20
THE SUNDAY- OREG02JIAN, PORTLAND; SEPTEMBER 25, 1901.
OSCAR L. FIGMAN'S delicious Dutch
humor is as potent and laughter-making
as ever in "The Burgomaster."
Since the company's last visit here the
Twardrobe and scenery have been renewed
fend the presentation of this favorite mu
sical comedy is now a thing of greater
fceauty. But the story Itself is getting into
'the sere and yellow leafj The Indians'
cong haunts one pleasantly afterward.
01ga Von Hatzfeldt, the new prima don-
ina, is a pretty girl and a graceful dancer,
ibut her lyric soprano voice has not suf
ficient carrying power.
Most leading women attached to etock
j companies are ambitious to play Cigar
ette in Oulda's "Under Two Flags," and
'Cathrine Countiss as Cigarette is a shin
ing success. She gave a vivid portrayal
t)f the flippant, daredevil, masculine but
warm-hearted and intensely human
(French vivandiere. Edgar Baume was
'manly and heroic as the long-suffering
Bertie, and Louise Brandt did admirable
work and made an exceedingly pretty
jetage picture. Scott Seaton made a suf
ficiently sardonic Colonel Chateauroy,
jwilllam. Dills comedy was most welcome.
RThe play was exquisitely staged.
Ethel Fuller had the chance of her life
tto play the part of the Princess Fedora,
jat very short notice, at the Baker Thea
'ter, and came out of" the ordeal with
toying colors. The part Is undoubtedly one
of the most physically exhausting in mod
tern drama, and Hiss Fuller is therefore
entitled to considerable credit Mel
bourne MacDowell, in conventional even
ing dress and minus helmet and mailed
shirt, looked out of the ordinary, but
gave a grand, finished reading of the
bloodthirsty Lorls Ipanoff. Louise Powers
end John Worth show promise.
Gorton's Minstrels presented an enter
taining programme at a one-night show
at the Marquam, and the vaudeville and
comedy sections are excellent. They re
quire one good leading singer.
Demonstrative audiences have welcomed
"Sidetracked" at Cordray'e, and the
mimic villainy of Boy D. Bay, a railroad
superintendent, willing to commit all the
crimes in the calendar to smite the heroic
leading man, was a feature. The chief
honors were carried away by Horatio
Xerxes Booth, as the irrepressible tramp.
The specialties and songs were worth
hearing.
Good, old Uncle Tom was the attraction
at the Empire, and James F. Fulton
pleased in the leading role. Charles Clary
made a sufficiently sinister Legree, and
was admirable in his conception of Phin
eas Fletcher. Tom B. Loftus made the
house ring with his comedy work as
Marks, and the two bloodhounds and
other landmarks of this venerable play
were all there. Nellie Wiedemann and
Zella Marie did good work.
COLUMBIA THEATER.
The Fourth Week Opens Today With
Boucicault's. "The Jilt."
Commencing with the matinee perform
ance 'today, Sunday, September 25, the
Columbia Theater Stock Company will
present "The Jilt," unquestionably one of
the most delightful comedies in the range
of the drama. It is the masterwork of
that incomparable dramatist, Dion Bou
cicault, and was originally presented by
him at Waliack's Theater, New York,
where it ran for an entire season, to a
succession of crowded houses and delight
ed auditors. It is a charming story of
life, in the English shires, among the
horse-racing, fox-hunting country gentry;
a delightful little love story two of them,
in fact runs through It, with just enough
villainy to add interest to the theme.
Brilliant dialogue, sparkling in epigram,
bright and keen in repartee, strong in in
cident and dramatic situations, with an
interesting plot ably drawn and skillfully
developed, it is a dramatic composition of
superior merit, and one that cannot fail
to please. The full strength of the stock
company will appear In the cast. Mr. Ed
gar Baume will appear as Myles O'Hara,
the witty, noble Irish poor-gentleman;
Cathrine Countiss as Kitty Woodstock,
the sweet English lass; Miss Edith Angus
appears as Millicent, who is "the Jilt,"
and has some, excellent opportunities,
playing opposite Mr. Donald Bowles, and
the other members will be appropriately
cast. Mr. Frank King will provide entire
ly new scenery, the costumes will be rich
and correct, the stage appointments elab
orate, and the play will be presented with
every attention to detail, under the per
sonal direction of Mr. William Bernard.
