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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 25, 1900)
le THE SUNDAY OEEGONIAN, PORTLAND, NOVEMBER 25, 1900. MgX '" VmmtV i I TiMitf LIVE WEEK IN THEATERS Great Success of the FraVvley En- sagement Minstrelsy and at Hoyt Farce Coming Plays. Much diversity has appeared In the na ture of attractions put on at the Various theaters duriHg the past week, ranging from old-time minstrelsy to first-class legitimate drama. At the Marquam Theater Haverly's Minstrels held the boards on Monday and Tuesday evenings, the remainder of the week being dark. In the minstrel show old times were recalled at every turn. "When the asbestos curtain was drawn in place of the Monaco scene appeared a large bust picture of J. H. Haverly, the old-time manager. The first selec tion of music played and sung was "Auld Lang Syne." Going back to first princi ples of minstrelsy, every man on the stage was in black face. As a further reminder to the old-timers George "Wilson also appeared. By far the best feature of tho show was the singing, and the music in general was decidedly good. Some of the jokes smacked of old times also, some also of the frontier and could just as well have been cut out. Manager Cordray has had his stellar attraction, the cleer Frawleys, all week. Overflow houses have been the rule at every performance, the banner evenings being the opening performance in "Se cret Service" and the artistic rendition of "Madame Sans Gene" on Friday night. Four changes of bill were made, threo comedies and one thrilling- war drama. Each play went smoothly, was put on with an admirable attention to detail, and the characters for the most partwerewcll chosen. Tho richness and exquisite taste with which the ladies were dressed, all being veritable fashion plates, was an other strong factor of attractiveness. One thing should be rectified and that one thing marred more than one scene dur ing the season. Indistinctness of enun ciation and a confirmed habit of talklntr towards the seen shifters instead bf he t audience should be remedied. "Secret Bervlce" gave opportunity to Mr. Fraw ley, and as tho Northern Spy he did his "best work of the week. Clarence Chase is the juvenile who made th most of his fine part. Miss Van Buren and Lillian Pearl Landers divided the honors in the women's roles. In "The Senator" a new star arose in the Frawley firmament in the charming personality of Miss Alice Johnson, who combines a peculiarly .graceful figure, a pretty face surrounded "by a mass of fluffy blond hair and almost a superabundance of dash and vivacity. As the pay susceptible widow Mrs. Hil lary In "The Senator" she was a distinct success. Miss Johnson repeated her suc cess in the light-hearted, vivacious line In "A Divorce Colony." "Miss Van Bu ren'a unqualified triumph In the title role of "Madame Sans Gene" on Friday night, hut repeated her success in the same role here last season. Herein Harrington Rey nolds apeared to his best advantage. A novelty was introduced in the comedy "A Divorce Colony," at least a novelty with the Frawleys, in the form of Interpolated songs. Presumably Mr. Frawley wished, to display the versatility musically as well as dramatically of hjg well-rounded company. Mr. Frawley did not sing. At the Metropolitan one of Hoyt's lat est plays, "A Night and a Day," played to paying business all week with the ex ception of Trtdav evening, when the com pany honored tho memory of the late Mr. Hoyt by keeping the theater dark on the day of his funeral. Tho company is earnest and hard working and did good work, especially In specialties "with which 'the play abounds. Coming: Attraction. At the Marquam Theater on Monday, 'Tuesday and "Wednesday evenings "At The "White- Horse Tavern," a comedy drama of colonial days, an adaptation from a German play. Is billed. Added to the plot of the comedy are numerous songs, stage devices and mechanism of startling novelty. Minerva Dorr and Frank M. Norcross are the stars. On Thursday (matinee and evening), Friday and Saturday "Brown's In Town," a bewildering farce, funny and rapid In action, will be the attraction. "Tennessee's Pardner," commencing Sunday night and running all week will bo manager Cordray's change of bill. Melodramatic with sufficient comedy to be a pleasing' relief, the play deals with Western mining and frontier life. Jt "is a play that appeals strongly to the emo tions, and those who witnessed its ex cellent performance last year will not hesitate to return. At the Metropolitan Theater "Uncle Josh Spruceby" wtfl run all week be ginnlng with tonight. Realism, scenic ef fects, rural homely fun and numerous specialties are the prominent features of the play. "WHOLESOME GERMAN COMGDT. "At the White Horse Tavern" Open Toxaorr,ovr Night. "At the "White Horse Tavern," which will be seen at the Marquam Monday. Tuesday and "Wednesday evenings, this week, Is said" to be one of the most wholt- some and delightful