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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 2, 1900)
16 THE SUNDAY OBEGOlsTLAN, PORTLAIsT), DECEMBER 2, 1900. 3 if fkfim i dWrKJlL- V4-AU LJ-7vA 4w Br juW ' irU- K W&Bm. A v I Ml Ml WEEK OF BRIGHT COMEDY Success of "White Horse TaTera" Good Bills for the Several Playhouses Tliis "Week. Comedy, quiet and brisk, comedy of an agricultural hue, and all the fun shaded by a tinge of the melancholy drama, tells the history of things theatrical in the playhouses during the past week, As a rule, the shows have been rather lights walsted, but the companies presenting the plays have been conscientious, and that one virtue covers a multitude of faults. At the Marquam Theater a very pretty, clean comedy, "At the White Horse Tav ern," held the boards on Monday, Tues day and Wednesday evenings. The story Is European, and as in comic opera gives a. fantastic picture of things real. Be ing a translation from the German, the speaking parts of the comedy are natur ally tinged with all the peculiarities of German story books. The play ran smoothly and was deservedly well patron ized. A novel bit of stage realism was introduced in the first act. Paper snow storms are childhood reminiscences of "East Lynne," but a real rainstorm is a new feature. Beginning with a matinee on Thanksgiv ing day and closing on Saturday night, "Brown's in Town," Swan's clever little farce comedy, played to flatteringly large houses and well deserved the patronage. Brisk in action and replete with absurdly comical situations, the play represents the modern idea of the farcical. It was a distinct change from its more sedate and picturesque predecessor. The dis tinctive feature was the more than ordl. narily clever and fetching group of act resses Specialties Were not numerous enough to be tiresome, and what spe cialties there Were simply acted as a relief from the rapidly recurring compli cations. At Cordray's Theater melodrama held sway. "Tennessee's Pardner" was a strong drawing card, and proved a very satisfying entertainment. The story is pathetic and follows closely Bret Harte's poem of the same name, and, as such, naturally breathed Western honest sen timent. The company presenting the play was painstaking, but in spots somewhat crude. The lighter parts of the play were in excellent hands, the camp liar proving himself a funmaker of no mean calibre. A profitable week's business shows that melodrama, played as "Ten nessee's Pardner" was. last week, is still popular with theater-goers. "Uncle Josh Spruceby." a rollicking farm play, tinged with Just enough or the earnest side of life to bring into strong relief the honest, fun-loving New England agriculturist, played to large houses all week at the Metropolitan The ater. Specialties were numerous and well done, and the acting throughout in keep, ing with the scenes. The strong feature of the play was the mus'cal side. An ex cellent orchestra and band accompanies the show, and their work was decidedly good. Every day at noon time the streets of the city were paraded by the "Rube" band, which was not only funny In its outlandish and nqndescript uniforms, but was also very good Indeed on account of the high grade of music furnished. "Uncle Josh" will play to good business should his all-around good entertainers play a return engagement. Comlnc Attractions. Comic opera, mostly new to Portland, is billed for the Marquam. Grau's Comlo Opera Company opens tomorrow night In a new, bright opera, "The Itle of Cham pagne." This is its first presentation in Portland, but judging from the standard of the operas previously sung by Mana ger Grau's companies hero the season should be a good one musically. The light operetta with an extended field for elabo ration and interpretation, "The Little Ty coon," follows, while the engagement will close with two performances of Sousa's famous ooera, "El Capitan. The prin cipals are nearly all strangers here, but come heralded by complimentary notices. What with new singers and new operas, the Grau opera season should prove a very refreshing musical treat. "My Frleh'd From India," which proved such a marked success in this city last season, for being a cleverly written and highly amusing comedy, will appear at Cordray's Theater every night during the coming week, beginning with tonight. May Vokes, a comedienne of national reputation, and the original in the role of the German servant, is with the pres ent company. "A Breezy Time," a farce comedy that lives rlghtrup to its-suggestive name, be gins tonight at the Metropolitan Theater and will have one week's engagement. This is a farce comedy built directly on up-to-date lines, abounding in specialties, and, appearing at most lnqpportune times, a stage tramp that does all sorts of funny stunts. Laughter