20 THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN, PORTLAND, JANUARY IS, 1903. HOW DAVID WARFIELD WON FAME Surpasses All Other Actors in Delineation of Jewish Character. IN MANY respects, the greatest play so far presented at the Marquam Theater thla season was David Warfleld in "The Auctioneer." It "will grow. If It has not already grown to be, an American classic which faithfully describes the lights and shadows of a Jewish merchant and his family in a manner not before attempted In this country. It has the Belasco touch, and it is no surprise to know that this wizard of modern American drama is re sponsible for some of the really fine dia logue dealing with the domestic felicities of Simon Levi and his wife. He added this after the comedy came from the play wrights. "Warfleld personally invented a great deal of the funny dialogue, and his genius is clearly of the highest order. He - was ably eupported by Maria Davis, Marie 'Bates, Robert Fisher, Harry Rogers and Eugene Canfield. The other attraction at the Marquam last week, the English comedy, "The Tyranny of Tears," with Paul Gilmorc as the star, is a pleasingly intellectual treat, although some critics were heard to wonder what it was all about Curiously enough, as the comedy is now written. Miss Rose Tiffany, as the secretary, made her part the leading one on the stage, although it Is supposed 10 be subordinate. She is a clever young woman, with a golden future before her. "The Little Minister," presented by the Nelll Stock Company at Baker's Theater, 'has made the artistic success of the sea son. The house has been crowded at all 1 the performances, and possibly if the play were to be allowed to run this week the same conditions would prevail. The .scenery Is splendid. George Alison, the new leading man, was responsible for the part of Gavin Dlshart, the Scotch minis ter In love with Lady Babbie, the gypsy girl, and Mr. Alison can be congratulated on his good work. He has made many friends already. When Barrie wrote "The Little Minister" he did not make his chief hero an Impetuous, loud-voiced young man, storming because genuine hard luck and circumstances darkened his little love affair. Mr. Alison looked the quiet, cul tured Presbyterian, to whom love comes for the first time suddenly. Miss Coun tlss as Lady Babble gave a charming ren dition of the wayward Scotch lassie. "William Bernard as Lord Rlntoul made a hit He gave a finely finished portrayal of that dashing, blue-blooded aristocrat. Mr. Bernard does good work anywhere he is placed. The Scotch accent of the entire company won compliments from the "real" Scotch In the audience. Cordray's Theater was well patronized Jast week on the presentation of a home play, "Down by the Sea," a romantic comedy - drama, principally Illustrating fisher life along the New England coast The action In the first act Is slow and the Interest drags while history Is being made around Preston's Inn, at East Haven, where a hard-hearted father steals money belonging to his daughter's lover, but is fortunately caught and Jailed. The real story and Interest develop in the second act and the scene between Fanni? Curtis and Daniel Reed, in which the for mer acts the part of a daughter welcom ing a convict father. Is really a good piece of work. The fourth act contains the best storm scene presented in th"s city for a long time, and was wildly realistic The comedy was well taken care of by Ed Arderson, who was amusingly entertaining as a Hebrew sport AT THE BAKER. "For Fair Virginia" "Will Be the At traction All Tlits Week. A L. Whytal's famous play, "For Fair "Virginia," will be the offering of the Nelll Stock Company, at The Baker Theater, all this week, starting with matinee this afternoon. "For Fair Virginia" is a play of rare merit, and has been successfully produced by the author himself. The ac tion of the play takes place during the period of '62 to 'Go, and Is full of stirring incidents of the- Civil "War, which gives ample opportunity for thrilling situa tions, sensational climaxes and strong comedy. In this piece Mr. Alison will appear in the role of Stephen Dunbar, In which character he will repeat his tremen dous success of' "The Little Minister" the past week. Miss Countlss has a good part in Virginia Esmond, and will, as usual, acquit herself most admirably. As John Laughlln, William Bernard lias the char acter of a villain and his work in the past is sufficient proof that he will give an excellent rendition of the character. Miss Esmond, by one of those coinci dences sometimes seen In stagecraft will have a part in which she carries her own name. Fred Mower will be a splendid Sergeant Mclntyre, and Frank Weslyn in the hands of Howard Russell will be a well-acted character. Little Dot Bernard will give one of her charming interpre tations of the part of Julian Esmond, and WIHlam H. Dills, as the sentry; Bennett Southard as Uncle Zeb, and Robert Siddle as Colonel Lester will all be up to their usual high standard of