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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 23, 1900)
1G THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN, PORTLAND, DECEMBER 23, 1900. rv q Ss&t mil) A IMA 4r Minify Wk. I IBKy-A Ay T it W WEEK AT THE THEATERS Opera, Minstrelsy and Melodrama Combine to Please Playgoers. Comic opera, minstrelsy and a thrilling drama composed the attraction at the various playhouses during- the past week. A most encouraging sign of theatrical times was the nightly large attendance at every performance. Portland's theater patrons have evidently outgrown the tem porary period of apathy mat marked the attendance for about three or four years, and have now reached the stage where they have given this city the name of being one of the best show towns on the Coast. Local managers Indorse this state ment by saying that advance men this season are clamoring for longer engage ments. Shows that were first class afew yeaTS ago passed Portland up for a one night stand, but this season larger dates are sought, which fact In itself is a sufficient criterion. Beginning with last Monday night, Frank Daniels appeared at the Marquam Theater In his latest success, the "Ameer," a comic opera built on latter day lines Monday, Tuesday and "Wednes day evenings were devoted to this opera, and at each performance a crowded house was the rule. It Is just such a play as leaves pleasant memories. It Is brilliant In presentation, bright ana fresh in dia logue, has a host of pretty girls with uniformly shapely figures, and has good, rollicking choruses with, as a rule, the Jaunty two-step swing. As to princi pals In the singing role, there were no really good singers. They scemeo to be picked more lor appearance than for vo cal excellence The women sang accept ably their set songs, but their personal charms far offset their -singing. The men, from the short measures wherein their voices were heard, in oxo, gave good promise of good songs to come, but the songs never came. Daniels drolleries form part of stage history, and are too well known to need but a passing men tion. He had two able lieutenants in the comedy line In the whimsical old cham berlain and the court fooL As a scenic production the "Ameer" was grand, stage setting and pictures were rich and dressy. Reverting to a question raised In last week's issue as to where comic opera is tending, the "Ameer" Is a good subject in , pointy Everything appealed to the eye. i elaborate make-ups. Scenic effects in every stage picture prevailed. But the musical features, with their even "cou ple of stars," their pretty concerted num bers and a few really good solos, were strangely lacking. Perhaps the word "opera" in this case again is used merely as an advertisement, where the word it self Is always a strong inducement to a patron of ordinary musical tastes, and tho spectacular paraphernalia Is used as "dlvcrtisement" from the original object Be the case as It may, the fact remains that light opera as at present "sung" is that "are ooundto -occur tin tthe near fu-J ture. On Thursday and Friday nights, Prim. rose and -Dookstader-'s minstrels enter tained by a very good show, following closely, in the first part, old-time min strelsy, while In the second part a few orthodox -minstrel features "were present ed, -with -the added -new feature by Prim rose of several beautiful stage effects In "moonlight scenes on the Mississippi Bayou, with appropriate musical accom paniment. Neither Primrose nor TJock stader seem to have lost any of their former vivacity or cleverness. Their spe cialty features In the second act were on a par with anything In their particular line seen here. With all due respect to the abilities of the old boys, they have a team of endmen in O'Brien and Dooley that simply -p'Ut them In the shade In the first part. O'Brien's -work In negro songs and general get-up was the feature of the evening, while Dooieys nne singing overtopped any endman's 'efforts ever heard in Portland. "Under Sealed Orders," a dramatlza iDn 'of one of Rudyard Kipllng'-s stories, played to a full week of more than or dinarily .good business, at the Metropoli tan Theater. The play in itself gives fllonty of scope for talents that tend to wards the melodramatic or stagy. The scenes are all thrilling, dealing for the most part with the actions of the secret Service of Grea Britain in their opera tions in Algiers. Both In story and loca tion the effect Is romantic, and the com pany playing the TOle for the most part kept w ell within the bounds, and no over acting, where overacting- would be so easy, was prominent. Only In one scene, that of a private drawing-room In a Lon don home, did the -action of the play -become at all prosy, and even In this scene a few -specialties were added to relieve written for him, he is said to have a part In which he is able to do better than he has done heretofore. He has spent much staay In preparing for the part, and has engaged .a splendid company for its presentation. The women in the play are said to he the most beau tiful that have been seen on "the Coast for a number ol years, and tteir gowns, the latest creations of Worth, have set feminine hearts fluttering -wherever they have Deen 'seen. "What Did Tompkins Do?" is a farce comedy of a high order, -concerning the doings of an old farmer whose wayward son keeps him constantly in hot water. While brimful of merrt 'ment it is clean and wholesome, and the -mirth is natural and easy. The comedy Is sumptuously staged, new scenery nav Ing b.