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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 21, 1902)
CHRISTMAS AT THE BAKER, The Neill Stock: Company Will Pre sent "The Charity Ball." Starting -with the matinee performance this afternoon and running the balance of the -week, "The Charity Ball" will be the offering at the Baker Theater, by the Nelll Stock company. In addition to the regular performances there -will be a special holiday matinee on Christmas af ternoon, on which occasion the man agement of the Baker -will again prove that the prices at this popular theater never change, owing to the fact that, un like many houses throughout the coun try, the prices for the holiday matinee will be the same as those of the regular Saturday and Sunday matinees. In selecting "The Charity Ball" for the Christmas week attraction, the manage ment has made a wise choice, and if the play doesn't prove a record-breaker for the Baker it will be a great surprise. The play is an exceptionally strong one, and every part in it is a gem. The story of the play is one of more than usual interest. The scene opens Christmas day. In New Tork City, at the home of John Van Buren, rector of St. Mildred's Church, on which occasion Van Buren is entertaining the poor boys of his Sunday school by giving them a Christmas dinner In the parish building adjacent to his home. "While the festivi ties are in progress, Ann Cruger, who Is in love with Van Buren, comes over to help him entertain his charges. Dick Van Buren, a brother of the rector, who has been In Europe for his health, re turns home unexpectedly, meeting Phyllis Lee, a young lady whom he had betrayed in former years under promise of mar riage. John becomes aware of this fact, and in a very dramatic scene compels his brother to marry the girl he had wronged, performing the marriage ceremony him self. Ann Cruger goes to Europe, return ing one year later, when John confesses that what he thought was friendship for her was in reality love, and eventually the two are married. The comedy of the play is contributed to by Judge Peter Gurney Knox, Mrs. De Peyster, Alec Robinson, who aspires to be known as Alexander the Great; Bess Van Buren, Betts, the old organist of St. Mildred's Church; Franklin Cruger, Mr. Creighton, and two Wall-street mag nates. "The Charity Ball" will be fol lowed by Hoyt's best play, "A Temper ance Town," Friday night has been given the Stanford Glee and Mandolin Clubs for their college entertainment. "PICKINGS FROM PUCK." Musical Novelty to Fill Christmas Week Engagement at Cordray's. Commencing this afternoon, a new mus ical novelty, "Pickings From Puck," a really funny play, will attract and hold the attention of the theatergoing public at Cordray's Theater for one week, beginning Sunday matinee today, Decem ber 2L The play is up to date, bright, snappy, and the least of its good features Is Its originality: a review of the current events humorously and artistically treated, introducing special novelties, catchy songs, graceful dancing and beautiful scenery. Wlllard SImms, who essays the star role, and who has Just returned from his sojourn "across the pond," was the prin cipal comedian with the Edna May Com pany, playing the leading Tole in "The American Beauty." Miss Catharine Lin yard, noted for the beauty of her vQice and her resemblance to Lillian Russell, assists in the support of the production to a great degree and gives a perform ance that is always consistent and pleas ing. The chorus Is one of the special fea tures, rounding out the play with melody and graceful dancing, and it may be said that the Ping Pong dance is a distinct novelty and one in which the chorus shows to exceptional advantage. The musical numbers are breezy and cheery; in fact, all that could be desired of a musical comedy. The plot of the play Is above the aver age for this sort of a production. Sam Flinders, while at college' at Harvard, falls In love with an actress, and decides to go to New York and go on the stage. His parents being opposed to it, disin herit him. but, being a reckless sort of a chap, with a "I-don't-care-what-be-comes-of-me" way about him, decided to shift for himself, and while m New York he met the actress he had fallen in love with while at college, who turned out to be no other than the woman his parents had selected to become his wife, not Imowing that she had also adopted the stage. The play is full of life, with one humor ous incident crowding so closely upon an other that the audience has but little time to catch a breath between laughs. In the supporting company we will