excellence. "For Fair Virginia" embraces two very pretty love stories which are interwoi'en with the plot In a most delightful man ner. It tells of a misunderstanding be tween the Northern sympathizer who has iiarrled a Southern girl and settled in the xKorth; of his leaving a friend in charge wf liis interests and home to Join the Northern forces. The story tells of the loyalty of this friend who Joins the South ern Army, yet protects the Esmond fam ily in the .fact of his commanding officer. who Is in love with Mrs. Esmond. It pictures the securing of Important mili tary papers by Nell Esmond, who delivers them to her brother In command of the Northern forces, her being championed in this by Dunbar, the friend who is sub sequently tried and sentenced to be shot The Touting of the enemy and the relief of the harrassed one by the approach of Esmond's forces is one of the greatest climaxes ever produced. The play closes with the news of the fall of Richmond. The management of The Baker is to- be congratulated for securing for Portland-amusement-lovers tills wonderful drama which will be produced by the Nelll Stock Company with all the attention to detail and excellence fbr which It has becomo noted. "A GA3IBLEIVS DAUGHTER.'' Successful Drama to Be Presented at Cordray's Tltlu Week. The new successful drama, "A Gam bler's Daughter," will have Its first pres entation in this city at Cordray's matinee today.-by a cast of actors and actresses of exceptional merit and marked ability. The play will undoubtedly be well re ceived here, and prove one of the choice events of the present theatrical season. The company presenting it is headed by Miss Lillian Hayward, who, althougn a young woman, has won most enviable laurels as an emotional actress in the Inst few years, and for whom critics are pre dicting a brilliant histrionic career. "A Gambler's Daughter" was written CzrfhririE Counties h' - r- c' ' " r: " J jBxAer Th eater. by the eminent playwright, Owen Davis, author also of tho popular dramas. "Through the Breakers," "Lost In the Desert" etc., and it has been pronounced the best of the many clever and popular works from the pen of that skillful writer. It tells the story of a Chicago Board of Trade man who surreptitiously conducts a magnificent Michigan-avenue gambling house, who, with his partner, plans a gi gantic and fraudulent wheat deal on tho Board of Trade, and whose nefarious schemes are circumvented by his beauti ful .daughter, Kate, whom he really loves and who. In turn, loves her father and faces every danger to save him from him self. A very pretty love story runs through the plot and after many thrilling "THE DEVIL'S AUCTION," AT THE 3tf ARQUAM. escapes and adventures the hero, who Is her father's clerk, finally wins Kate In spite of the conspiracy against them. A special car Is required to carry the elaborate scenery for the piece, and there are many beautiful stage pictures, one es pecially realistic scene being an exact re production in every detail of an exciting day on the Chicago Board of Trade. Miss Lillian Hayward, the talented lead ing woman, who plays the title- role in the play, is well known and extremely popu lar among theater-goers, and in the char acter of Kate In "A Gambler's Daughter" she has every opportunity for making the best use of her unusual attainments. Her gowns, as well as those worn by the other female characters, are said to be wonders In the modiste's art, having been imported from abroad. The cast includes, besides Miss Hay--ward, Camilla Crume, Marie Laurens, El sie Frazee. James Norval, Walter Stan hope. J. J. Hyland, Allan Foster, C. "W. Goodrich, Andrew Quirk. Louis Epstein. L. P. North and many others. The usual ladies' and children's matinee will be given nec Saturday. "EVERLASTING DEVIL'S AUCTION." Slanagrcr Yale This Year Announces Three Grand Ballets. Next Friday and Saturday nights, Janu ary 23 and 24, with a popular matinee Sat urday, tho attraction at the Marquam Grand Theater will be Charles H. Yale's "Everlasting Devil's. Auction." Manager Yale announces three new grand ballets for the 21st edition of his "Everlasting Devil'fl Auction." For the first act a danse eccentrlque, which includes "Le Danse Sensatione," by Frauleln Jennie Prager and Aurelio Coccia. For the second act "The Feast of the Lanterns," the gor geous Chinese dlvertlsement, in which is Introduced the new European novelty, "The Danco to the Moon." For the third act a radical departure is made from the stereotyped ballet, in "Echoes From the South," which, as Its title Indicates, savors of rag-time melody and dance. All these dlvertlsements are produced under the able direction of Aurelio Coccia, the noted maltre de ballet and male dancer, while Emma and Frauleln Jennie Prager, two exceedingly beautiful and clever prem- teres, head a bevy of clever and pretty secundos and ballcrlne. who Illustrate .them. The advance sale of seats will be gin next Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock. Trro