Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 11, 1906)
THE WEEK just past was made no table by the advent of grand opera the first really riotablc Invasion of Portland by tills high order of musical at traction in some years. A few days be fore the date of opening belated patrons calling at the Marquam box ofllce for tickets; were doomed to discover that every seat had been sold for every per formance. For a grand opera treat does not come often, and there Is no other con ventional medium so well adapted to the display of fine gowns. Be&ldes. It amounts very near to a breach of etiquette not to be seen there, or to admit afterward that one has not been. The company itself was good-mothing astounding or In spiring but just ordinarily, passably good. Its offerings, too. were accepted with such eagerness that a. couple -of extra matinee performances had to be given somewhat after the fashion of overflow meetings at a popular revival. Monday night the offering -was Wagner's "Tannhauser": Tuesday matinee, "Rigo letto; Tuesday night. "La Bohcme": Wednesday matinee. "Lotiengrln"; Wed nesday night, "Faust." The Marquam concluded the week with a George Ade comedy, "The County Chairman." which drew forth large houses and much ap plause. This week the Marquam will offer Miss Nanco O'Nell. Monday night In "Fires of St. John": Tuesday night. "Macbeth": Wednesday matinee. "Magda," and Wed nesday night, "Monna Vanna." The Baker had a good lot of burlesque Miner's "Bohemians" all week, and for the onsuing six days will offer the "Yan kee Doodle Girl" burlesqucm. The delightful Utile Pollards had a suc cessful week at the Empire and will con tinue there this week, presenting three popular comic operas "The Geisha." Sun-' day. Moudtiy and Tuesday nights: "The Gaiety Girl." Sunday matinee, Wednes day and Thursday nights, and "An American Millionaire" Friday night and Saturday matinee. YANKEE DOODIjE GIUIj. Original Company or New York Bur Icyqucrs to Open at Bukcr Today. Starting with the matinee this afternoon and continuing through the week the at traction at the Baker will be an original New York Company of burlcsqucrs known as "The Yankee Doodle Girls." There are a number of new shows in the burlesque field tho present season, but perhaps there are none deserving of as much attention as- the "Yankee Doodle Girls," under the direction of T. W. Din kins. Everything pertaining to the show, scenery, costumes, electrical effects, vaudeville acts, comedians and above all. the girls, who form the life of every bur lesque attraction, have been selected with "She greatest care. The scenery of the JJtirJequcalone has cost as much as the average how pays for all Its scenery. This Is the first and only reproduction of the -famous New York Hippodrome which has kept the amusement world talking for1he"-past season. The first part is a travesty on present-day Insurance 'methods, and Is well equipped with com edy, -musical numbers and Interesting sit uation. 'The costumes of the first part arc typical In a measure, of the title of the show, and closes with a brilliant spectacle called The-,Splrit of '76." The vaudeville portion of the show In cludes Etta Victoria, the bashful Venus; Guhl and Yale. In, the new Professor Shoenwcrk, tho talkative trickster; Baker troupe. In a sensation act. Looping the -Gap; Fox and Duball, singers and .danc ers, and Murphy and Magee. comedians. This company has proved very popular wherever it has appeared this season. It will be the week's offering at the Baker, and the regular bargain day matinee will be given Wednesday afternoon, Saturday matinee closing the week. NANCE O'NEIIj TOMORROW. America's Greatest Tragedienne In Repertoire at Marquam. When Nance O'Nelf, the distinguished American tragedienne, who Is to be seen in this city at the Marquam Grand Theater, for three evenings and one matinee, commencing with tomorrow evening, presenting "Fires of St. John," by Sudermann, tomorrow night; "Mac beth" on Tuesday night, "Magda" for the Wednesday matinee, and "Monna Vanna." by Maeterlinck on Wednesday evening, first appeared In Boston In 1904, she 'was practically unknown in the Modern Athens. At a scries of special matinees arranged for Jier, she. opened to almost the smallest house ever known in the theater. Her sec ond performance was the largest ever given, and In six weeks the profits ran up to more than 540,000, the greatest ever Known m the city. The Boston Transcript, the oldest newspaper published in that city- and 1 considered to be the most pronounced .authority on literature and the classics, j In speaking of Nance O'Nell, on Janu ary 23. 