-en painted for It, and no detail or -property or setting that goes to "make la finlshedperformance being overlooked. FRAWLEYS AT CORDRAY'S. Tliey "Will Open Tonieht in "Tbrei Great Ruby." T. Daniel tFrawley and Ills company will! begin their return engagement of one ;week-at .Cordray's -tonight. .Matinees will, be given on Christmas Day and Saturday. The engagement of the company at tne same house last month is still .fresh in the memory of Portland theater-goers. Ihe attendance then was large , but, on ac count of the character -or the repertoire to be offered this week. It would not be surprising If even that record should be excelled. The play selected as the opening bill is' "The Great Ruby," one of the sensations of recent theatrical history. From a scenic standpoint It is the most ambitious undertaking of Mr.' Frawley's career, and it requires a larg er cast than anything previously produced "by" him. While frankly melodramatic in character. It is melodrama of a high type, "and its personages are recruited mainly .from the most "swagger" element of the English aristocracy. This fact affords an opportunity for handsome dressing, which the ladles of the com pany are not slow to Improve. Miss Van Buren and Miss Johnson especially are resplendent In a number o'f Paris gowns. When the piece -was produced by Mr.- Frawley In an Francisco, the Kxamlner. devoted two pages to Miss Van Buren's costumes. ino urcat ituoy win noiu the stage tonight, tomorrow night, and at the Christmas matinee. At the evening' performance on 'Christmas, and the fol lowing night, another novelty will be pre sented. This Is "The Mladleman," Dy Henry Arthur Jones, the play which made E. S. "Wlllard famous. It Is a drama of the deepest human interest, and one which holds an audience spellbound from beginning to end. The "Sporting Duch- the strain. Plays such as "Under Sealed ess" will be given on Thursday, "Madame Orders" "have a strong "attraction for the Sans Gene" on Friday, "Trilby" at the regular attendant I Saturday matinee, and the engagement Cordray's Theater was dark during the I will close on Saturday evening with Israel is then Attacked by both men. He suc ceeds In getting both points on his own sword and alone battles for his and his maStPrR Iff. T nmH ie fra TYnt exclUng. It is believed that few swords- "A. Royal family" Mrs. Gilbert has ex John Drew died Mrs. Gilbert stepped Into her place as the most popular and most finished of old American actresses. In men are capable of handling the rapid thrusts of two men In. such a fight BIdws and thrusts are parried with equal pre cision. Cecco succeeds in wounding his original opponent Blightly. but allowing him sufficient time to pay full attention to Milatesta, whom he quickly dispatches. Then a general fieht with the fnnl and the- Duke on one side and the followers of the Philadelphia, he is a native product to be J defeated mn rtn Vi ttio. anomn TtrVilrS timiii4 nf "oI.VicttvI firvp1 " In -whloh I w .l, WfcMW. WitlUl.d ,1 MW. .WMl. V. A.... T " " f .. Wml fe WMm 'ByYm If f, Y v I TTARRY CORSON CLARKE AS TOMPKINS. must necessarily end disastrously for the single pair, nut is brought to a speedy termination by the announcement of the TDuke's presence. "The 'Day of Atonement." Phil F. Rogoway's romantic drama. "The 'Day of Atonement," will be presented at the Marquam Tuesday, January 7. The play, which was written by a young Port land playwright, will be given an elab orate presentation, more tnan 100 people, nearly all of them from Portland, hav ing been engaged to take part Among those who are to assume leading roles Is Miss Henrietta Vanderholt, who will play Mrs. Bernard, the lnkeeper of Lauteraals. She is a young woman of exceptional his trionic ability. J. L. Walters, a veteran stage director, will look, after the details -of the presentation. "A Strnngrer In a Stranse Land." Thall and Kennedy's comedy, "A Stranger in a Strange Land," which ha3 been 'one of the biggest hits of the sea son will come to Cordray's Theater; the "week fallowing the Ftawley engagement. The play is founded on the adventures of Oom Paul, and Is eaid to be one of the cleverest and best of its