The following is the cast:
Myles O'Hara.... Edgar Baume
-ir Budlelsh Woodstock Donald Bowles
Colonel Tudor William Dills
Geoffrey Tudor George Bloomquest
Lord Marcus Wylie William Bernard
Kev. Mr. Spooner Scott Scaton
James Daisy George B. Berrell
Wilcox Harry Hawke
William W. Cuyler
Millicent Edith Angus
Phyllis Welter Ioulso Brandt
Mrs. Welter Rose Eytlnge
Mrs Pincott Roy Bernard
Susan Marlon Barhyte
Kitty Woodstock Cathrine Countiss
SYNOPSIS OP SCENERY.
Act I. Drawing-room at Budlclgh Abbot's,
Yorkshire
Act II. The same.
Act III. Mrs. Welter's cottage.
Act IV. Sir Bud's box at the racecourse.
Act V. At Budlelgh Manor.
"THEODORA" AT THE BAKER.
Spectacular Sardou Drama Will Close
MacDowell Engagement.
As a final offering to the theatergo
ing population of Portland, Melbourne
MacDowell and company, will give a
grand and finished production of Sar
dou's "Empress Theodora" this week,
commencing with the matinee today.
"Theodora" will mark the close of
the Sardou season at the Baker. The
best of the plays of this immortal
French dramatist were selected for the"
special season and four have already
been offered with unquestioned suc
cess. The one remaining is considered
Sardou's most picturesque drama.
Those who have witnessed the other
Sardou plays cannot afford to miss this
one. It is a spectacle and the most pre
tentious of them alL The productions
which Melbourne MacDowell has given
of this great play have "won for him
the highest praise. Indeed, many of
the famous actor's admirers prefer his
portrayal of the heroic lover, Andreas,
to any other of his great parts also
does his leading lady, Ethel Fuller,
shine In the character of the Em
press, in which she portrays a double
life, the empress and the circus girL
The plot concerns the love of the
Empress Theodora for Andreas, one
of the plotters against the life of the
Emperor Justinian. Her efforts to save
Andreas, which Include the substitu
tion of herself for Andreas as a rider
in a circus raco; the accidental poison
ing of Andreas, by Theodora, who
thinks she is giving him a love philter,
and Theodora's final death at the hands
of Justinian, and is thrilling and ab
sorbing to a degree.
The double character of Theodora is
very interesting and furnishes much
of the material of the drama. The pro
duction calls for an immense company
and the costumes and effects excel any
thing heretofore seen in this theater.
ThisTvill be the last time, probably,
that a Sardou drama will be seen in
Portland at Baker prices. After the.
coming week's engagement Mr. Mac
Dowell goes East to fill a contract
with a prominent manager.
AT CORD RAY'S TODAY.
"The Hills of California," With To
day's Matinee, Begins Week's Stay.
Frank Bacon, supported by an un
usually fine company, will begin a
week's engagement at the matinee to
day in the natlvo American drama "The
Hills of California." In this elevating
yet thrilling work, Mr. Brusie, the au
thor, has proved that we have in this
country men fully capable of creating
dramas that deserve to live and that
we have at our very thresholds mate
rial, out of which as noble a National
drama con be wrought as can be found
anywhere on earth. Mr. Bacon has a
large personal following in this city
and his friends rejoice to know that at
last he has found a fitting vehicle for
his fine talents as a dramatic artist
Tho story begins In Mariposa County,
California, goes to San Francisco, then
back to Mariposa, Its prqttiest acts are
In the open-air scenes of the uncrowded
country, everything there breathes an
air of happiness and contentment, with
one exception that exception is Ariel
Hilt, the man who brings pain and
sorrow to the otherwise happy Hills.
Tp none of them does this sorrow come
with more weight than to Amos Hill;
honest, brave, patient; a trio of virtues
that makes a man. Then there is his
daughter, the girl on whom he has be
stowed all the affection of which his
old heart Is capable. The girl he
loved so 'much that even when
she was branded with a scarlet letter,
he loved her just the same. Poppy Hill,
a little, flower of country life; Everett
Bushnell, sorely tried but possessing
enough honor to resist; Phillip Ben
ker, thoroughly able to distinguish
the gold from the dross; these are a
group of- characters that make "The
Hills of California" a fine play.
In the dear old part of Amos Hill,
Mr. Bacon does not niiss an Iota of the
pathos or the comedy that the charac
ter -contains. Uncle Amos' shrewdness,
his honesty, his bravery, above all the
love that lights up every act of his life;
all are in Mr. Bacon's presentation. In
the .sadder lines he brings a tear to
every eye, and then smiles and drives
it down the cheek. There are a few act
ors who can so easily or so effectively
make the change from pathos to com
edy and back to pathos as Frank Ba
con. Mr. Bacon's supporting company
includes Wilfrid Roger and. Miss Stuart
Bessie Bacon and a company of ster
ling merit.
