THE SUNDAY OEEGONIAN, FOBTLA3TD, NOVEMBEB H, 1900.
17
CORDRAY'S THEATER
JOHN F. CORDRAY. Manager
TRIUMPHAL 'RETURN
week, beginning Tonight, Sunday,' PJoy.
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IN -A BERNHARDT ROLE
Boston Triumph of a Portland Stace
Favorite "Well Known
' i. Cordray'a Patrons.
to
Portland's regular theater-goers win
probably be able to recall with interest
Minnie TitteH, who a few years ago was
seen In short skirts playing little girl
parts at Cordray's. Since those days she
has reached the dignity of long skirts and"
matrimony; and Is known now as Minnie
Tittel Brune. She has, moreover, devel
oped Into a full-fledged emotional actress
who- Is venturesome enough to attempt
roles made famous by Bernhardt and
Fanny Davenport, and what is even more
surprising talented enough to make a
success of them.
, She has Just appeared with Melbourne
MacDowell and a company of 140 members
In Boston as "Theodora," In the Sardou
drama, written expressly for Bernhardt,
following are some of the press comments
upon the play and her work:
Itwls Strang In Boston Journal:
In "Theodora" Sardou makes use of his
favorite theme, the fierce, burning passion
of a woman for a man and of a man for
aworaan. The woman In this instanco Is
the Empress Theodora, who once on a
time had been a performer in the circus
at Alexandria, and the man Is Andreas,
a conspirator against the cowardly and
tfesplcablo Emperor Justinian. Andreas,
"modeled In heroic formes, of- course, una. -ware
that Tils-lovS is the hated courtesan,
against whose rule he is plotting.
' Boldly Contrasted Emotions.
"With this sensational material, and with
Sardou to mold It, the dramatic outcome
Is not difficult to Imagine scenes of wild
wooing and of boldly contrasted emotions,
torture and death, the clang of arms, a
wild race In the arena with a man's life
ag'the stake, and finally poison, a despair
ing woman and the Burning of Byzantium
" amid all the luridness of red fire. Little
wonder that the gallery well-nigh ex
biustcd Itself with ear-splitting whistled.
The character of Theodora has Bern
hardt written all over it. It Is a creation
of the most violent oxtremes, queenly
najesty, girlish Joyousness, flinty cruelty,
foadlng womanliness, manlike courage
ousness and passionate seductiveness.
It would not be true to say that Mrs.
Brune at any point reached the full of
the tremendous theatrical possibilities
cf the part. Only a Bernhardt could do
that. But Mrs. Brune succeeded remark
ably well In suggesting most of the many J
moods Involved in the Sardou scheme.
tThe third act. Involving the quarrel
with and defiance of the Emperor, and
ending with the death or Marcellus, after
His failure in his attempt to kill Justin
ian, was played by Mrs. Brune with ad
jnlrable force and with considerable con
viction.
A Severe Tax.
, Bpston Post: Neither Mr. Bruno nor his
iwifethaYe,ier, ,before appeared publicly
In thls-dtyybu.t have made both fame and
-fortune In the West, especially in Call
foraia. ,
Mrs. Brune, who was -formerly Minnie
Tittoll, Is rather a slight woman, with
an expressive face and an easy and grace
'ful stage presence. That she has had ex
perience was apparent from her entrance,
and if she did not always fully meet the
requirements of the role the defects were
physical rather than thoBe of Intelligence.
The character of Theodora, as drawn
by Sardeu la exceedingly complex.
Such a portraj al is a eevre tax on any
actress. Sarah Bernhardt, who has giv
en the play In French, found it one of her
'most difficult and exhausting roles, and It
Is not surprising, therefore, that Mrs.
Brune did not realize the part to Its full
extent: but withal she displayed clear in
telligence, even at the moments when she
could not furnish the required strength
te pie reading. She was most warmly
oommended for her work, and in the hip
podrome races, when she rode to save her
lover's life, she received a veritable ova
tion. Superabundant Enersrr.
9
Boston Globe: Naturally the Interest In
Theodora" centers In the name part.