kind that has ever been produced. The reputation of Thall and Kennedy as managers is a sufficient .guarantee that the company will be composed of the best talent that can be secured. MR. FREDERI CK W.UIDE. past week, with the one exception of an oxtra performance of "Human Hearts" last Sunday evening. HARRY CORSON CLARKE. Cornea to -the Marquam Monday In His New Comedy. Harry Corson Clarke, a comedian well known In Portland, will come to the Mar quam Monday and Tuesday evenings and Tuesday afternoon in his new comedy, "Whaf Did Tompkins Do?" Mr. Clarke first appeared in Portland as the come dian of the Frawley Company, and has played here at the head of his own com pany a number of times. He has always ZangwlU's great study of modern Hebrew life. "Children of the' Ghetto." "A BELL BOY." XcwTnrce Comedy at tlje "Metropol itan. "A Bell Boy" is the ringing title of the merry. Jingling farce which comes to the Metropolitan Theater -today and all the week. As the name Implies "The "Bell Boy" treats of the vicissitudes of "the poor, unwary traveler who has to content himself or herself with life In the aver age country tavern, while pursuing his means of livelihood. As Thespians, as well as commercial BnanwBMwaBaaBaaasBBBaaBmBBHSMBaaMaBaBnnaaBH MBrnwiimm of latter-day giowth. and it will be very studied to advance In the line of comedy, travelers, have to take to hotels for their interesting to watch the developments and In the play which was especially homes lt ls the happy commingling of the always Jolly commercial traveler and j a merry troupe of Thespians that serve to make the entertainment, with the as sistance of that ubiquitous personage, without whom no hotel ls complete, the bell boy, whose pranks and metallic nerve serve to keep everything and everybody In hot water. Interspersed through the three acts are all the latest popular music and terpslchorean novelties which have enliv ened "New York during the past Summer. An Interesting feature tvM be the cof tumes worn by the feminine contingent of the company, which are veritable fashion plates. The costumes being actually the latest Parisian fashions, both in style and design, will prove a treat to the lovers of art The company numbers 15 well-known artists, among them being Lou Harvey, the Hebrew Impersonator, of whom the press and public of San Francisco were unanimous in thelp praise; Armstrong and Casedy. Tom Morse. Miss Bessie Mar lowe, Gale and Wensley and the Sisters Young, all of -whom contribute to the vaudeville portion of the entertainment BALLOOX SCENE IN "GREAT RUBY." FREDERICK "WARDE. Will Come "to the Mnrqnam the Last of the "WeeJc Frederick "Wirde, supported by the Clarence M. Brune Company, will ap pear at the Marquam Thursday night in "Richelieu"; Friday night and Sat urday matinee In the "Duke's Jester," and Saturday night In "Othello." The. supporting company is one of the strong est In which Mr. Warde has achieved Sis, greatest triumph. The duel scene ls said to be the most t thrilling stage fight ever nresented. There are four swords In play, each In the hands H of a master qf the craft Cecco, the fool, , ana ine uuKe ox jaiian masqueraamg in each other's attire are followed to the hiding place of Nina de Borgia by two courtiers bent upon the death of the Jes tpr. Almost lmmedlatelv unnn thplr rn I trance the combat begins. Rapiers are I used. Count Malatesti mlsfnklntr -the, Duke for the fool on account of his dress in the dim light, attacks him. while his friend crosses swords with Cecco. The Duke falls. Cecco sees his master's peril I and springs to his aid, just In time to jiany Malatestas threatenlnsr thrust He ALL THE STARS THERE. New York Enjoying: an Unusunl Dra matic Season. Nearly all of the foremost American star actors are appearing in New York this week, or are due here soon, says the New York Sun. Daniel Frohman's stock com pany at Daly's has four or five actors whose artistic ability and popular per sonalities almost give them the right to prominence. Hilda Spong. Cecelia Loftus, John Monas, Edward J. Morgan and Eliz abeth Tyree, although not all American by birth, are native by reputation. Miss Loftus minht be named as an exception, but her professional standing, other than a music hall mimic, is slight abroad. All these have good parts In "The Man of Forty." James O'Neill has long held a prominent place In American stageland. Of his many parts, none has brought him nearly as t much fame as Edmund sjantes. "Monte Cristo," with an ordinarily good scenic equipment, has so long been popular that with -a. fine background It Is no wonder that lt brings crowds to the big Academy of Music. Indeed, the scenery alone would be almost -worth seeing, even with out the famous Dumas melodrama. Maude Adams is in every sense an American player, and by her admirers declared the representative actress of our country. To