dramas that has appeared on the American stage lor years. The play Is from the Gorman of Kadelberg and Blumenthal, and made a hit In Berlin. Sydney Rosenfeld put It Into form for the English-speaking stage, and It created a furor at Wallack's The ater. Since then It has had quite a bril liant career In a majority cf the larger cities. The comedy derives Its title from a fa mous inn In the Austrian Alps, an inn situated In the most picturesque of spots amid the towering mountains, where the tumbling' river and the waters of the placid lake Joln.v The hostess of the inn, the widow Josepha, Is a buxom woman, who presides over the hostelry and her dainty dooryard like a Queen. The peo ple are all clean, comely, healthful souls, many of them being marked with a strg Individuality, that has a marked bearing on the play, and affords at the same time a wide field for delicious and fascinating character acting. The Play has no villain, nor anything that smacks JESSIE MAE HALL, "WITH T1R0WN of villainy. But as the air Is senti mental, the various people who throng the stage become afflicted withrthe ten der passion at cross purposes, and there in Is found the comedy element which makes "At the "White Horse Tavern" one of the best comedies seen in recent years. The managers, King and Norcross, have given It a most ambitious setting, and their1 pretentious efforts to produce pleas- ant, realistic effects, will be found In the I MINERVA DORR, IN "AT THE Bit riMglige jiM3SjWMmM0&MXmM Bliliili& ISBB Mi P SBHSBbHsBs. .J ?iiSMilS if S jSsSSTW' VS W mountain scenery, the quaint old inn, the the production wa3 the subject of no little costumes of the people, the sight of a 1 comment on account of the uniform ex steamer plowing her way through the coilonce of the players and the perform waters of the placid lake, and a tempes- anca was enjoyed and appreciated. It tuous rainstorm that comes, swelling with j Is an unusually good play, and the com the rising wind, through the mountains j oany which will present it Is strong. The Over the treetops, deluging the Inn" and J situations are dramatic and the" play is 'ts surroundings, while the luckless guests scamper In vain for shelter. UNCIE JOSH SPHOCBBY?' Old Favorite- to Be Seen at Ike Met ropolitan This Week. "Uncle Josh Spruceby" comes to the Metropolitan for one week, beginning to night, with a Thanksgiving matinee Thursday, when regular house prices will j be charged. This company, which has -made an exceptionally strong Impression wherever It has appeared, has many "friends hero who will await Its coming with Interest The organization this year Is better than ever, all the old favor ites being retained and capable new ones added, ana now takes rank with the best dramatic companies touring the country. -The play Is a New England drama, with a beautiful story running through It. Comedy, pathos and sensation abound. Strict attention has been paid to detail and a full new set of scenery has beeri painted this season. Undoubtedly a blg crowd will attend to welcome Sally. Dutchjr. Out o' Sight, the Hayseed Bana and Uncle Josh himself. No theatrical season is complete without the Joys af- hforded by Uncle Josh and his fellow Reu bens. The musical features with "Uncle Josn Spruceby" Company this year Include two bands and an orchestra of 12 solo mu sicians. At the noonday concert a pro gramme of popular and high-grade selec tions Is rendered by the combined bands. The orchestra "between the acts discourses a pleasing programme, which Is one of the many attractive features of the show. For the first time this company appears at popular prices. It goes without saying that a crowded house Is assured. "TENNESSE'S PABMEE." Arthur C. Alston's Company Again Coming to Cordray's. The patrons of Cordray's Theater will bo Interested -in the return here, this week, of "Tennessee's Pardner," one of S IN TOWN," AT "MARQUAM GRAND. the most enjoyable productions of last season's theatrical attractions. Many comedy dramas have been presented oh the local stage recently, but It can be truly said that there is none more worthy of recognition than "Tennessee's Pard ner." It Is one of those true "pictures of the pathos and reality of life, lofty In sentiment and' natural In plot and char acter delineation. The play was suggest ed by one of Bret Hartc's popular ro mances. On Its last presentation here WHITE HORSE TAVERN. carried along more by the story than b'y the tricks of the stage. The production Is under the management of Arthur C. Alston, and the company Includes the fol lowing unexcelled collection of players: James "M. Brophy, Jane Corcoran, Estha "Williams. Fannie Gurtls, Percy Plunkett, Annie Mortimer, Walter Ryder, Pierre Young. James Pillinjr, R. S. -Rex, Ed ward Fielding, George Mansfield and the Golden Nugget male quartet. The en gagement opens tonight; and includes a special matinee. Thanksgiving Day. WITH A THANKSGIVING FAltCE. "Brotra'a In Tovrn," nt the Marauara, This