Mrs. Brune played conscientiously, and
the reception she received might be con
strued into a personal triumph, for she
wis several times called before the cur
tain. She showed an intensity in the emo
tional scenes that expressed her feeling in
presenting the part, and at times there
was a suggestion In her appearance, as
Mated by her makeup, perhaps, of Bern
hardt. In spite of the construction of the play,
which is In many senses a one-character
piece, Mr. MacDowell as Andreas towered
among his fellows in the cast. His easy
diction, graceful carriage and massive
.physique, made his work appear like sec
ond nature. He "looked his part," every
Inch, and sustained his old-time reputa
tion. Dally Advertlseri There was more en
thusiasm in the audience than behind the
footlights. This was not the shortcoming
of Mrs. Brune, to be sure. Thero was. In
deed, in her rendition, a superabundance
ot energy. Her first scene was splendidly
done. Bb was the Empress of the East
ern eenolre. and again the little circus
Ttder. Hare she was convincing. As the
action, quickened, however, moments ap
peared whea her balance was lost. These
.isasoanoes frer always of the ttm;,
register, so to speak, as she "was charm
ing and satisfying In the unstemmed cur
rent of emotion, so she rose to the great
est heights and commanded admiration.
Her scene" in Act HI with Justinian was
more than disappointing, but in the death
ALICE JOHNS OK", WITH THE
scene of Marcellus she touched the true
chord.
Mr. MacDowell was the dominant note
of the piece. The stage was his from his
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JOHX W. JESS, AS JJARRY MOOXEY, CT "A HOT OLD TIME.'
first entrance, and he supplied Just that
strength and temperance to give the play
endurance ,
A TantaUsins Face
Boston Herald: To say that Mrs. Brune
played it with generally Impressive sta
ceritarasd, .ottinias, tririninggrft iaa-
mere statement of fact. It Is also fact
that there were moments of Inadequacy,
but they appeared to me rather those of
Inexperience and misapplied power than otf
temperament. Although not beautiful, the
actress has a most expressive, and, so to
speak, tantalizing face over which the
emotions play freely and usually appro
priately. In mere vocal expression she Is
almost faultless. The ISngllBh language Is
seldom spoken on the stage with greater
. regard for the component parts of words
I and the full sentence of & phrase or sen
tence Is seldom or never neglected. There
Is a slight deficiency in breadth of style,
easily accounted for under the Inexperi
ence theory, but sincerity Is nowhere lack
ing. Emotion without undue stress, most
captivating grace, delicate suggestions In
inflection, emphasis, or motion or a poise
all these are appealingly frequent. There
is occasionally a trace of self-consciousness,
and apparently overmastering desire
to act which mars the generally excellent
effect. It could scarcely be otherwise in
the circumstances of a practically first
appearance In a most arduous role of a
stranger In a" critical city. That she did
so well is in itself a triumph. That 3he
won emphatic personal success was due to
ability pure and simple.
Mr. Melbourne MacDowell brought the
beet of his powers to the role of Andreas
and .played with effective and convincing
power.
"WEEK OF ZiIGHT COMEDY.
The Prevailing' Class of Productions
at Irocal Theaters.
t' During the' paBt week the attractions
at the various playhouses in Portland
were of the light, frothy variety, and
comedy reigned throughout The Mar-
FRATVUST OOMPAHT.
quam was dark until Friday evening
when Hoyt's "A Stranger In New York?
played to good business for three per
formances. One or two clever specialties
Sw t&& . a. &&'
redeemed the performance from being
commonplace. The McCoy slstera and
Sam Manon were the bright particular
stars In their dashlns; acrobatic dance,
done with all the grace and obesdoa. that
-vooth could enthuse. '-"Th Hottest 'Coon
Jo-dsle-- cnmMTwrtnn -c loecd peo-J
rtmV OUT IT'S fUNKVT
i "A HOT OLD TIME? ,
WITH AN
A
ONLY MATINEE SATURDAY
PORTLAND'S
DOWN -TOWN
...THEATER...