et any single player so forward is unnecessary, as Julia Marlowe or Ada Rchan, or two or three others might justly dispute Miss Adams' claim. Tho bewitching little comedienne, who .docs not 'limit her achievement to any -er'& Fields-carefully avoid. -Mr. Dalley stay at the Madison Square ls limited to two weeks more. On Christmas eve, "Th House That Jack Built" will be produced ce lent opportunities to exhibit ier rare Jerome Sykes's humor is of a. less typi talcnt as a comedienne In fact, she j cal,y jlom order than some of his nearly rivals Miss Russell In charm. , comlc opera DrotherSt but hls comic openi John Drew is surely to be mentioned ( ot native make is true to Uncle Sam's, prominently among: American actors, not j pattern for such pieces, and not an ex only because of the Illustrious place he ample to be ashamed of. "Foxy Qulllcr" has won for himself., but by birth. As m stay at the Broadway only two the son of two of the nne piayers or oia i weeks longer. Then Jefferson de Anselis will come in "A Royal Rogue." After a month of that the new Strauss opera, "Wiener Blut" will be produced. Lulu Glaser is newest, not to say the freshest, among American comic opera stars. She has throe weens more to stay at the Manhattan In "Sweet Anne Page." "Following Miss Glaser, Henry E. DIxey and a special company will produce "The "Burgomaster," an extravaganza. Henrietta Crosman ls an American ac tress who has proudly won In a play by a native dramatist "Mistress Nell is at the Savoy for an indefinite time. The. Sun was lavish In praise on the morning .after her New York success, and is glaa of Its continuance. She Is nn artist to bo proud of. Macklyn Arbuckle Is an American who has quickly come forward, and, like Miss Crosman, in a home-made comedy. "The Sprightly Romance of Marsac" will sta at the Republic until the new year. John Hare, with the exception of Saran Bernhardt and Constant Coquelin, ls the only foreign star among us. He ha been as favorably received in "The Gay Lord Quex" by later audiences as he was by the first nlghters. In about a month he will give up the stage of the Criterion to one of our most beautiful, talented and respected actresses, Julia Marlowe. The dramatization of "When Knighthood Was In Flower," which she will use, is of American make. In a summing up of American stars mention should not be omitted or two very prosperous ones now before us. "Arizona" Is as good In workmanship as lt 13 popular in story and Incident it passed Its 100th performance last week, and its Tun has been extended, instead of reaving town In two weeks lt will stay at the Herald Square until after the holi days. The other American play that deserves praise ls "Lost River." Of course, this melodrama does not aim at high art, but lt succeeds In Its efforts at novel sen sationalism. It will stay at the Fourteenth-Street two weeks longer, giving pUe to "The Village Postmaster." No ,such time limit will be set on the stay of Chauncey Olcott, who Is to follow In a new play. The Strollers will perform "The Cruise of the Summer Girl" at the Waldorf-Astoria five times this week, Monday, Tuesday and Friday evenings, and Tues day and Saturday afternoons. The Agousts. Marie Cahlll, Otis Harlan and the other leaders In "Star and Gar ter" are liked by Victoria audiences. Al though not so exceptional as to cause anv he continues to act at the Empire, 13 thoroughly American In character, and two of Its scenes. A book about Mr. Drew by Edward A Dithmar has Just been published. It is uncommonly Inter esting as a record, besides being a fine example of appreciative writing, that ls not fulsome and its authorship carries authority. William H Crane Is a native comedian I undue excitement, the Acousts are expel- In a thoroughly American play. In his lent jugglers. Of Miss Cahill's and Mr. AM" niUMiBJBagaBggT3BaBgafc. IMnsicl The soul of music slumbers la tha shell. Till waked and kindled by the Master's spell; And feellns hearts, touch them but rightly, pour A thousand sielodlcs unheard before. Samuel Rogers. SEATTLE'S ENTERPRISE JOHN M. WELCH AS RATS "A BELL BOY" METROPOLITAN TONIGHT. long experience as a star, Mr. Cranj has encouraged our own dramatists by pro ducing only their plays. Of cours, he has used Shakespeare sometimes, and some of the new comedies produced b nim were adaptations of foreign pleee3, but he has adhered to his rule pretty closely. Nothing more American than "David Harum," which remains at the Garrlck, could be easily imagined. DeWolf Hopper is only one of the home made actors who entertain at Weber k Fields's Lillian Russell has long worn the crown of queen of American comic opera. end it ha'' not weighed heavily, judging by the still youthful brow of the fair singer. Fay Templcton, Bessie Clay ton. Weber Warfield. Fields, Ross and Kelly are compatriots ot the Weberfield lan revels who