find Miss Inga Bell, Mr.and Mrs. Lucler, Albert C. Davis, William Bush and many others. There will be a grand Christmas holiday matinee, with the usual Saturday and Sunday matinees. TO OPEN IN "THE GLADIATOR," Mr. Downing: to Be Seen at the Max quam Tomorrow Night. In the history of the American stage there cannot be found another instance where an actor has so suddenly become prominent as Mr. Downing. Perseverance has done much for him, but all the per severance in the world would have amounted to nothing had he not had the true histrionic genius to support it. In intellectual power Mr. Downing is truly great, for the fine Intelligence that marks his work Is marked, tempered and quali fied by the modesty of a sound judg ment. Manly in whatever he does, ear nest, sincere, conscientious, always seem ing to think the character greater than himself, Downing has done excellent work, and his success as "The Gladiator" is too well known to go into detail here. He will play at the Marquam Grand Theater tomorrow (Monday) and Tuesday nights, and the Portland public will have an opportunity to Judge for themselves. While he will only produce "The Gladia tor" here, Mr. Downing has over 25 classical and standard plays in his reper toire; in the 17 years of his starring tours he has always produced from one to two plays every year. Seats are now selling. XMAS AT THE MARQUAM. Andrew Robson Will Star in "Rich ard Carvel." A romantic drama of unusual interest, adapted from a novel so extensively read that the characters seem like familiar ac quaintances to a majority of theater goers, while to the others the play, so complete in Itself as a drama, appeals with the force of novelty added to its dramatic charm; staged with complete special scenery throughout, and supplied with all of the accessories of correct costumes, furnishings and minor details that aid so largely In presenting appro priate pictures of the environment; in terpreted by an actor in the stellar role who has won by his earnest, conscien tious work and the development of his natural gifts a place among the foremost in his profession, and by a supporting cast vouched for as being peculiarly adapted for portraying the parts as signedthese are the claims made by Andrew Robson's management for his production of "Richard Carvel" which will be seen at the Marquam Grand Theater for flvef performances, begin ning with a matinee Christmas day. Although this Is Mr. Robson's first visit to the Pacific Coast as a star, the .repu tation of his success in the' East and South has thus far served to attract large audience! wherever he has appeared; and the performances given In Butte, Spo kane, Seattle and Tacoma have been de scribed by the critics of those cities as equal in point of excellence to the best wltr. eased there this season; and star, play, company and production have shared in more praise than has been accorded any other recent attraction. The advance sale of seats will begin at tho box-oflice of the theater next Tuesday morning, at 10 o'clock. STANFORD CLUBS COMING. Friday Will Be Stanford Night at The BaKer. One of the pleasant society and musical events of the holiday week will be the comlnir of the Stanford Unlvrslty Glee and Mandolin Clubs. Through the cour tesy of Manager George L. Baker, Friday, December 26, has been made "Stanford night" at The Baker Theater, and the col lege musicians will be welcomed by a large audience of theater-goers who take de light in the songs, pranks and tinkling mu sic of a merry company of troubadours. The Stanford clubs can show this year the results of hard and careful drill in ensemble work, and their songs are so varied and so well balanced as to grave and gay selections as to offer an enter tainment which ought to please almost any one Baker and Bush, the funny fellows who made good on the last tour, have become polished to an almost professional finish in the past year, and you don't need to be a college man to laugh at their stunts. Among other things they do a burlesque on a scene from grand opera which is slde-epllttlng In Its realism. CI Flrebaugh is the bass soloist, and his voice Is one of the best on the Coast. He recently made a hit as the King in the "Pirates of Penzance," and he is considered one of the club's most valuable acquisitions. In Mr. Byrne the clubs have a polished monologlst, who has been well received everywhere. A fine male quartet is one of the club's show numbers. -In the Glee Club's songs the college color does not eo strongly pre dominate as to make their work lose in terest to the outsider, but what they have of a Stanford