1904. said; ' "The apparition of Nance O'Nell on the local stage lias been the most start ling: of theatrical events for years. With ?uch a name on posters, only a houbrctte who sat on tables and swung her neat sfocklngs could be expected. But here Is a new Bachel an Ameri can "tragedienne, who is a "trage dienne" appearing to us for the flrsf time by way of Australia. New Zealand and Europe.-and that without flare of trumpets, either preliminary or con temporary. Evidently this heroic ex emplar of American art believes that real art needs no advance agonU She had, nevertheless, managed to reach "the judicious few" arho have discov ered her. nd holds them so far In nipt and breathless suspense over her tragic periods. Of stalwart height; with graceful flguro and mobile face, a nice ly modulated voice and the perfection of limb nnd statcsquc grace. Miss O'Nell has the advantage of .exemplify ing In her person almost all of the physioal desiderata of great art, but the mental and spiritual endowment Is quite as complete. "Fires of St. John" and "Monna Vanna" are entirely new to this .pity, and great interest Is being displayed at the forthcoming production of these superb plays In Portland. Wherever Miss O'Ncll-.has presented these works, she has been congratulated for giving the playgolng public nn opportunity of witnessing careful rendltidns of the works of Sudermunn stud Maeterlinck, 'the Belgian Shakespeare." For ttit performance of "Macbeth" on Tuesday night, the curtain will rise promptly ;t five minutes past K. owing to the magnitude of the production. Seats ale now selling for tho engage ment. - - LAST WEEK IilliLIPLTIAAS. "A Gaiety Girl" at the Empire 3Istl ncc Today, "The Geisha" Tonfpht. Beginning with a matinee performance today of "A Gaiety Girl." the clever youngsters of the Pollard Lilliputian Opera Company, will enter on their sec ond and last week at the Empire. The bill for tonight, Monday and Tuesday nights, will be Augustin Daly famous musical sueces!, "The Geisha." This Is considered ono of the beet comedies In the repertoire. Master Freddie Helntz wilt be senn for the first time here as the "Marquis Omarl," the part formerly taken by the elder member of the famous 57 varieties. Teddle McNamara Is cast for "Wun HI." the wily Chinee, keeper of the "Tea House of 10.000 Joys." while Daphne Pollard and Olive Moore will al ternate In the part of "Molly Seymour." Master Roy Smith will be Captain Katma and Eva Pollard will sing the name part. On Wednesday and Thursday nights "A Gaiety Girl" will be repeated. Friday and Saturday matinee will be devoted to "An American Millionaire" There will be no performance on Satur day night as the company leaves on the night train for San Francisco to fill a three weeks' engagement Jn 4hat city. CHARLES B. HANFORI). Tragedian Supported by Marie Drof nah at Marquam Thursday. Charles B. Hanford's methods of mak ing productions of the great dramas of the English language aro as distinctly individual as his Interpretations of the great roles therein. Every scene re flects his taste and temperament, for Mr. Hanford Is one of the few players who possess a genius for detail. His performances have heretofore been characterized by a minute perfec tion in cery part which makes tho customary advance proclamations con cerning his appearance in this city at the Marquam almost unnecessary. Of Mr. Hanford's personal attainments but little remains to be told. Playgoers the country over have made themselves fully familiar with his artistic quality, and no more emphatic Indorsement could be asked than the steadily In creasing interest which has been mani fested In his work until now the mere announcement of his name stands as an .til-sufficient assurance of artistic ex cellence. Although he has been closely identi fied with the greatest plays, Mr. Han ford Is not n "literary actor" In the popular and modern acceptance of the term. He offers no gloomy atudy jtt problems In heredity, nor docs he ap ply himself to dissertations In dia logue on the Injustices of our social system or the perplexities which beset domestic establishments In which the marriage tie Is lightly regarded. He goes straight to the fountalnhcad of dramatic art for his inspirations. The public recognize but few actors In a generation as worthy to Interpret the great rolc-K which aro held by the world in imnerlshHble esteem": nnd Mr linn ford must beyond question be accepted as one of theso favored players. His THE SUNDAY OBEGOSIAX, PORTLAND, FEBRUARY 11, 1906. f)U0rJ productions are accurately made on a scale uf liberality which betokens the artist who docs not shirk .the cost, where an effect Is- to be attained. Some of the