Jolly Shorn Next Week at Cor. dray's. Of the many farces playing Portland last season, none was funnier than "Whose Baby Are You," which returns this season better than ever. Its rapid fire action and witty dialoirua Is calm lated to keen an audience ih n stvxAv 1 gale of laughter. Another play, "My MM Friend From India," also a great rhlrth provoker will be put on the same week. Dramatic Notes. Mlnetto Barrett of Portland, Is playing 'Lizabeth In Augustus Thomas' "In Miz- zoura, ' at the Berkeley playhouse In Kansas City. 1 Miss Lillian Lovcrn Davis arrived from New York last week to visit her mother. Mrs. Phoebe . Davis, of this city. Miss I Davi3 has been In the theatrical profes ! sion in New York for two years, and Is gaining considerable recognition In George W. Lederer's company. She returns to New York shortly to Join Mr. Lederer's new show, "A Jewel of Asia," which features Jimmy Powers at Daly's Theater in the near future. Mrs. Flske is now in the third month of her appearance In "Mary of Magdala" at the Manhattan Theater, New York. and .the vogue of that play Is so great that from all present tokens It can run there Indefinitely. With nil the constantly Introduced elements of dramatic interest that characterize the metropolis, "Mary of Magdala" sustains Its supremacy as the most uniquely interesting and Impres slve drama within memory, and as a pro ductlori on the highest plane of art, with pictorial features exceptional for their appealing beauty and the dramatic qual ity, it stands unchallenged by tha ever varying and elaborate offerings of a very notable season. CORBETT AS A MINSTREL Former Champion to Be Interlocutor Gossip of the Stage-"v7brld. EW YORK. Jan. 12. (Special Cor respondence.) Perhaps the most Interesting role which James J. Corbett has assumed Blnce he left his desk in a California bank will be enacted next season, when the former champion will occupy the Interlocutor's position In a mammoth minstrel organization, and say: "Gentlemen, be seated." Corbett's tour at the head of a vaudeville com bination, entitled the Empire company, has netted him about 51000 a week for 40 weeks during the past two seasons. In return he has delivered a 20-mInute mon ologue xvhlch has been really meritorious. But his 'value as an attraction will have waned by the end of this season unless ho Is able to present some novelty. His managers, therefore, are planning to star him in a big minstrel company, and to entrust to him the position of Interloc utor. Jim Is said to be already study ing the dictionary for words big enough to meet tho requirements of the position. and he has declared that by the time rehearsals begin he will be able to hurl polysyllabic adjectives at the end men until the gallery gods will encore him again and again. One of the end men, by the way, will probably be George Wilson, the old-time favorite. Tho ag gregation Is to be called Cleveland s minstrels, taking Its name from the old William S. Cleveland minstrel company. Clyde Fitch Is a Bnsy Man. The ends to which a busy dramatist Is permitted to go these days and the exact position a successful one enjoys In metropolitan theatrical life was well exemplified last week, wnen uiyao Kitcn summoned 24 members of Amelia Bing ham's company from Boston, in order to hold the first reading of Miss Bing ham's new piece, "The Frisky Mrs. John son." Fitch, of course, might far more easily and at exactly one-twenty-fourth of the expense. Journeyed to the com pany and held the hour's reading, but ho excused himself from this on the pretext of being an exceedingly busy man. He is usually referred to as the playwright who dashes off a drama be fore breakfast and writes a new scenario before the luncheon hour, but requiring 24 players to come to him Instead of sim plifying matters uy going to mem 13 amusing, to say the least Twice again the company must take similarly long Jaunts for tho same purpose -before the piece Is actually put Into active rehears al, because no playwright in the city Is moro exacting about the preliminaries than this same Fitch. Elconora D use's Spaghetti Dinner. Eleonora Duse varied the monotony of the usual dinners at which actresses pre side, last week giving a spaghetti dinner In a private dining-room of tho luxurious Hotel Savoy. Covers wero laid for 30. Of course, all the members of her Italian company were present including a re cently married pair of the uusKy players; and Viola Allen also was among tho In vited guests. Julia Marlowe had been Invited, but sent a note of declination at the last moment with the explanation that "spaghetti and chop suey were, not of her regular bill of fare." A special Italian chef had been engaged for tho occasion, and while tho affair was sup posed to be kept a secret the menu was learned to consist principally of spaghetti, served In various disguises; cheese, cof fee and red wine. Tho great Italian act ress sails for her native land on the steamer Philadelphia, January 21, and It Is safe to assert