tone is of the very best. The Mandolin Club has assumed the proportions of a stringed band, and they play with perfect orchestration and In spirited pieces with a crashing effect. COMING ATTRACTIONS. The Boatonians. The Bostonians this season are stronger than ever. They easily lead all other comia opera organizations in the coun try. The great company that has recently presented "Robin Hood" and "Maid Ma rian" in New York with such signal suc cess will appear in its entirely here. H. C. Barnabee, W. H. MacDonald, George B. Frothingham and Josephine Bartlett continue in their original parts. Miss Grace Van Studdlford is the prima donna. The musical critics of the country say she Is undoubtedly the finest soprano ever engaged by the Bostonians. Night after night at the Academy of Music, New ICS fcterd(bfuelj ' York, the vast audience cheered her to the echo. Her work Is equal to the fin est of grand opera, Is the general ver dict. The Bostonians w)U be seen at the Marquam Grand Theater in the very near future. New Year's Week: nt Cordray's. Commencing matinee Sunday ' Decem ber 28,- Joe W. Spears' Comedians, headed by the original comedians, Sullivan and Mack, and the dainty Jlttle comedienne, Mazle Trumbull, will present the latest musical extravaganza entitled "The Irish MB.W gCRK NEW YORK, Dec. 17. The sensation of the week on the Rlalto was the suit brought against Klaw & Er langer, head of tho so-called "theatrical syndicate," by "Yours Merlly," John R. Rogers who wants $200,000 for being false ly confined in Bellevue Hospital -on a charge of Insanity preferred by A. Ii. Er langer on behalf of the firm. Rogers, who was once husband and manager of Minnie Palmer and had much to' do with the suc cess of Mary Anderson, has not been high ly succssful of late years and he says the supposed freeze-out policy of the syndi cate is responsible. Last Spring Rogers wrote a long letter Pawnbrokers," at Cordray's Theater. The J skit is constructed solely for laughing purposes, and abounds .in ludicrous ab surdities, songs, dances, concerted num bers, special scenery and novel light ef fects are furnished to make it especially attractive.. In addition, to the large cast, .there is a chorus of pretty girls In fetch ing costumes, so that three hours of mer riment is assured the lovers , of hilarious farce. "The Irish Pawnbrokers" are drawn from real life, the original being a New Yorker on the -East Side of town by the name of Levi Murphy. Special LVRAMATie LETTER to Klaw & Erlanger embodying his views upon their methods, closing by saying he probably would have to "starve or hang" and that he "preferred to hang." Er langer construed this Into a threat against the life of himself and his partner, and hurried for protection to the police court. Taking advantage of a New York law un der which a man may have any person in carcerated for a week to have his sanity tested by simple declaration of belief that he Is insane, he had Rogers taken in to custody. At the end of the prescribed week the doctors declared there was not the slightest ground for supposing Rogers was crazy. On being released Rogers again spoke openly and bitterly against the powerful syndicate, charging them with persecu tion of the weak, and asserting he would seek vindication In the courts. Since then, he spent several "months and considerable money In strengthening his position be fore bringing the case to court. The War Against the Syndicate. The battle between the syndicate and its young rival, the Independent Booking Agency, headed by Harrison Grey Fiske, Maurice Campbelland James K. Hack ett is growing .warmer as tho new organ ization gains in strength. The latest point has been, won by Klaw & Erlanger. This was when they secured a few days ago the friendship of Weber & Fields. This unique and popular firm of comedian-managers had been at outs with the "trust" for'several years because of personal dlf ferences between Erlanger and Joseph Weber and on account of tho rivalry be tween Weber & Fields and their imitators, the Rogers Brothers, who are under syn dicate management. During this time when Weber & Fields went, on their annual Spring tour, they played in "houses not controlled by the trust. This gave the Independents great hope of winning them as allies. The new agency thought it was about to gain the das' when Erlanger and Weber met, shoolr, hands and decided to put the hatchet for ever underground. Retnrns Henrietta Crosman's State ments. Flushed with this victory, no doubt, Er langer showed his contempt for the oppo. sition this week by returning vunopened to Maurice Campbell two