members of Mr. Han ford's company have been associated with him for many seasons. Miss Marie Drofnah. whose performances of re sponsible and exacting feminine roles have elicited the most enthusiastic 1 ZP chant of Venice" for Saturday matinee r-::Jlv PS. W: K T .... and "Ingomur" for Saturday night. The i ImX WMMiiSltlA U I ' - advance sale of seats will open next I Hii'Xji:KBlBi. ; a?? DAPHNE POLLARD'S LAST SEASON Lilliputian Beauty's Contract Expires in Few Months and She May Not Sign Again. LITTLE Daphne Pollard, whose name Is familiar to theater-goers the world around, will In all probability make her final bow to Portland as a lllllputian during tins engagement, for her contract with the Pollards terminates within the next few months. and it is doubtful If j MIC can signcu again. Daphne Is now 11 years old, and although very small for that age. has the experience and stage presence of a veteran act ress, and her talent J She can do any thing from heavies to comic, and is a wonderful llttl all round actress. Whoever gets her next season will bo fortunate, and in. a first-class "grown up" company she would prove a gold mine in a Juvenile role. It has been notice lnitane I'ollard. able to the Portland public that Daphne has been kept In the background this season, and Eva, the new lead, pushed to the front. Whether it Is because Mr. Pollard realizes that ho Is golnc to lose Daphne or not, no one can learn from him. The new soprano is a talented child of 5 years, bat the theater going public will long bo true to Daphne's charms and remarkable talent. "Just 20 months since I saw my mamma," she replied to a question In an Interview yesterday, "and in March we are going to start to Australia, and then I will see her again." Her dark gray eyes danced at the thought of going home, and several of the other HtUe girls Joined In the general enthusiasm. "I know you you took my picture one time when I was here, didn't your "And mine, too." chimed in bright, little OHle Moore. "Didn't you write a story about us. loldyr Olive's Cockney dialect is simply fascinating, and there aro many who consider her the cleverest member of the Pollard Company. She has grown fully a head In the past two years, and at 10 Is about six Inches taller than Daphne, who Is in her 12th year. The 3oungsters had quite a tiff about whether Daphne has grown any during that time, the young lady stoutly affirming that she was "so much" taller, marking on her forehead her height of two seasons ago. The Pollard children live an automatic existence, having their days marked off like classes at school. They rise at a cer tain hour, eat at prescribed times, have certain limes for play, for lessons, and for rehearsals, and everyone of them has to take a nap during the afternoon no matter whether the sandman Is around or not. But while they are very care fully guarded from the public and are well trained in deportment, there is an air of neglect about their persons which detracts from their personal charm. They all look pale and unnatural, the girls especially, the little Daphne, at 11 years, has dark circles under her eyes which give her the expression of an old woman. They all have wonderful Intelligence, however, and If more atteation were given to their toilettes they would be unusually attrac tive. "In selecting children for our company," w E&rr I ibe Slircw Is the piny selected for the 1 I mmW0m$- WVW I! S3 opening performance. "OthclloMs un-j I Fr Hj$L ft j . dertlned for Friday night. "The Mer- I lSt.tti:4B: . "JBCKl M Saturday" matinee. "Tho' Tarn in ft day. Tuesday. Wednesday nlght j . :: l DAPJIXK rOIXARD. A T.VLKXTED JUVENILE SOCBRETTE. said Manager' Goldlng. the young man who has made so much of these young actors, "I never take one who Is consid ered unusually bright or who can perform various stunts. When children are sub mitted who can 'sing and dance, and all that,'! don't cen try them out. One has to be a good judge of child nature study out Ms natural tendency. "Just look at those twins playing," he continued pointing to the group of boys In the street who were Industriously ham iseriBg a ball and calling If polo. "Couldn't anyone who noticed them close ly tell that they are natural born come dians? And a blind man could see that Teddy Is one." OHle Moore and Daphne each declared, two years ago, that her greatest ambi tion was tc be a tragedienne, and neither has lost It. OHIe's big dark eyes glow with animation when the future Is dis cussed, and this. little comic opera singer who can assume" any role, seems destined to be a charming soubrette. Daphne's voice Is deep and rich, but It is a ques tion whether she wilt ever be large enough to satisfy her childish ambition ary 13. 