will reign at the Met ropolitan the coming week. "Shenandoah," the great war drama, is scheduled for the Marquam for the clos ing days of the week. JULES GRArS COMPANY HERE. Opens at the Marquam in "The Isle of Clmmimsmc." The Jules Grau Opera Company pays Its Autumn visit to Portland, opening tomor row at the Marquam, with an opera or sriusa local lovers of music have heard much, but which ..they have not yet had the pleasure of seeing- and hearing '71'he Isle of Champagne." This has been described by the critic's as a comic opera of more than usual merit from the scen ic and fantastic points of view, while musically it has been equaled by but few of the works of modern composers or light and popular operatic entertainment. The scene Is laid on an Island where drinking water 16 unknown, until a ves sel is stranded on the beach. The fresh water has an intoxicating effect upon the inhabitants, who are ruled over by a bankrupt people. Three people are- saved from the wreck; one a middle-aged .New England widow, who owns the vessel, a young Puritan girl and a sailor. The King, for financial reasons, marries the woman, the young girl marries the Prince and the sailor falls in love with all the girls on the island. There Is a conspir acy between the Prime Minister and the Queen to get rid of the King so that they can marry, but the plot falls and every thing ends happily. Following is the repertoire for the en gagement: Monday and Tuesday nights, "Isle of Champagne," Wednesday mati nee, "Little Tycoon"; Wednesday and Thursday nights, "El Capltan." Each op era will be given an excellent scenic production. "MY FRIEND FROM INDIA." It Begins "a Four-NiKht Engagfe xnent at Cordray's. "My Friend From. India," H. A. Du Souchet's comedy, which has been the, raging comedy success during the past three years, will be presented here for four nights, beginning tonight, at Cord ray's Theater. It will be interpreted by the Myron B. Rice Comedy Company. No more amusing or artistic performance has been seen upon the stage In a long time than that of Miss" May Vokes as' Tilly, the Irrepressible German maid. Dur ing the past three years she has met with unqualified success, and has 'estab lished herself as one of the bright and shining lights of tho profession. This will be Miss Vokes' last season with "My Friend From India," and the management has decided to star her in a new piece that is now being especially written for her by a well-known author. This farce comedy contains both wit and wisdom, and some clever caricatures. A pretty feature of the entertainment Is the number and variety of fetching gowns worn by the ladies. TONIGHT AT THE METROPOLITAN. A Farce That Boasts a Plot of Gen uine Merit. The author of "A Breezy Time" an nounced for this week at the Metropoli tan Theater, has given an amusing, well told story that Fltz & Webster's come dians have succeeded In elaborating into an enjoyable entertainment, meritorious from the fact that it not only has all the elements of music and fun, but its story is coherent and full of well-sustained interest. The three acts of "A Breezy Time" are overflowing with music, songs, dances and clever specialty fea tures, all of which arc introduced in an easy and perfectly legitimate manner, and the presentation gives a bright, crisp musical comedy with the refreshing nov elty of a plot something decidedly new in the farce-comedy field, and a feature that has proven one of the strongest fac-' tors of the phenomenal success of the present season. During the action of the comedy there are several distinct novel ties Introduced, among which are the three-legged sailor, lawn tennis quintette. Dago serenade, and a grand finale, in which the flags of all nations are intro duced. TWO CONCERTS TODAY. Royal Marine Band, of Italy, at the Exposition Building:. Nothing can be added to the praise al ready bestowed in Portland by voice and pen on the Royal Marine Band, of Italy. This incomparably fine organization will give two concerts today at the Exposition building, in the afternoon at 2:30, and evening at 8:15. The programmes are as follows: Afternoon. PART I. March-"Atlantlc City" Minoliti Serenade Herbert Harp solo Selected G. Setaro. Tenor solo Selected F. Giannlni. Quartet from "Rlgoletto".., Verdi Solos by Sir. Dl Glrolamo. Dl Na- tall, Tavanl, De Titta, PART IL Popular overture "William Tell".. Rossini Tenor solo Selected F. Gianni nL Solo for cornet Selected Sic Tavanl. Sextet from "Lucia"'. Donizetti Solos by Dl Glrolamo, Dl Natall, Da Titta, Tavanl. Evening: PART L March "Teasing Hearts" Creatore Overture "Poet and Peasant" Suppe Harp solo Selected SIg. G. Setaro. Tenor solo Selected F. Giannlni. Grand selection "lone" Petrell Incidental solos by Sig. De Titta and Dl Glrolamo. PART1L March "Salute to Willow Grove".... Giannlni