Weelc. There are no cases bf mistaken Iden tity, no strong-minded mothers-in-law, and no hen-pecked husband in rowns in Town," which comes to the arquam this week; Brown Is a good fellow, a royal good fellow, and, the trouble ho and his associates have in" U i Crating the reason why he is in town, are enough to make the audience laugh for two bours and a half. The story is decidedly Com plicated and the complications are new. They come about through the efforis of a young man to keep his marriage a se cret from his father. In furtherance of this plan he and his bride go to coun try villa, where the father arrives later and where friends drop in, quite by, ac cident, of course, and to the ntter desiialr of both Brown and hi3 wife, then the father arrives upon the seen", ard he Is told his son Is visiting a man uy the name of Brown; this naturally compels the introduction of Mrs. Brown, as ell as her husband. One of tho friends, n ignorance of the marriage, is persuaded to play the part of JBrown. -! find It much to his liking, and ofcoceeds to mako love to the lady in earnest, a proceed ing which the husband Is powcrltjsa to prevent without revealing the v.-y thing he Is trying to conceal. Matters are fur ther complicated by the fact that the pseudo Brown is supplied wJrh two .wives to suit the different emergencies, and Is finally accounted a Mormon by -no iras cible father, who has caused allthe trouble. Ultimately, matters are straight ened out by tho son confessing .ie fact that ho Is married, ad, as the (Id jrtn tleman has become very fond if Mrs. Brown, he finally gives them his blessing and everything ends happily. lhe char acters In "Brown's In Town" arc consist ently drawn and are also dellghtfally In terpreted by clever people, amo'ig them are Charles Horn, George T. "Welch, Em met Whitney. George Ebner, Jessie Mae Hall. Mtfude Knowlton, Fanny Mldgeley Edith Weil and others. Its engagement at the Marquam opens with a Thanksgiving matinee, and con tinues Friday and Saturday nights, with a Saturday matinee. "THE FLYING DUTCHMAN.' How It Appeared to One of Fort land's Weil-Known Singers. sXn FRANCISCO, Nov. 17.-(Speclal correspondence.) It was with much ex pectation that I bought my ticket for the performance of "The Flying Dutch man," as a cast like this was never sur passed In the United States. From the opening note of the orchestra I had tho Impression that a congregation of musi cians of the highest order had been gath ered together, and this impression was more and more strengthened as the over ture proceeded. It was especially pleas ing that the strings were well represent ed and the orchestra was therefore as well balanced in the matter of brass and wobd instruments as I have ever known to be the case, although the volume of sound was not quite up to the big orches tras of Dresden, Munich and Berlin. How ever, it was certainly the best orchestra that Aver appeared on the Coast, and It is not more than fair to say that an ef fort to bring such a large congregation about 54 persons across our continent, should be highly appreciated. Mr. Dam rosch had his artists very well In hand Indeed, and the dash and vigor displayed In reading the score of the overture won him very well-merited applause from tho public. At the rising of the curtain the sail ors' chorus, with their fresh voices, cre ated quite an impression, followed by tho mate, Mr. Bars, iwho gave the song to the south wind very satisfactorily. Mr. Blass' Daland was, through the whole opera, a very well sustained piece of work, his voice, which is a full, rich basso, being handled In a masterly man ner, and bis acting serving as the neces sary contrast to the somber figure of the "Hollander." Mr. Bispham, who had this, probably the most difficult baritone part of any opera ever written, seemed at first a lit tle bit handicapped by some kind of In disposition, but ho gave his great intro ductory aria, "The Time Is Up," In truly great style. He did more than full Jus tice In regard to Interpretation of Wag ner's poetical music and words, and, warming up moTO and more, gave the duet with Daland In splendid style. In tho second act the charming Spin ning Chorus was rendered in delightful fashion, and. the little part of Mary was competently filled by Miss Olltzka, who possesses a beautiful contralto voice. Senta's great ballad was ideally given bv Madame Gadskl. The full poetry of the text, with Its varying sentiments so full of tender compassion for the unfor tunate sea captain, found, in the fullest measure, an Interpretation which I have seldom heard equaled, and really never surpassed. Every note seemed to teem with that dreaming Northern girl's noble love, sc that the public was fully pre pared for the great duet with the "Hol lander." which was so beautifully ren dered by Madame GadsW and Mr. Bis pham that It almost made the public for get It was an operatic performance and not reality. Everybody was so carried away by enthusiasm