TONIGHT AND
THE BEST OF
THEM ALL
m
m
THE WORLD'S SWEETEST SINGERS (Direct from Stockholm, Sweden)
NATIONAL SWEDISH LADIES' QUARTETTE
DOZENS OF SPECIALTIES EVERYTHING NEW, BRIGHT, CHEERFUL-- WORLDS OF FUN
PRICES NEVER CHANGE
pie, played to large houses at Cordray's
Theeten all -week. The features of their
performance were the break-down
dances, melodious &ingin,.and the comic
tramp -coon character done by Bob Kel
ley. Their performance -wnt with more
snap than that of last season.
At the Metropolitan Prank Tonnahlll
and his company in the comedy drama
"A Young: Wife," filled the house from
Sunday until Thursday evenlngr. Tanna
hlll had "ample opportunity to exarclse his
talents as a comedian In the character of
an unsophisticated Vermonter enjoying
his visit to the city, and made the most
of lt He duplicated his good work when
last here -with the "Why Smith Left
Home." Company. On .Friday and Satur
day evenings Barnes' Dog and Pony Show
entertained the llttlo folks by, a clever
performance by the trained animals.
Light comedy wjll prevail during the
coming week. Another Hoyt play, "A
Trip to Chinatown," will be played at
the Tklanjuam Theater. Cordray's- Theater
will have "A. Hot Time," the farce made
famous by Johnny and Emma Ray. 01e
Olson," with Gus Hendricks in the1 title
role, will be seen at the Metropolitan.
oiiE olson" Torraairr.
The Famous Play Will Be Seen nt
the Metropolitan.
At "the Metropolitan Theater tonight
Ben Hendricks will begin a one week's
engagement in his famous Swedish-American
comedy success. "Ole Olson." Dur
ing the years in which Mr. Hendricks
has been an almost annual visitor he has
, become extremely popular and his en
gagement here is an event always looked
forward to by local playgoers with,
"gladsome anticipation." As a Swedish
dialect comedian Mr. Hendricks practi
cally has the field to himself. His Im
personations embrace all of -the Swedish
plays that have been presented m this
country. His first great success was In
tho play in which he is at present starring
and in wtMch he was seen three succes
sive seasons. Later he produced "Yon
Yonson" two seasons and- then the play
in which he was seen here at .the Max
quaxn Grand last season, "A Yenulne
Yentleman." In neither of his later
plays, however, did the public show the
interest that has always been manifest
in his first play. "Ole Olson." Hence his
determination to revive Ole. In his por
traiture of that "Yolly gude-natured
Swede" Mr. Hendricks has added, to
American stage personalities a character
so original, so distinct and. entirely dif
ferent from tho many other characters
of which playgoers have long since tired,
that his Impersonation has gained for him
foremost place as America's best dialect
comedian. His acting is artistic and he
does not burlesque his role merely to.
gain laughs. Ole is treated 'as a natural
character, and his quaint humbr-ia drawn
out by legitimate methods-, hot by coarse
ness or horseplay, which is -likely to
prove distasteful to persons ofreflne
ment. The. production cf "Ole Olsor' tMs sea
son Is said to be the most complete In
every detail that has ever been given the
play. Mr. Hendricks' supporting compa
ny Is thoroughly capable, including sev
eral who are playing parts which they
originated In the first performance of the
play 12 years ago. Among the principal
members of the company taay be men
tioned William Byan, Guy L. Lewis,
Frank F. Farrell, J.W.GlllIngwater, Miss
Bertie Conway, Miss Sadie Connolly and
Miss Belle Francis. The National Swe
dish Ladles' Quartet, composed of the
Misses Stephanie- Heden Amelia. Heden,
Llnea Petersen and Ellen Sydii, Is one
of the special features this season Nu
merous specialties are Introduced", Includ
ing many of the newest songs and several
novel dances.
"A Hot Old Time.
"A. 3Tot Old Time" returns to this city
in new attire for a week's engagement
at Cordray's. beginning this evening.