figure entertainingly Sn Harlan's ability to entertain at all times nothing new need be said. Recent Nott Concerning: Musical Events in Portland ana Beyond It. Our sister city, Seattle, has Just given a significant proof of her musical enter prise by establishing a public circulating library which comprises scores of the most popular oratorios and operas and other Important musical works. Two hun dred volumes of vocal and Instrumental music ls the present nucleus, and this will no doubt In time grow into a valuable reference library of Incalculable value to musicians and students. This has been done in response to a general demand for a more Intimate acquaintance with the master-pieces in music of a past gen eration, as well as for recent productions that are constantly appearing on the programmes of the great artists of the day. No one can lay claim to culture in its broadest sense now-a-days without sone acquaintance with these notable compositions. For intelligent companion ship and exchange of thought with men and women of liberal education and re fined Instincts It Is just as necessary to have a knowledge of Beethoven and Wagner as of Shakespeare and Tenny son. The movement Is a general one. and is spreading rapidly throughout the country. Some time ago the public libra ries of the larger American cities began this attempt to provide their residents with this means of musical culture. Who, for example, has not heard of the famous Brown, collection of music that forma part of the Boston Public Library? Now the smaller cities in various sections are adopting the same plan. The result will be extraordinary increase in the popu larization of good music among tho masses. Everywhere the Innovation seems to meet with marked success. Portland should not remain behind oth er Western cities in this regard. Some provision, either public or private, should be made to meet the needs of this com munity. The Musical Club has made a start In this direction, but. of neces sity, on so narrow a basis that the pub lic at large ls not benefited. Through the generosity of the Art Association, we are richly equipped with facilities for studying the work of the masters of painting and sculpture, but musically "we are practically without aids of this sort Yet where there ls one student of pic torial art there are 10 students of music. Why should the lesser art be so well sup plied with helps for study, while the greater art is neglected? FREE THOUGHT IN MUSIC. Henry Finclt's New Book Contains Some Daring; Assumptions. There Is a spicy editorial' on Henry Finck's new book. "Songs and Song Writers." In the current number of the Concert-Goer: "Mr. Flnck has his idols of this he leaves us In no doubt and of them he says many illuminating things. His esti mate of the Schubert songs is vr lable, and It is worth while to have had atten tion called once more to the greatness of Franz. Indeed, I am Inclined to think that his remarks on the latter composer are the most Important part of the book. I am quite In agreement with Mr. Flnck In his battle for such neglected song com posers as Rubinstein and Liszt "It ls unfortunate that all praise of Mr. Finck's new work must be qualified by the statement that his lack of critical bal ance makes him little better than a blind guide. He has made a fetich of inde pendence of judgment, and what may once have been an honest desire to get at the good things has apparently become a mere effort for originality at the expense of everything else. Mr. Finck quotes with .evident complacency from a British review of an earlier work of his, which describes him as a "typical exemplar of what may be called free thought In mu sic" "He proclaims with unnecessary itera tion his opinion that most of Beethoven's P&derewski has ordered another Pianola rgnctlci "glond-JJossca . ' . gorges. xy tAJc. XXz&jl a. UeVbc t c-cy t TjAc 4S&- wzr c- f - hZ 2 jUiC tA'a. &- cL ' ft.: MISS HENRIETTA VANDERHOLT, WITO "WILL APPEAR IN "THE DAY OF ATONEMENT." single line of parts, -will remain In "L'Alglon" only three weeks more at the Knickerbocker. She will use no other play this season, again postponing her fre quently announced debut as Rosalind. Annie Russell is one of the actresses who have many claims to at least co lcadershlp among Americans. With her at the Lyceum is Mrs. G. H. Gilbert, whose position is undisputed. When Mrs. "Fiddle-dee-dee" and the burlesque ol "Arizona." Peter F. Dalley Is a characteristic American, not to say New York, come dian. Only cockney songs breaks the spell of Tenderlotnlsm In "Hodge, Podge & Co." This ls not to say that the mu sical farce Is Indecent in any way, for It, fc not that by any means. It Is some-' times vulgar, thousb, a fault which Wes- fy "V - (ty ae-tr' ; Z0 Northwest Agent for the Aeolian Company AEOLIAN HALL 353-355 Washington St., Cor. -Park Portland, Oregon vJ