Tenor solo Selected F. GlanninL Cornet solo "Holy City" Adams Sig. Tabani, "A Summer Night's Frolic" Minoliti Grand selection "II Trovatore" Verdi Incidental solos by Sic. Dl Glro lamo, De Natall and De Titta. "SHENANDOAH" IS C031ING. The Great War Play to Be Seen at the Marauam This Week. An event of the present theatrical sea son will be the coming engagement of "Shenandoah," the favorite war play by Bronson Howard, which is to be pre sented under the direction of Jacob Lltt. "Shenandoah," as now given, differs from the original production In that It is now a great military spectacle with a small army of men and horses engaged in bat tle. All the din and pomp and horror of war are shown. Sheridan's dash across the stage was not at first Introduced by tho realistic scenes of battle and retreat that have since been made so effective. There was a faint suggestion of battle In the wings, but it remained for this re vival to develop those spectacular effects that have since been of so much conse quence. This improvement in what might be called the mechanics of the play re calls the theory expressed by Mr. How ard some time ago that the dramatist must be possessed not of imagination and literary ability alone, but of absolute mechanical taste. The constructive tal erit must run, If his theory be correct, to the absolute point of mechanics. It is not enough that he shall develop the im- aginative faculty, but an absolute me chanical gift must be his. The company which is to present the play is one of strength. "Shenandoah" is to be presented at the Marquam Grand Friday and Saturday nights, December 7-S. Matinee Saturday. JULIA MARLOWE'S TRIUMPH. Opening Performance of "When Knighthood Was In Flo er." "Julia Marlowe achieved a great per Bonal success tonight as Mary Tudor, in Charles Major's play, 'When Knighthood Was in Flower,' " wired Lyman B. Glov er, to the Chicago Times-Herald, from St. Louis, under date of November 26 (last Monday night.) "A brilliant and splendid audience, composed of the St. Louis four hundred, with delegates added from Chi cago, Inlanarolls and elsewhere, applaud ed the fair lady to the echo, enjoyed the brilliant scenes in the most demonstrative manner, and called Miss Marlowe to tho curtain so many times that no doubt re mained as to the general success of the play and the individual triumph of the 'actress. "Miss Marlowe was In holiday humor and played In a buoyant. Jaunty, whole hearted fashion that rendered wholesale capitulation Inevitable. Even good point in the play (and all the essential scenes have been retained) was taken in the most appreciative manner, the impulsive lovemaklng between Mary and Brandon, the pretty dancing lesson carried off with Infinite grace, the dfiance to King Henry, the escape to Bristol and all the vital Incidents of the play were developed by Miss Marlowe with such all-conquering abandon and spirit that she held the au dience at her mercy. "The outburst at the end of the third act took on the form of an ovation, which continued for 10 minutes, and in which Mr. Major shared, the call for him being most genuine and enthusiastic. More Than Hamlet. Mary permeates tho entire substance so completely that she becomes even moro than the Hamlet of the play. She is the Hamlet. Ophelia, Polonlus and ghost compressed Into one central figure. A creature of many contradictions yet ra diant in the grace and power of true and loving womanhood, this daughter of a line of Kings, a woman more real than Juliet, more profound that Rosalind, and altogether splendid In her possibilities, is the alpha and omega of the play which Paul Kester has, made with considerable art from the story which Charles Major wrote one time in Indiana. "And when the curtain falls after the dainty epilogue, a function In which Miss Marlowe manages to conquer all who had not previously capitulated, the curtain falls and there is a sense of satisfaction that an American story-writer, aided by an American actress, has been able to equal the artistic workmanship of a Hope or a Weyman. "I do not .doubt that the entire country will confirm the verdict, and agree that this lady has never produced an original play so interesting or created a charac ter so deserving of high praise as that of Mary Tudor. The play might be full of blemishes as i.. Is not, and this dainty creation which runs the entire gamut of sentiment, of comedy and of sincere feel ing, would atone for all of them. One such creation, joyous and beautiful In "meaning and direction, Is worth shiploads of such characters as are sent to us from the land of whore Mary Tudor once lived and loved." A MARK OF DEGENERACY, Defect In a. Play Famllar to Portland Theater-Goers. Mr. Lyman B. Glover, of the Chicago Times-Herald, talks plainly and with dis crimination of the degenerate drama, tak