that she will not return soon. While her engagement has not been In the least disastrous, It has not aroused undue enthusiasm. Ed Hnrrlfcnn Returns to Broadivay. It really seemed good to see Ed Har- rigan, of the old team of Harrigan and Hart, back on Broadway ngaln Monday night when "Tho Bird In tho Cage" made Its local bow at the Bijou Theater. The reception which Harrigan received when he stepped out as Michael O'Brien In his first scene must have dono the veteran's heart good. It was equal to any demonstration of the season, and the best-known stars of tho profession have already competed for Broadway's applause within the past few months, Tho play Itself Is not unlike In treat ment many others of Fitch's. It tells a love story, and It introduces some novel features. As usual, there are many witty lines, and Fitch has not forgotten to In Ject a few satirical remarks about con temporaneous high society, with which he seems so familiar and yet which he doesn't hesitate to criticise boldly. Judg ing from the first njght's audience, tho play is destined to a successful career. Much interest was attached to tho work of Sandol Mllllken In the leading role. Miss Mllllkcn's rise has been rapid, and within another season or so she will un doubtedly attain istcllar honors under Charles Frohman's management Wagrcnlials' and Kemper's Scoop. In getting control of the version of "xhe Resurrection," held by Oscar Hammer stein for their star, Blanche Walsh, Wag enhals and Kemper executed one of the cleverest pieces of business on theatrical record. Although Hammersteln valued the play more than any piece of sim ilar property which has come Info his hands In years, he practically entirely dis posed of It to the other managers on terms much more advantageous to them than to himself. The play Is to be pro duced at his Victoria Theater and all he Is to receive is his percentage as owner of the house. Hammersteln agreed to these terms be cause it was only thus that he could have the satisfaction of seeing Blanch Walsh In the leading role, and he was so con vinced It was better suited to her than to any one else he refused better offers rath er than be party to a crime against art jciS a further concession to get Miss ; Walsh at the Victoria, Hammersteln 1 ji P M' C- 2 AMERICA'S GREATEST ACTOR IN JEWISH CHARACTERS Tm not a Jew. I was born In San Francisco, and so were my people be fore me. In fact I'm a good mixture- like Blank's pickles," laughed David War- field, the star in the character comedy, "The Auctioneer," that played to crowd ed houses at the Marquam Theater last week. Warfleld's famous portraiture of Simon Levi, the Jewish merchant. Is a strikingly realistic bit of acting, and he has lifted comedy In which a Jew Is the principal character to a plane not pre viously reached In this country. v "A young author recently sent mo a play, on approval, and I have just finished writing to her stating that her venture won't do, In Its present form," explained Warfleld, lighting a Havana. "Why?" asked the Oregonlan reporter, wondering if he could get a "tip" that might prove useful. "Too quiet action, and the story is too sad. There's not enough laughter in it and the laughter there Is generally comes up in the wrong place." "You wish to create laughter, then?" "Yes. People like to be amused. But understand me. It wouldn't do to arrange for too much of thatisort of. thing. It's the quiet, pathetic bits of home life, etc., that take, after all, and they are remem bered the longest Hke a flower with a fragrance. Take any farce, pure and simple, and It lives at the moment Peo ple laugh and applaud it, but say in a year or so, where Is it? Forgotten." agreed that the famous Tolstoi drama should bo played there only six weeks after which she could have the house for an unlimited time for revival of her pres ent play. "The Daughter of Hamllcar." Wagenhals and Kemper would not agree to taking "The Resurrection" at all with out this proviso. They spent nearly 520, 000 on "The Daughter of Hamllcar," and expect to use it for Miss Walsh's starring vehicle next season. Therefore they feared If it wa3 retired Indefinitely this Winter the idea would get about that it is a failure, which would hurt its future chances. It now Is definitely settled that tho ver sion of the Tolstoi novel made for stago use by Franklin Fyles for Charles Froh man and David Belasco, will not be pro duced this season If at all. These two "managers now are at loggerheads and neiiner exhibits a disposition to buy the other out - Elizabethan Play Revivals. Frank Lea Shortt has leased "Mrs. Os born's Playhouse," the theater conducted for a few eventful and unprofitable months as a place of entertainment for the "400." He purposes pushing a scheme which does not seem any more promising than that of the caterer to society. He Is arranging for a series of revivals of Elizabethan plays done In a manner suggesting the olden time with enough latter-day Innova tions to bring them more nearly