letters bearing the latters office address on the envelope They were marked "refused." The epistles were statements of Henrietta Crosman's extraordinary box office re ceipts during her run In "The Sword ol the King" at the Academy of Music In Philadelphia. The present situation was brought about.by what Miss Crosman and Mr. Campbell considered malicious perse cution on the part of the syndicate when she was having her unusual success in "Mistress Nell" at the Savoy. - She ter minated her engagement there by coming before the curtain and dismissing her au dience by a speech in which she spoke of harsh treatment. At that time Ada Rehan, under management of Klaw & Erlanger, was scoring a failure at the Knickerbocker Theater In a play, like Miss Croasman's, based on the life of Nell Gwynne. The birth of the Inde pendent Booking Agency was almost a direct result of the abandonment of that engagement. Mrs. Iiangtry as Playwright. Mrs. Langtry now Is on her way to this country again and will make her first ap pearance New Year's week in the Garrick Theater. Peculiar interest attaches to this visit of the famous beauty because she returns In the two-fold role of actress and .dramatist. She Is to produce while here "The Crossways," a play written by her self and Hartley Manners, a player In her company. It has been played In England but twice, once as a trial performance at Manchester, up to which time the Jersey Lily had kept it secret that she had had anything to do with "the writing of It, and once It London. This last was on the night before she took ship for Ameri ca, and, from the English standpoint, the event was made doubly notable by the presence of the King and Queen. Mrs. Langtry Is to present one other play on this tour "Mile. Mars," a drama dealing with a noted French siren of the Napo leonic period. Her American engagement, which is under the direction of Charles New Year's matinee and the usual Sun day and Saturday matinees will be" given. Dramatic Notes. JHuch comment has been made regarding tho billing of the "Pickings From Puck" Company at Cordray's this week. All the beautiful llthos and pictorial paper, has been posted upside down. The billposter must not be censured. He was simply fol lowing an edict that came from Manager Cordray, who ordered the change. It cer-r talnly is a novelty, and has" attracted A Sensational ' . Frohman, is limited to 20 weeks!, -dura-1 tlon. ' J"' '' "The Taming: of Ellen." Richard Harding Davis has decided to call the play he has written for Henry Miller "The Taming of Ellen." The nov elist was nettled to find out It had been discovered this piece Is but a dramatiza tion of pne of his most popular stories, "The Lion and the Unicorn." The suppo sition had been that the plot had never been used before In any form. For pur poses of this production Miller has passed under the management of Charles B. Dil lingham, who directs the tours of Julia Marlowe and has Maxlno Elliott under contract for next season. Dillingham is engaging a splendid com pany for support of Miller. He made a ten-strike in securing for leading woman Jessie Mllward, late chief actress of the Empire Theater Company, and one of the cleverest women ever sent over here from England. The cast will have scarce ly a less talented player in Grace Ellls ton, who played leading parts with Miller all last Summer In San Francisco. Re hearsals of "The - Taming of Ellen" al ready have begun, and it Is expected the play will be ready for the road early next month. Louis James' Daughter to Star. Dillingham has added to his collection of stars Millie James, the young daughter of the tragedian, Louis James. This girl was struggling along in small parts until two and a half yeare ago, when Clyde Bnah and Baker, Comedians with Stanford Mnsical Clubs. Fitch and William A. Brady cast her for the role of the waif, Simplicity Johnson, in "Lover's i.ane." Her success in play ing the hoydenish. Impertinent, Irrespon sible girl of 11 was such that she was the actress of the hour. She became the most talked-of young woman in New York over-night, and she was featured by the daily and Sunday press not only to the extent of columns, but of pages. The manager is having Paul Kester write a play for Miss James. He is the young Southern author who dramatized "When Knighthood Was in Flower" and "The Cavalier" for Julia Marlowe. In drawing a character for the young star, Kester is to keep In mind the style of tal ent she displayed In "Lover's Lane." The play will be a sprightly comedy, possibly of the rural type. Millie James is -not yet 25 years, old. She Is not fashioned