ing for his text a play that is familiar to Portland theater-goers from Its recent presentation In this city, viz. "When We Were Twenty-One," Nat Goodwin and Maxlne Eliot's success. The third act of "When We Were Twen- J. W. KINGSLEY AS EL CAPITAN, ty-One," says Mr. Glover, Is a distressing impropriety, for which no adequate ex cuse can be found. Further than this, it may be considered a deadly Imperti nence for a dramatist to insult respect able audiences by exhibiting a scene from the half world, under conditions which make the exhibition absolutely su perfluous. Anything more incongruous than this offensive scene could not be imagined. It is not related In kind to anything that goes before or anything that follows, but is plumped into the midst of a delightful comedy, like a foul ulcer upon the lip of beauty. In serious plays, that honestly dwell upon social conditions for both dramatic and ethical purposes, and restate In a dignified manner one of the moral trag edies of life, a certain frankness is at least respectable, no matter how much we maydeplore It. The startling realism of "CamiUe," "Zaza," "Sapho," "Tess," and "Becky Sharp" grows out of the sub ject, and is legitimate in Its relation to the discussion as a whole. But no such excuse can be offered for this exhibition of vice In Mr. Esmond's play, "When We Were Twenty-one," and should It be offered no one would accept it. Not only has the dramatist violated one of the first principles of dramatic art which decrees that the subject treatment and manner of a play should be homo geneous, and sui generis, but he has dragged in a superfluous iniquity solely for the purpose of illegitimate sensation. The Fastidious Stay Away. There is so much in this play calcu lated to please and Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin are so popular that even this most offen sive blemish cannot serve to keep crowds away from Powers' Theater. But In this case, as in all others of a like nature, these crowds do not include the best ele ments of society. At least they are not visible after it is known that the even ing's entertainment will Include a visit to an. alleged club devoted to the demi monde. While fast society and silly women who like to singe their eyebrows in what they imagine to be Bohemia, can always be counted upon to attend and apologize for such exhibitions, there is a large and sterling element in Chicago which has mUSm seemingly been- dvorced from the theater by these objectionable exhibitions. Except when Mansfield, Irving, Marlowe or some one else whose plays are always clever comes along, they remain .away from the theater, not wishing to subject wives, daughters or sweethearts to exhibitions which they cannot discuss with propriety at the tea table. This blot on the 'scutcheon' means more than most of the managers seem to im agine. In order to please degenerates, who seem to be propagated enormously In London just now, they are alienating a large class of vastly more importance, and they are doing this despite the fact that absolutely clean and wholesome plays invariably draw more money in the long run than the tainted exhibitions. Mr. Glover finds a "blot" also on the scutch- i tiBjmSfSSMk'K ffPyJHwiB-5---?-K''. vr"-'; "-" 3'"r,'?ft &iftojS9gllBB7 ttE?---W-tSu " "" 1 Kcytt1y3PBBwfiwakr r "'C'tA ; Ajr'Hi wC" yi'9Y w "V i t sm , - - IslB&Efltiiiivte 7fc?F ffr K" w.M'&tft J'-' K A ''$? ijBH- . .flf-rtfffey" Zj-v k K t v x'&rt'! - " . "? t55 iff"5-! iK1" $i3 MAY VOICE? AS TTLLEY, IN eon of "On the Quiet," in which Willie Collier is starring, evidently inserted as a sop for the prurient. ENGLISH VS. AMERICAN MORALS. As Shown In Pinerp's Nevr Play, "The Gay Lord Quex." PInero's new play, "The Gay Lord Quex," has been a fertile subject for com ment among the New York critics during the pasf two weeks. The chief point of debate is whether it Is more wicked than clever, or more clevfer than wicked. That IN GRAU'S OPERA C03IPANY. surely, is a sufficient guarantee for Us fu ture. In England, the play was accepted with out question as a comedy of manners, reflecting a period of life with every pur pose of accuracy, hence photographing PORTLAND'S DOWN -TOWN ...THEATER... WEEK f INTRODUCING OUR DISTINCT NOVELTIES OUR PRICES NEVER CHANGE . the pleasant and the unpleasant, the pure and the Impure Mr. Plnero has gone so far as to say it was not his fault If Eng lish society was as had as he painted it, from which we are to infer an unpleas ant state of affairs for that particular society. For that reason precisely, says the Chi cago Tribune, the coming of "The Gay Lord Quex" to New York furnished a test of supreme importance. If social condi tions ou both sides of the Atlantic were ,alike, the play would have been regarded 'as depicting realities. But'Ihe play was not accepted as hold