within the realm of modern taste. While this idea Is most commendable and deserves encouragement there Is more than a reasonable doubt that enough people will bo interested In It to help It return a profit It has been demonstrated again and again New York does not care for the classics unless It Is Shakespeare staged most lavishly. While revivals of Ben Jonson, Congrevc, Marlowe, Green and of others who contributed to the golden age of English literature will thor oughly delight students and scholars and those interested In the history and devel opment of the drama, there are not enough of these to moro than make the venture pay for Itself. A series of Ibsen revivals at the Prin cess Theater, with Mary Shaw in the leading roles, will bring delight to an other small coterie of followers of serious drama. Miss Shaw Is one of the few play ers with a self-sacrificing devotion to her art. She gave up an easy and high-salaried position with Klaw and Erlanger In "Ben Hur" to head the Fawcett Stock Company In Baltimore at less remunera tion, because she was to be made artistic director of tho organization and was to have a.n opportunity to produce several of the Ibsen plays. Those to -be done at the Princess are "Ghosts" and "A Doll's House." Empire Company's Neir Play. The Empire Theater Company began its 14th season at the Empire last Tuesday evening, with the first American produc tion of "The Unforeseen," a drama by Captain Robert Marshall, author of "The Second In Command," "A Royal Family" and other excellent plays. His latest pen product promises to add much to Cap tain Marshall's American reputation, to enhance the prestige of the Empire Com pany and especially to go another long step In establishing the fact that Margaret Anglln Is one of the most gifted actre?sea In this country. "The Unforeseen" tells a strong stoy of a young woman who elopes with a young man from London to Paris. Two hours before they are to be married they meet two acquaintances of the bridegroom be in the Champs Elysecs. To escape in quisitive questionings, he introduces her as his wife. A few minutes later he hears that a speculative deal in which he is "Which parts in The Auctioneer do you like best?" "Those expressing relation to the family life,, the home life and Its pathos. Par don me, but yau have seen 'The Auc tioneer?' " "Oh, yes." "Then I can illustrate. You remember tho parts where Levi bids good-bye to tho old store, where he and his faithful wife, talk of their love for each other? I see you do. Also the place where Levi finds out that he Is a ruined man finan cially, in his grand house on Lexington avenue, where in his sorrow, he turn3 to comfort his weeping wife and daughter? Thirdly, the place in the last act, where the old butler walks up to poverty stricken Levi and offers him money? These are the parts I Hke best, and I am sure they linger longest in the minds and hearts of my audiences." "Were these parts in the play as you originally received it from Lee Arthur and Charles Klein?" "They wero placed there by David Be lasco, whom I consider to be the greatest constructor of plays and the best dra matist In this country. He stands alone. I admire him -Immensely." "How about the dialogue In your com edy?" "Oh, I made up a lot of it You see now that 'The Auctioneer,' as presently played, differs from the comedy when I first received It from the playwright" "Will you kindly explain how you can Imitate so perfectly?" Warfleld laughed, and then he began to Interested did not turn out as expected, leaving him a ruined man. He breaks the engagement and commits suicide. One of the men to whom the clrl was introduced wa3 being treated for failing eyesight Soon afterward he goes blind. Later he meets the girl again, not know ing sh is the one Introduced to him In Paris as "Mrs. Tarqyalr." In time they are married. Finally he recovers his sight and recognizes his wife. The com plications come through this situation and the endeavor she has made to keep her Paris escapade from becoming known. Mls3 Anglln's success was unmistakable. Excellent work also was contributed by Charles Richman, William Courtleigh, Fritz Williams and Ethel Hornick. Stage Notes. Bijou Fernandez has at last succumbed to the attractions of musical comedy, and joins "Tho Silver Slipper" company with in tho week. Miss Fernandez seemed well on tho way to success in tho legiti mate drama when she changed her course. Rehearsals have been started of "Nancy Brown," the musical play by Frederic Ranken, music by Henry Iv. Hadley, In which Daniel V. Arthur Is to launch Marie Cahill upon a stellar career. The piece Is expected to spend the Spring at tho Bijou. James T. Powers, who has been Idle THE 5ENSATI0NAL MELODRAMA -jZM JWggr PATHETIC r- T-.o-.