20. 21. with a matinee Wednesday. Henry TV. Savage's beautiful bird opera, "Woodland." will be seen for the first time since Its phenomenal suceoss In the East and Middle Wt't and especially in New York. Chicago and Boston. In which cities it was the vogue for upwards of 60 weeks. ; Tho story of "Woodland" Is- imaginative and poetical, the characters are all chosen from the feathered tribe and furnish op portunities for a great diversity of sug gestive cistumes, from tho broadly comic bluejay and the roosters, to the gor geous peacock and pert Jenny wren. The comedy dfjthe pieces la clean and refined, and the kctlon Is at all times sprightly, but the principal charm will perhaps be found In the, music The well-known funmakcrs and song sters who appear In this quaint musical conceit arofMr. Harry Bulger, who has tho leadlngicpmedy role, that of a tramp politician bluejay, with a fondness for brandied cherries" and a penchant for stealing thrarfes; Miss Helen Hale, a young Wellesly College graduate, who has the part of Uhe peft and saucy jenny wren; Walter Tiawrence. Miss Magda Dahl. Sherman Wade, Miss Louise Tozler, Louts Casavant, Miss Ida Muller, Charles TV. Meyer, Mlssf Bertyne Mortimer. John Donahue, MIsa Greta RIsIey. Miss Eva Fallon and Mattfo. Nichols. In addition there will be found some three-score of young women, who as they are all sup posed to represent-some feathered denizen of the forest, were; selected for their dalntlness.beauty find voices, and form one of the prettiest-Jand best singing and dancing choruses jever seen. The com pany also carries own orchestra. In order to insure a proper Interpretation of the delightful musrjpjpf Mr. Luders. Ad vance sale Frldaylmornlng. February 16, at 10 o'clock. J MARSHAIjIi COMING The Xotcd Shakespearean Scholar to Give Another of His Series. When Marshall Dorrach was In Port land last year, his recitals were given In the morning, and many -of the local Shakespearean scholars, missed the series which was one of the finest treats that Portland had had for a long time. This season, however. Mr. Darrach will give his recitals In the White Temple, under the patronage of the settlement work here in Portland. The first recital will "Jae on Wednesday evening, February DARRACII 21; the second will be on Friday evening. February 23; and tho last will be a spe cial matineo on Saturday afternoon. Feb ruary 2t. The evenings and tho afternoon have been arranged so that the students of all the schools may be able to attend, and thi programmes will bo selected with their work taken into consideration. The following extract from an article by Professor John It. Scott, of the Missouri State University. Is very Interesting m view of Mr. Darrach's coming: "Take him all In all. Mr. Darrach. in my opinion, stands without a per on the American platform as an interpreter of Shakespearean tragedy and comedy. In his method he is more an actor than a reader, ho makes every character as dis tinct as a cameo, and changes from one to the other so Instantly, so completely, and withal so easily, that the spectator has no time to be surprised until he re calls it afterward: at the moment 'the play's the thing and tho only tiling. "Presence, temperament, voice, gesture, combine to render his impersonations al most ideal. Where his conceptions differ from our own. we yield ours for the nonce, beguiled by the magic of his art. I have seen and heard many of our great est masters, and Mr. Darrach Is. to rav mind, greatly the superior of them all In the portrayal of female character, per haps, more than In anything else. His women are not only not men. but each has her proper personality. "Mr. Darrach presents a play of Shake speare with an 'all-star cast.' and with such spirit and power and truth that costume, the shifting of scenes-, music and all the other accessories of the theater would be impertinent, because superflu ous.'' COMING ATTRACTIONS. "Way Down East" Coming-. William A. Brady's "Way Down East." which will be seen In thl3 city at the Marquam Grand Theater February 22. 23 and 24. comes with a record of eight ex ceptionally successful seasons to Its credit Including 109 weeks in New York City. 44 weeks In Boston. 3S weeks in Chicago, and 23 weeks in Philadelphia. It Is perfectly safe to say that this Is a record achieved by no other play of recent years, and it Is a tribute attesting the great merit of the piece. Particularly Is this true at our present season of life, when the spice must be variety. Certain It is the Simple, truthful story of right and wrong, bright ened by honest humor, appeals to all