ing a mirror up to any recognizable class. Its morals lmmorals, rather were found as foreign as its titled characters, and all that was left of the play was Its ar- "MY FRIEND FROM INDIA." tlflce as an entertainment. Because that artifice itself reached the plane of genius the play was a success, but it is evident that In this country it will he remembered for an Intensely dramatic third act, worked out with a dexterity beyond re cent parallel, and not for its declared semblance to real life. There is some consolation in the thought, and still more in the evidence that London is in worse plight as to morals than New York and Chicago. On Thin Ice. Whep wre remember that the English ranked this play only a degree below "The School for Scandal," the foregoing criticism aeems to strike a truer note than even the following keen and per tinent comment by Hillary Bell in the New York Press: "An Instant's pause In the swift action of sparkling dialogue of "Lord Quex" would bring the audience Into confusion. Plnero puts his character on thin ice, but he transports them over it so swiftly that tho spectators have no time to reflect on the scandal of the matter. "Furthermore, Plnero knows that the absence of shadow makes his personages whimsical and therefore harmless. By refusing depth of feeling to his charac ters he leaves them Irresponsible. They are as light as thistledown, blown hither and thither by the author's fancy. Im pudent they are, but it is the imper tinence of frivolity. Even purists can not object to the 6auciness of butterflies. "This lack of value in the characters Is not the author's fault, but his intention. When he has a mind for it Plnero can WTito einotlon as well as anybody. His "Mrs. Tanqueray" and "The Squire" are evidences of the fact that he can con ceive men and women of quality. "This Englishman, however, realizes that' the vlclousness of Lord Quex and his companions would be Intolerable If it were allied with human Interest. He robs hfs peoplo of hearts, and -doubles their allowance of loquacity. Their speech Is brilliant, their emotions are dull. They have no sentiment, but a little sentimen tality." DERNHARDT IN "L'AIGLON." Illness Did Not Prevent Her From Maklnir a -Triumph. Mme. Sarah Bernhardt, who, it will be remembered, worked until 4 o'clock last Monday morning in perfecting the de tails of her farewell American tour, and then remained In bed all day with a high fever, made her first appearance Monday night in "L'Alglon," at the Gar den Theater, New York. The audience was one of the most representative ever seen in America, says the Chicago Chron- METROPOLITAN PHONE GRANT 741 Clarence H. Jones, Manager. 3D AND YAMHILL STS. STARTING TONIGHT. DECEMBER 2 -SATURDAY F1TZ & WEBSTER'S UNRIVALED COMPANY OF COMEDIANS IN THAT MUSICAL COMEDY SURPRISE BREEZY ENTIRELY REWRITTEN Next Attraction Walter icl. Aside -from the fact that Bernhardt had not played in this country for five years, tho occasion was made notable by her appearance with Constant Coquelln. This was the first time these two great artists have appeared together Ince ISSf, when they left the Comedie Francalse and .made their first appearance In the United States. In addition to this. "IAlglon" was played In this country in its entirety for the first time. So large was the attendence that It was ab solutely necessary to stop selling even admission tickets at the highest prices. Bernhardt's engagement in thi3 city, un der the .direction of Maurice Grau, will last fire weeks. After that she will make a tour of the country- Jn her all-night rehearsal Bernhardt taxed her company severely. She was especially severe with the supers. The cries of the wounded and the dylnr on the battU-fleld of Wngram did not suit her. Phe talked to them in French, of which they could not understand a word. But Jt needed no Interpreter to let tho quaking supers behind the painted rocks know what she meant. Her eyes, her lips, her eyebrows, her voice, the Intona tion, the scorn, the derision, the appeal, the command, they were all plain. The Supers Cried. "Cry as eef you were dying. Cry-Ah-h-h. Cry for me." she urged. The supers cried. Then Bernhardt called for her stage manager. "Who rehearsed them?" said Bern hardt. "Plerron, madam." Pierron appeared. With hands by his sides and head lowered be listened while the divine Sarah said a few things to him in a low voice. Then she herself went about the stage and placed the supers In their correct po sitions. She made each and every one cry until ho satisfied her with his In tonation and his inflections. She went to the electrician. She made him raise his "borders" and lower his "foots." His bunch lights were placed In different po sitions. The gamut of his shades was run until she had the exact effect she de sired. Then she took the stage again. There were no hitches this time. The lights grew bright and faded again, the supers cried like dying men. The musi cians caught their cues aright and the wail of the violins added to the harmoni ous discord of death the great actress was striving lor. And above all the walls of the dying, the moaning of the Violins, the sighing of the winds in the raw-silk boxes In the wings, the one little thing the little knot of auditors In the dusky auditorium saw was the woman whose Are and genius dominated every thing in front of them. It was a bit of acting that is not down on the bills, and that the audiences that gather at the uarden theater on pay nights will not witness. PHIL nOGOWAfS PLAY. 