- HEART TOUCHNO AT CORDRAY'S THEATER illustrate In Irish, Scotch, Italian and German dialect with wonderful correct ness. His visitors held their breath. "Now," said the comedian, with a smile, "If you wish me to explain In any more dialects, why, I'll do so. I'm a natural born mimic, and can imitate most peo ple. That's one of the reasons why I succeeded as 'Simon Levi.' I'm on my second season in 'The Auctioneer, and wherever we have gone we have played to appreciative audiences, large numbers of Jews being present, and I noticed that the Jews laughed as heartily as other people, and some of them more so. I don't think the Jewish people get 'sore' be cause I Imitate one of their great race to whom the world owes so much. I imitate an Irishman, and the Irish people in my audience are amused. I had large Jew ish audiences In New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore, etc., and they treated me kindly." "And Boston?" queried the reporter. "You don't see so many Jews In Bos ton," hinted Warfleld. "That la Yankee land." And comedian, reporter and artist laughed. Two in the little party had re sided in Boston. "When did you first start in 'The Auc tioneer' ?" "In September, 1902. at the Bijou The ater, Broadway, New York. The comedy, as you may have heard, was a great suc cess, and we played at the Bijou for four months. We then had to leave on tour, as the theater had been engaged ahead for other attractions. We then played in Philadelphia, Washington. Chicago and other Eastern cities, and then worked our way to San Francisco, where we opened December 22 for a two weeks en gagement at the Columbia Theater. We were kindly received, and I was much touched in receiving such a hearty wel come at my old heme, the place I had left, years previously. a poor boy. My mother, sister and brother witnessed our first per formance, and they could not understand the first act so they came a second even ing, and then they understood it. Then we came to Port'and, and from here we go to Seattle." "Where did you first start in the busi ness?" "At the Wigwam, San Francisco, In spe cialties, but my first appearance was not successful. So I left home, went to New York about 1S91. and appeared as 'Hannah O'Grady,' an Irishwoman, in 'O'Dowd's Neighbors.' Then I appeared as a dule with Russell's comedians, as a country boy In 'The Nutmeg Match, took a pan tomime part with Russell's people where I didn't speak a line, opted In 'The Re view' at Russell's, which wasn't a suc cess, and thon I played at tho Casino for three years, where I appeared In musical burlesque?. Next I appeared with Weber & Fields' aggregation, and x then began to star for myself In 'The Auctioneer.' " "You have got a good wig and beard in 'The Auctioneer," ventured the reporter. "Do you like them?" asked Warfleld, smiling. "The wig is a good fit, isn't It? I use some of my own hair. Now for the beard. It is an odd one. I simply pick up prepared loose hair every night when I am making up. and place the hair on and around my chin, using a composition to make Jt stick. After each performance I pull off the 'beard, and it's sometimes hard work. I wash my face and It's all over until tho next night." "Do you think 'The Auctioneer' will live?" "I hope so. I hope It will live In the hearts of the people as do 'Rip Van Win kle and 'The Old Homestead. But it will likely be off the boards at the end of the present season. The public might tire of It If repeated In continuous dosea" "And then?" Warfleld paused, and then added., reflec tively: "Then I expect to appear In a new attraction now being written for me by Mr. Belasco. I do not yet know what It is about. It Is enough for me to know that it is being written by Mr. Belasco." "You didn't make a speech before the curtain when asked to do so at the Mar quam Theater the other evening?" "I don't like to make speeches," repl'ed Warfleld. "I'm not a public speaker. I'm an actor. To step out from the stago and from a character you are representing spoils the Illusion. That's why." thus far this season, opens on January 21, In Boston In "The Jewel of Asia," a clever musical comedy with book by Fred eric Rankin and music by Ludwig Eng lander. The play Is being staged by Geo. W. Lederer. Louis Mann's comedy, by. Charles F. Nirdilnger, originally called "Hoch der Consul," has been renamed "The Consul." It will have its first New York production at the Princess Theater, January 19, suc ceeding "Heidelberg," which goes on a tour of the larger cities. Sunday-night concerts at the various theaters where vaudeville Is served on Sunday nights are rapidly becoming tam er in their character. Police commis sioner Greene has issued strict orders against appearance in costume or make up, and many of the numbers suffer when the players are reduced to ordinary street attire. The Hengler Sisters, dancers, have been sent to London by the Shubert Brothers to see "The West End," the new musical comedy,, by the authors of "A Chinese Honeymoon," the American rights to which those managers have bought lntend inir to stago It at the Casino when "A Chinese Honeymoon" run Is over. The latter has been here 250 nights and still is drawing crowded houses. It promises to surpass "Florodora's" record.