Not alone In tho piece Is there unvary
ing1 and hilarious comedy, but in the'eom
pany presenting- "A .out Old. Time," there
is a -fine aggregation of farceurs and spe-
flnltstii. John "W. Teas. whnnlavs Tinrrv
.MooneY is said to bo a "very orlnco of -
Irish comedians, and. Pan-JBa&er, 'who
tj.v,. wnttna anA Tvn j?RiTri" -Muiio
JOHN W. JESS AS "LARRY MOONEY
UNEXCELLED COMPANY' OF FARCEURS.
EVERYTHING GLISTENS WITH NEWNESS, EVEN
ETROPOLITHN
I PHONE GRANT T41 Clarence H. Jones, Manager. 3D AND YAMHILL
ALL
IN THE PLAY THAT MADE HIM
FAMOUS
Next Attraction HOYT'S
CALVIN HEILIG, Hgr.
Thursday, Friday, Saturday Matinee, Saturday
ALL RECORDS BROKEN BY THE BIG
SUCH CATCHY MUSIC .
SUCH FKTTY GIRLS
SUCH BRIGHT SPECIALTIES
Never Btftre vln a Hart Show
...THE ONLY-
HIgh:CIass VaudevHIeJeatiires Until Yon Cant Rest - A. Regular Laughing
The Entire Hoyt's Tbtster Pndactloa Is Carried bj Tbls Cempaoy. Corlsla at 8:15 P. I
plays hls double and is a partner in his
mlshapsduring the piece, is another actor
whose, reputation Is that of a genuine fun
ny man. John C. Leach Is known from
coast to .coast as an especially clever
character actor, while in John Gleeson
and. Frank Hayes the company acknowl
edges two of the handsomest young men
on the farce-comedy stage G. Clayton
Prye plays the part of the wild and wool
ly "Westerner In "A Hot Old Time,'' and
his performance has won enthusiastic
pralse.-
Of the young women appearing In the
piece there is even more to be said. Bra
Allen, as "Mrs. Blazer," Is Just what the
Araronlan better half of a bluff old sol
dier should be. Anna Suits, as her daugh
ter. "Blossom," and Bertha Gleeson as
her daughter Cherry, are equally fas
cinating as tlie young women who keep
the love Interest In the piece revolving.
Beatrice Bice, Amy Bennett, Alba Kenny
al Blanche Ro'se are a pretty quartet.
''The specialties to be given during the
performance are strong. None who have
witnessed "A Hot Old Time" will ever
fall to recall with pleasure the dainty and
skillful stepping of "The Gleesons."
Hayes and Suits will present their fetch
ing specialty on this tour, and Anna
Suits will appear in her own diverting
sketch. The comedy specialty of Messra.
Jess and Baker will be a slde-oplltting
affair, and there will bo other surprises.
The grand cakewalk at tho end of the
second act will be unlike any merto seen
in a finale.
"A Trip to Chinatown.
A revival of Hoyt's "A Trip to.Chlna
town," which, at the very beginning of
Its career, achieved the distinction of a
run of 708 consecutive performances at
Hoyt's Theater, New York, will be, gfven
this week at the Marqtiam, Thursday,
Friday and Saturday night, and Saturday
matinee.
The new version retains the funny story
of the Cnatown expedition which never
reached Chinatown, with all its genuine
humor of situation and speech. Not con
tent with this, Hoyt has gone over It
r again 'with a new "brush, and is -said to
riiotr. ImnrnvM -crhera lmnrovexnent
, THE SIDE-SPLITTING SPASM OF
m m I 1m IB VWII ,
STS.
MATINE
HAS MAD!
MILLIONS LAUGH
m
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"A DAY AND A NIGHP'
MARQUAM GRAND
Presented In Portland by a Cast of Unasaal Excellence.
And a Whole Lot of Comedians and Pretty Girls.
MUSIC GAL.ORe.FUM FOR ALL
seemed Impossible. In addition, the spe
cialties are all new and clever, and some
are said to be decldely startling. The
music iff new and bright, and rendered
by a company of artists. Both music and
specialties fit admirably into the story.
The production la on a more elaborate
scale than even the record-breaking orig
inal, a complete new outfit of scenery,
costumes and accessories having been
added. The company Is made up of old
and new favorites, and the approaching
engagement promises to be a brilliant one.
