ...- nmT. tn ?aot Vnrlf nlthnile-h (here are several dramatic versions on the road. The story or the novel is laminar to most readers, and does not require eluci dation at the present writing. It will suf fice to say that it cnieny aeais wjin m thrilling experiences of a Christian maid, en. Lygla, the daughter of the Lygian King, and who Is held as hostage by the infamous Nero, and with her love for a patrician of Rome, who, through his love for her. Is led finally to Christianity and the acquirement of Lygla as his wife. Uglous drama. "The Sign of the Cross." Augustus Thomas' "Arizona," Clyde Fitch's "Nathan Hale," Opie Bead's "The Carpetbagger" are a few that come to my mind. They are all worth reading. Here's to the man who has the ability to write a novel out of which can be made a successful play! He not only brings pleas ure to the book worm, but also to the de votee of the theater, and last, but not least, enriches himself. S. TERRY McKEAN. JR. noilEUT GEIUIAIXE, WITH "KXOBS O' TEXXESSEE" C031PAKT. HOVELS MADE INTO PLAYS. Profitable Field for Novelists With. Dramatic Instinct. I ASTORIA. Or.. April M. 1900.-(To the Editor.) The novelist with a bit of the theatrical In his make-up Is aucky dog. By theatrical I mean the one who can write a novel with Just enough of the right kind of action, although the action, as It takes place In the story, does not make much difference to the up-to-date theatrl cal man. Be It flood, tornado, horse race, fire or other thrilling episode, he will pro duce It on the stage as true to life as though It were Just a common, every-day occurrence; make the characters people who live and move, the dialogue every day talkl Then, even If the author be not able to turn his novel Into a drama, there are plenty of dramatists who are. and he becomes the recipient of revenue from both publisher and play-producer. During the last few seasons there have been some very clever dramatizations made and produced in a successiui man ner. Barrle'a "The Little Minister," Calne's "The Christian," Wallace's "Ben Hur." "Quo Vadis," "Fortherglll's "First Violin," Hope's "Rupert of Hentzau," and I could name many others. Westcott's clerk character sketch, "Da vid Harum," la to be produced next season by William H. Crane. To my mind, this will make purely a one-part play, for with the exception of Harum's sister, Polly, the other characters are merely "feeders." If I Kere a dramatist, I would, hate to undertake to put It Into play 'form; It would make a better monologue. "Richard Carvel." Churchill's successful love story. Is another that Is to be made over for the stage. In this tale the dramatist will find abundant material to work with. The nlot teems with romance and adventure. the time. "Just "before and Muring our Rev olutionary War. and the many historical characters lntroduced.-making the founda tion for a moet Interesting drama. "When Knighthood Was In Flower" will, I think, make a much more superior play than novel, and with Julia Marlow as Mary Tudor and a strong leading man as Brandon, there Is no reason why It should not be the success of Mies Mar lowe's career. While there have been many successful plays made from novels, plays have been used for the double pur pose also. Wilson Barretts powerful re- SALE OF DALY LIBRARY. Boole Lovers Amazed at Its Extent and Richness. Commenting upon the result of thesale of the late Augustln Daly's library. In New York, which realized nearly $200,000 to be exact, 1197.175 the Dramatic Mirror says: "It must have given several persons who themselves are more or less Industrious In the collecting of valuable books and the making ot ordinary books, valuable new Ideas as to the Indefatigable man who will live In the history of .bibliog raphy, yet who was among the most ac tive as well as among the most Intelligent of men In theatrical management during the greater part of two generations. Au gustln Daly's vocation was that of the theater; his greatest avocation that of the bibliophile. The theater Is the better for his labors In it. and the world of Imper ishable books owes something notable to his work as a collector and an elaborator. "Few among the more prominent of book collectors have ever been so Indus trious In their vocations as Daly was. The attention he gave to and the hours he spent In the theater would have wearied, as well as satisfied, any other theater manager. But as he was a great lover of the literature of the theater the antique as well as the current the labors of his avocation fell sympathetically In with his regular work, which they foiled as well as enriched. "The Daly library that has Just been dispersed amazed all book lovers for Its extent and Its richness, as well as for the original effort put upon It. Of course. Mr. Daly employed experts In many fields of collection, extension and elaboration, yet his was the mind that aspired to certain achievements which the library represent ed, and his was the careful supervision that made those achievements remarka ble. The book lovers who have been spending lifetimes on their own collections were astonished, not only by the results of Mr. Daly's energy and enterprise, but the comparatively short time that had been Involved In the collection was a source of wonder. It Is only about 20 years ago that Mr. Daly disposed of his first library, which was unusually rich and voluminous. "A great deal of Interest to bookish men will be written, sooner or later, about this sale of the Daly library. One of the things Impressed by It was the fact that bibliography, of which but one branch was largely represented In this collection. Is a wonderful science, of which no single man Is master." HIGH DIVE Ar VANCOUVER SUNDAY, APRIL 29. EDWARD (V10REY Z From Tower 90 Feet High. Steamer BONITA leaves Washington street wharf at I P. M Portland Railway Co. from First and Washington sts. every 45 minutes, commencing 9:15 A. M. ROUND TRIP 45 CENTS. niGn PRAISE, INDEED. Clement Scott's Opinion of Blanche Bntes as 3Une. Butterfly. Clement Scott, the eminent English ' dramatic critic, has this to say of Blanche Bates, as Mme. Butterfly, In the Belasco Japanese play of that name, now running In New York: "Miss Blanche Bates Is never at fault, from the rising of the curtain to the falL Her accent, half English, hilf American, is exactly correct. She might have lived In Japan all her life, and even ir she had she could not better have Impersonated the Ideal Geisha. The shuffling walk, the mock servility, the pride, the hate, the revenge, the passion for the child, the Joy of life while there is sunshine, the deter mination to die when night creeps on. are as true to the potm as to the woman realized before us. "Thl3 Is a creation that may be com mended to all students of acting. Let them watch It in its light and shade, in Its Infinite variety, in Its nature, its ab sence of trick and artificiality, and then they will know what cultured acting Is like. What a relief such art as this, wholesome, pure arfd natural, after tho miasmatic swamp in which we are some times compelled to grope in order to fine a trace Of draggle-tailed and unwholesome art. Here we can breathe again and re joice that we have a theater where beau ty is preferred to banamy. MARQUAM GRAND CALVIN HEILIO, Hgr. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS, AND SATURDAY MATINEE, MAY 45 THE GREAT CHRISTIAN DRAMA 66 Quo Vadis Presented by CHARLES RICGS CO.;, In lavish manner. 99 TWO CARLOADS OF BEAUTIFUL SCENERY! EVENING. , Lower floor (except last 3 rows) JLOO Last 3 rows Balcony, first 8 rows 75c Last 6 rows c Gallery 25c STRONG CAST! PRICES ELEGANT AND CORRECT COSTUMES! MATINEE. Adults SSc and S0c Children, to all parts of the house 25c Sole of seats begins Wednesday. May 2. 3l A. Y With. r. fe-'t. .- t 'S - - JUk- fc !