tnat at tne ena ot the act there were no less than eight or nine recalls. In which all the soloists of the act, and finally even Mr. Dam rosch himself were called out onto the open stage. This was truly the climax of the whole performance. Bispham's magnificent voice thundered out trium phantly when assured or aentas iovc, and one was left In doubt whether Gad ski's voice was more beautiful in the tender phrases or In the more passionate passages when she reached higher notes, even B natural, with apparent ease. In the third act It seemed as if the artists were ready to tmtdo the climax of the second act. They all gave their best. Inspired by the appreciation of the audience Mr. Dlppel came nobly to tha front In his duet with Sehta. He pos sesses al -fine, -though not very strong voice of the tenor timbre. The singing and acting of both Gadskl and Bispham were simply grand In the third act Mr. "Damrosch can be congratulated In the fullest terms, because It Is In a large I measure due to his. fine reading oz tne score that such artistic success was at tained. He is following ,in the footsteps of "his great predecessor, Anton Seidl. and is unonestionably one of the best inte- preters of Wagner's music we have to-j qay in America. ' Not small part tf the success of the opera was due to the elaborate and blghly pflielent Tms-en-scenet for-lnstance, wbren the one -ship Jay at anchor, the Holland-4 er's boat sailed In full view of the audi- i ence across the scene, swinging com pletely around, tand turning in opposite the first boat. P- " PCTEROW LATEST AND BEST. Finest Example of ComeJr Since "School for "Scandal."" Of Plnero's latest achievement, r "The 1 ,Gay Lora-Quex,'' which has just opened, at the Criterion. New York, tho Sun savs: "Arthur Winer Pinero undoubtedly holds the position of leading1 aramatlsti of England, and some conservative cnt- les "have declared hfm tq be the greatest living- author of stage fiction. Thte proud eminence was- not gained through any single success, or two or threer out dozen and a naif of as many years without hIIk JV iwkkvwx. "TKa Tanqueray, The Notorious Mrs. Eb - smith." The Benefit 'of the Doubt, 'The Princess"" and the Butterfly -and -Tre-lawny of the Wellaf are those that gave him pre-eminence. "When The Gay Lord Quex' was pro duced two years ago in London, among the limitless praise two leading English reviewers said that It was the finest ex ample of comedy written, since The School for Scandal. Mr. Plnero rated It as his best Work, and he almost never speaks publicly of his own achievemente. But the purists assailed it violently. It Is a. four-act comedy concerning an old libertine who loves an innocent girl. This ldve .purifies him, but some severe tests are made before his acquaintances will believe in his moral reformation. .John Hare acta the man with a wicked past. He Is supported by an English com pany." BERNHARDT IN NEW TOBK. She and Coquelln Play InSan Fran cisco Next February. When the steamship l'Aqultalne was made fast to her pier this morning.; says , ACT 2, "TENNESSEE'S PARDNER" "SWEAR THAT YOU MEAN SQUAR BY YOUR HUSBAND." a special dispatch to the San Francisco Call, dated November 20, the first pas senger down the gangplank was Mme. Sarah Bernhardt. Not far behind her was M. Coquelln, the divine Sarah's co star and eminent also in his line of art. After them came 60 members of the com pany, which Is to appear In California this Winter. .Madame Bernhardt looked, the picture of health and smlled.,andv bowed farewell to the reporters who had accompanied her from quarantine, as she took the arm of Marcus Mayer, and, leading nor two fox terriers, "Mr. ahd Mrs. Dennis," tripped to the" open vjctorla -which was in waiting. About the entrance was the usual crowd of'hackmen and porters, but The accompanying is a cut of the .geffient of John F. Cordray, will management J to furnish them a higher character of i-SbsMmS views J besides there were many persons drawn thither by the- hope of seeing the great actress. She faced the crowd smiling, and they pressed so close that the polfce had to swing their clubs and say rude things to keep the wayi opentor the-divlhe Sarah. Her maid in waiting. Mme. Levy, accompanied her and the actress with her maid and Mr Mayer, were driven rapidly up town. They went to tho Sa voy Hotel. Bernhardt was arrayed In an outfit of brown. Her dress was plain, but her wrap of rich fur swept the deck as she courtesied to the reporters. She was a picture that tempted an artist. As she talked he sketched her and she. watched with a half smile as he worked. The artist became nervous, but went on bravely. At last he finished and passed the sketch to her for an opinion. "I do not like it," she said petulantly. "The face Is too short. My face Is easy to draw. It Is very long and ugly and has thin bones. Then she passed the pic ture back to have the face made longer. "Oh. this boat, this boat," she safd over and over. "1 want to