'The Day of Atonement" to Be Pro duced January 7. Great preparations are in progress at the Marquam for the production of Phil F. Rogoway's romantic drama, "The Day of Atonement," January 7, 190L That the theater will be filled to its capacity there is little doubt. Court Multnomah, No. 3, Foresters of America, at the last regular meeting, by a vote decided to at tend in a body, and ordered a great many seats reserved for them. The au thor, Mr. Rogoway, is an honored mem- oer oi mat court, and past chief ranger. Many prominent stores In the city will have seats for sale. This will be a great convenience to the public, as a special day will bo set aside by Manager Hellig for reserving seats for those who buy tickets in advance. For the residents of Alblna the management has put tickets on sale at Watts & Matthieu's, corner Williams avenue and Russell street. The sale of tickets will opan Monday morn ing. December 3. This will be the only place where tickets will be sold in the Alblna district. Other places where tick ets will be sold will be announced later. Ada Itehan In "Sweet Nell."' Ada Rehan achieved a great personal as well as a great artistic triumph last Monday night at Buffalo, In "Sweet Nell of Old Drury." This was the first pre sentation of the play in America. Klaw & Erlanger have made an unusually elab orate production, showing several scenes of magnificence and historical accuracy, says a special to the Chicago Chronicle. In Mr. Kesters play Nell Gwynne ap pears first as the orange girl driving a hard bargain outside of the King's The ater, in Drury Lane, with the monarch himself, treating him in a frank, easy going fashion equal to all emergencies, and then, as the fine lady and the favorite of the. King. Miss Rehan's comedy was full of high spirits, and that fine sense of humor and it womanly kindliness toward old com rades which made her impersonation one of the greatest she has ever essayed. The.ro were some magnificent costumes and a cast of thoroughly even excellence. Of the contributing players. White Whtt telsey gave a remarkable Impersonation of Charles n. There were many scenes of enthusiasm during the play, and Miss Rehan was recalled again and again at the conclusion of each act. The Barricade That Fell. As Frank Norcross, the leading man or "The White Horse Tavern" company, which played an engagement at the Mar quam Grand last week, entered the of fice of the Portland Hotel one night after the performance, a gentleman lounging over the register greeted him with the salutation: "Why, Hello Frank! Glad to see you, old man." "Great Caesar, Charley, what on earth are you doing In this part of the world?" was the handsome actor's reply. And then the two grasped hands and ad journed to the cafe, where they indulged in reminiscences of bygone days. After they had separated, "Charley" was overheard to tell a Portland ac quaintance: "It's just 20 years ago since I last saw Frank Norcross. I was then a young newspaper man away up in the Canadian Northwest no, come to think of MATINEE- AND TUNED UP TO DATE EVERYTHING NEW, NOVEL AND ORIGINAL Walker In 'THAT MAN' it, I was a 'journalist' in those halycon days and Frank brought up there a little dramatic troupe, with him being Estha Williams, who is now playing m "Ten nessee's Eardher.' over at Cordray's, and her bright little daughter, who is now the leading lady -of the 'White Horse Tavern company, and known as Minerva Dorr. Many's tho time I've held little Minerva on my knee. No, guess I couldn't do that now, but she was just a wee tot then, you see. I remember a. funny thing that hap pened to them. Out In that country Win nipeg was the place there were mighty few people those days, and Frank had to change his bill so often that even the quickest 'studies' In his party had re course to 'faking.' "One night -they put on a military piece I forget just what it -was but in one scene the actors were to be behind a stockade which super Indians' were to storm. Well, Frank evolved the brilliant idea of saving study by reading the parts in this scene from the books, arguing that the players thus screened by the