In the large mold of her father, though she-inherited much of his much attention. Consequently, it has ac complished, exactly what Mr. Cordray In tended. It Is rumored in theatrical circles that Nance O'Nell, who has Just returned from a tour around the world, looking more beautiful and fascinating than ever, con templates a tour of the United States with an elaborate production of "Cleopat ra." Manager John F. Cordray, of this city, will probably be Interested with Mc Kee Rankin in the direction of the tour, and contemplates an early visit to New York to perfect plans. Damage Suit sV .Lively. "War on the Theatrical Syndicate. ;hIstriiuTr'Jp ability. She .is quite, small and thin. In make-up of Simplicity she did no'.t look a day older than thell years she was supposed to be for stage purposes. The Jvester play may not be ready In time for Miss James to make her stellar debut this season. Virginia Earl Refuses. Virginia Earle was on the verge of a lively row with her manager, George W. Lederer, a couple of days ago because without consulting her he endeavored to transfer her to Fred C. Whitney, who wanted her to take Lulu Glaser's place at "the head of the "Dolly Varden" com pany, while Miss Glaser is ill. Miss Earle declared herself in no unmistakable terms to the effect that she would not be held and traded as a chattel. Her chief anger was because Lederer went about arrang ing the deal without asking her permis sion, but she was no less angry at tho thought of anyone suggesting that she go out on the one night-stand circuits. She makes much of the fact that she has not had but about three weeks of such ex perience in seven years. Lederer has been at wit's end for some time to know what to do with Mias Earle. He has her on hand and was expected to provide a play for her, but none was In sight. He called upon Harry B. Smith, who Is supposed to be able to turn out librettos daily, but Smith had nothing to suggest. Finally it was decided he should write a play around the song, "Nancy Brown," made successful by Marie Cahill In "Tho Wild Rose." In the meantime, Frederick Ranken and George H. Broad hurst were arranging a musical play for Miss Cahill under this title. Miss Earle, with fine sense of profes sional courtesy and the general fitness of things, refused to have anything to do with a play which in any way would in fringe upon the moral or legal rights of Miss Cahil. In this extremity, Lederer turned to Whitney, but hero again, the temper of his star had to be contended with. It looks as If she wins. Original vs. Adaptation. Last week New York witnessed for the first time In the history of its theatricals, or perhaps any theatricals, the spectacle of an original foreign version of a play In rivalry with Its English adaptation. At the Princess Theater on Wednesday night Aubrey Boucicault made his bow at the head of a company' in his own adapta tion of "Alt Heidelberg," while the origi nal was revived in German at the Irving Place Theater at the same time. Mr. Bou cicault, who thus sets out to follow In the footsteps of his noted father, Dion Boucicault, has Improved materially upon the original play, at least from an Ameri can standpoint. He has added to the lovo Interest, which the original lacked, and he has retained the German student ele ment, the most attractive feature of the piece. The cast was advertised as an "all-star" one, and comes nearer to being that than many which have been so billed recently. Minnie Dupree Is the leading woman, and in the support are Robert Lorraine, Theodore Roberts, Max Free man and Augustus Cook. Mr. Boucl cault's version is entitled "Heidelberg," or, "When All the World Was Young," and seems likely to score one of the real successes of the season. Mabclle Gilman and the Crown Prince. Pretty Mabello Gilman has already re gretted the action of her press agent in giving to the public the contents of a package of love letters purporting to have been written to her by the Crown Prince of Slam. Of course the publication of the letters and the poetry with which they abounded brought a great deal of adver tising to Miss Gilman, but her managers now question If the advertising is of tho beneficial kind. Many have openly de nounced the action of the press agent In using confidential communications In such manner, and others along the Rlalto ex press the opinion that the letters are fake, pure and simple, which makes the offense even worse. The Siamese Consul-General in New York has started an investigation of the affair and so has the Department of State at Washington. Assistant Secretary (Concluded on Pase 22.)