get ashore. I can nof read or write or talk on this boat." The she made rolling motions with her two hands to show how the boat had be haved. Her anxiety to get ashore created the impression that she bad been seasick on the voyage, but the ship's doctor said she was a good sailor and made no trou ble. The voyage was very rough during the first four days, however, and all aboard were made nervous by the con stant shaking and tossing of the ship. To a Call representative Bernhardt would; not discuss her roles In detail. Asked which one she preferred she an swered, "I like best the one that I am playing at the time." Then her opinion of M. Rostand's sanity was sought. She gave it freely. "He never was crazy." she, said. "The RALPM'S NpW THEATER m&MJ Interior of the Grand Opera-House, Salem's new theater, which, under the be opened November "30 by the Grau opera company In "El Capltan." The entertainment than they have ever ' other writers are Jealous of him and have defamed him.-Heis. not the greatest-playwright, but he la one of the greatest. "M4ss Aams yes, I hear that she Is a charming girl, charming creature. Her perseaatlon af L'AIgkm Is excellent" Some one suggested that Miss Adams did not put enough of tragedy isto the part, but Bernhardt could not be induced to venture any but a general criticism of the American gfrL Maurice Grau said Tuesday evening that ne had just received a telegram from Sarah Bernhardt stating that she had arrived safely fn New York. "I wish you would state," he said, "that Sarah Bern hardt will be out here in February. I am sure that she will please the San Fran cisco people. The sale of seats In Neiy York for her appearance Is larger than ever before in this country. This will be the third appearance of Madame Bern hardt In San Francisco, but the first tlra that she and Coquelln will appear to gether In this city. "Madame Bernhardt will have a reper toire of seven plays, which will lnduda 'Hamlet Camllle and LTAlglon.' I have brought her to thjs oountry at a great expense, and this may perhaps be the last tfme that she will undertako to make a tour of the United States." THE DEATH OF HOYT. Never Recovered From Shock Give by His "Wife's Death The death of Charles H. Hoyt, the well known playwright, of paresis. Tuesday night, at his home. Charlestown, N. H., has occasioned but little surprise. Ever since hl:f return to Charlestown after hla release from a private asylum at Hat ford. by order of the court, early In Au gust, it has been known by bis attendants and nearest friends that his- condition was serious and there was little or no chance for his recovery, but Mr. Hoyt apparently had seemed hopeful of ulti mate recovery. Previous to two weeks ago, says the San Francisco Call, uiere appoars to have been a slight Improvement in his conamon, although he had periods of de pression. About two weeks ago his ap petite failed, and he had a bad turn, from which he only partially recovered. Since that time he had been unable to take any except liquid nourishment, but continued to be up and around bis rooms until last Monday. He steadily lost; strength and xuosday morning he suffered a relapse and became unconscious. In whloh condition he remained until death came. Mr. Hoyt had jio relatives in Charles town, and at the time of his death his two physicians, two trained nurses, his valet and James O. Lyford, his legal guardian, were In attendance. A full -account of Hoyt's life and dramas appeared In this paper at the Ume of hla commitment to the asylum, a tew weeks ago. It will be remembered that h vas completely broken In health at the time of the death of his wife, Caroline JMlkel Hoyt, in October, 1S9S. He was always extremely nervous, and shortly after Ws wife's death his condition became alarm ing. He suffered a severe attack of nerv our prostration. He spent several months in St. Augustine, Fla., and to a "ertaln extent regained his health. He never re covered his former brlllancy, however, and wrote his only complete failure "A Dog in a Manger." The failure of this play, which was produced for a few nights in Boston, completely discouraged him. He brooded more and more over the death of his wife, and his condition be came such that he was finally examined as to his sanity. The scene in court was pathetic in the extreme. Hoyt seemed to partially realize his condition, but bis nervous system was so wrecked and his once brilliant mind so ravaged by worry and sorrow that he could not combat the terrible affliction which was upon htm. Mournfully he repeated his wife's name, explaining to the Judge that since her death he had been unable to sleep, and cbuld get no rest. He was officially pro nounced Incompetent and committed to an 'asylum. A few weeks later, through Lthe efforts of his friends, he was released and taken, to a private; sanitarium... At the height of his success the ,play wrlght went out of the world without quitting It, and for the last few months naa before.