FliAWLET OOMPAHT GOV ISO.
They Will Open at Cordx&ys Kext
Sunday Night.
It win bo welcome news to tbo Port-s
land publlo to learn that T. Ianiel Fraw
ley and company for thus tho name
stands now will be?ln a week's engagement-
at Cordray8 next Sunday. The
piece do resistance of their engagement
Here will be "Secret Service."
Tonight at Ban Francisco tho popular
young actor-manager is closing; a season
of 19 weeks, which has not only been the
most prosperous in .his career, but has
also proved a record-breaker a.t tho Grand
Opera-House, the largest theater on the
Pacific Coast. During the performances
of "Secret Service," It was found neces
sary to remove the orchestra from its
accustomed place nearly every night In
order to make room for the crowds anx
ious "to see the Frawleys in "William Gil
lette's best play.
During1 the week this piece waa pre
sented, the attendance reached the enor
mous total of over 25X00, and this, too
notwithstanding tho fact that tho play
had a previous run In San Francisco of
four weeks to tremendous business. Al
though JVIr. Fjawley and his company are
pronounced favorites In the California
metropolis, tho press and public have,
never warmed to them before as they did
In this hatching' military drama. Hr.
Frawley appeared in Gillette's part of
captain Thome, and it is said that;
fitted to a T (no pun. Intended) his self-
contained and Imperturbable personality,
JOLLITY
THE JOKES,
USUAL PRICES
PORTLAND'S
DOWN-TOWN
...THEATER.
"Jiaq Bane Party Gude Fehter"
PRICES NEVER CHANGE
CALVIN HHLIQ, Hgr.
Night, Nov. 15-16-17
SUCCESS
ILUMHOUSLY 1HD0RSED
Br
7SE PEQS AND PU3UC
-THE ORIGINAL
Carnival. ; A Musical Triumph.
Csrrlaflts Ordered at 10:40 P. B.
and talent for quiet, repressed and
tense acting.
During the company's stay in
two other plays will be presented beside
"Secret" Service." These are "The Sen
ator. In wmcb William iH. Crana atarre
so Iqng and so successfully, and Bardou'i
"Mme. Sans Gene," which was so brllli-S
antly .handled by them on their last visit!
to Portland. Later In.1 the season a ret
engagement will be played at which
other plays will-be given. On the wesenl
tour tbo company is tho largest ever di-J
rected by Mr. Frawley, and a cdmplet
scenic equipment Is carried for each pi
presented.
The 'personnel of the comnanr is ut
stantlally the same as" when It was lasl
here, though some new faces wljl be
seen. Among tho recent additions to the
Frawley forces are Miss Alice Johnsor
an iuLstem actress of reputation:
Grace Cahlll, also from the East; MrJ
arry cashman, a comedian and
ter delineator; and Mr. David McCartneyj
a jeune premier lata of Charles Frot
man's companies. Miss Van Buren,
tairi Reynolds, J. R. Amory and tho ot
er zormer favorites still remain.
HoyT Wevr Plnr Kecrt "VVeefc
A Day and & Night," Charles Hoj
latest offering In musical farce, will havi
its first production In this city at the
Metropolitan, Sunday, November, IS and
week following. Among' the features
pretty girls in ravishing- costumes, songs,
dances and noval specialties of all kind
Tho women of the company Madge Xaw
renc6. Cara Isham. Charlotte Stolle, Kit
tie Gllmore, JUlllan Maynard and Jull
Goldson, are all blessed with ood looks,!
good clothes and good: voices. Tom Mar
tin, who plays Marble Hart, the Villas
Deacon, has a -method and a persenallt
all bis -own. He has been playing li
the Hoyt companies for years, and al'i
though his characterizations are gro-jj
tesque, they are done In good taste. Willi
H. Hatter, ad the old sea dog. introduce!
a number of Song's that are very coou-1
ltriar, and Alt Holt, the whistler, Yrffl
heard in newanoTnovel'lmltatJons. The
Is much ringing Introduced.
BmHtjOMJWfl
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