mimic barricade could not be detected by the audience. It was a brilliant Idea all right, but unfortunately some clumsy super bumped against the insecure bar ricade and knocked it over. "When it fell, there stood a lot of act ors In the full glare of the footlights, each holding a yellow play book before him and wearing the most sheepish look you ever saw. Funny? Well, rather." Maxlne Elliott's Act. Nat Goodwin and Miss .Maxino Elliott have Just finished one of the most suc cessful engagements they ever played in Chicago, says the Tribune of that city. The three acts of the delightful comedy in "When We Were Twenty-One" effec tually counterbalance the poverty of the third act. It is the second act, however, that his made the play that Is, the sec ond act as it Is played by Miss Maxino Elliott. For it is her act, though Mr. Goodwin shares with her two of tlie best scenes, while Harry Woodruff Is her ablo assistant In another, besides having tho curtain scene almost to himself. This is a case where the length of an act is one of Its virtues; there is more of varied ac tion and of the different phases of comedy in the single act than in many plays. That, perhaps, explains why not a night has passed since early In the first week of the engagement without the act hav ing, an audience of its own. Eoon after tho curtain goes up on the act each night the extra onlookers come straying in. They include newspaper men. -men about town, managers of other theaters, and others of the ilk. While the act lasts they stand at the rear of the theater, and when It Is over they pass out. Mansfield's Plan. Richard Mansfield closed his New York engagement in "Henry V." November 21, and opened in Philadelphia the 26th, and will remain there until nearly the end of December. With brief halts he will con tinue on to Chicago, reaching there on January 14 for a five weeks' stay at the Grand Opera-House. He will play the Shakespearean drama the entire season save for a .fortnight In March, when he will give Stephen Phil lips' poetic drama, "Herod," a trial pro duction at the Herald Square Theater. New York. Becrbohm Tree has given the piece a sccnically magnificent presentation In London, but Mr. Mansfield will be con tent with modest costuming and setting. The reason is that the presentation is made chiefly because It is called for by contract, and that real use will not bo made of the drama until next year, when. If tho test is satisfactory, it will be Mr. Mansfield's chief offering to the country at large. The rights of the play were se cured at a time when the actor expected to make several New York productions this year and do little touring. The popu larity which has attended "Henry V." led him to change the plan. Anotner New Vorlc Success. A high-class comedy of the farcical or der, with just enough of the "up to date" borrowed from the French school to lend spice to its situations, Is "The Man," which will be seen at the Metropolitan Decem ber 9 and week following. The success of this play has been practically demon strated by its profitable run at the Herald-Square Theater the last few weeks, and the only reason that It did not fin ish the season out at that house was that provision had been made for the produc tion of Hcarne's new play. That a com edy of this sort should succeed In the Herald-Square, the audiences of which have been educated to large ensembles, scenic and musical productions of the very highest order, is almost without prec edent, and Is a positive assurance of the merit of Mme. Chartres' efforts as a play wright. This engagement will Include Walter Walker and the original cast. American Dramatists Slighted. Daniel Frohman was quoted a while back as saying that neither he nor hta brother could get acceptable plays from American dramatists, says the Chicago Times. Apparently they believe so them selves, but are at the same time con vinced they must have American plays. At any rate, they are going to Import an English playwright to write one for them. Ihls, at leas. Is the Inference from the announcement that C. Haddon Cham bers, author of "The Tyranny of Tears," Is about to start for this country on the Invitation of the managerial brothers to secure here the material for an American play which they have contracted to pro duce. Popular With College Students., Mrs. FIske's Itinerary on her way from Boston to Chicago Is taking her through several college towns. In Northampton, Mass.. the seat of Smith College, it Is said that 100O of the 1200 students attended the Academy of Music to greet Mrs. FIske In "Becky Sharp." In Poughkeep sle, the seat of Vassar Colllege. the entire balcony of the theater was given up to , etiitante of that institution. In Schenectady, the Union College City, and PORTLAND'S DOWN -TOWN ...THEATER... 1 OUR PRICES NEVER CHANGE 1