As far as scenic effect goes the play
Is worthy of the very highest commen
dation, for no pains or expense have
been spared to make the scenes natural
and effective. A very pleasing feature
of the performance will be the special
music furnished by the California Quar
tet. A piece of scenery that has caused
widespread pleasure Is San Francis
co Bay by moonlight. The company
will be retained here throughout the
week with the usual matinees this af
ternoon and Saturday.
"SWEET CLOVER" AT MARQUAM
Delightful Cqmedy-Drama to Be At
traction Tuesday' and Wednesday.
The attraction at the Marquam Grand
Theater next Tuesday and Wednesday
nights, September 27 and 28, will be
tho season's excellent success "Sweet
Clover," a play which is credited with
having charmed, large audiences In
every city In which it has been pre
sented. "Sweet Clover" is said to be a
delightful four-act comedy drama,
beautifully staged and splendidly acted
by tho original company, headed by
Otis B. Thayer and Miss Gertrude Bond
hill. This charming Idyl of the Connecti
cut farmlands was written by Pauline
Phelps and Marion Short, two young
women, who, It is said, never essayed
dramatic work of any kind before, and
this, their initial attempt at play
making, came as a surprise in Its
great strength and quiet but appealing
beauty. The management, seeing in its
sympathetic story and dramatically
made scenes, merit of a hlgh order, ac
cepted it at once and gave it a perfect
mounting and excellent company the
same equipment. Identically, it Is saldt
that made the play so successful in
the East last season.
Interest In the story is aroused In
the very first aat, and. from there, goes
on with accumulative force until al
most the concluding scene. Otis B.
Thayer as Jerome Holcombe, the . old
New England farmer, heart-broken
over the loss of his wife, and further
distressed by the unfortunate love of
his daughter for the adopted son of
her mother's betrayer, gives a strong
exhibition of character acting, while
Miss Gertrude Bondhlll as Lois, the
daughter, 13 both charming and con
vincing, displaying remarkable ability
'in the line of emotional acting.
The advance sale of seats will open
tomorrow (Monday) morning at 10
o'clock.
"SAN TOY" AT THE MARQUAM
Big Musical Comedy With a Cast of
Well-Known Artists This Week.
"San Toy," with Its exquisite music,
clever comedy, picturesque characters
and magnificent equipment will be pre
sented at the Marquam Grand Theater
next Thursday, Friday and Saturday
nights, September 29, 30 and October 1,
with a special matinee Saturday at 2:15
o'clock. Local playgoers will see it
under more favorable conditions than
it has ever been done In America.
James T. Powers Is at the head of the
cast and this means that the creator
of the role of Li, a sort of up-to-date
Chianman, and one of the best fun
makers in his profession, will play the
same part that he did during the long
run at Daly's Theater, New York, when
"San Toy'" had Its first run in this
country. George K. Fortescue,, another
very prominent member of the original
cast. Is also in the company, as is Nagle
Barry, Margaret McKinney, John
Peachey, Mina Rudolph, Charles Ar
Hng, Josephine Newman, Fred W.
Huntly, Katherine Howland and other
artists, whose names are well toward
the top of the column in the list of
stage favorites.
Besides securing a company of, the
best talent wnicn his experience with
players and willingness to pay any
reasonable price for their services sug
gested, Mr. Fisher has also fitted "San
Toy" with the finest costumes and most
expensive canvases that have been used
to illustrate the environment peculiar
to the. Flowery Kingdom. The- pictur
esque wardrobe wag all imported direct
from China through the New York firm
of Sun Kim Lung & Co., of New York
City, as was the armor and a very
large quantity of Incidental accesso
ries, which? are designated as "props."
Two of New York's leading artists
collaborated on the scenery, and as a
result nothing of a handsomer or -more
strikingly novel design has been pro
duced. Mr. Fisher has given the produc
tion his close personal attention, which
he is also devoting to the direction of
the company. . t
The advance sale of seats will open
next Tuesday morning, at 10 o'clock,
when not more than six scats will bo
sold to. one person for any single per
formance. Miss Brune in Australia.
Miss Minnie Tittell Brune, who made
her dramatic debut at Cordray's Thea
ter, has been making more triumphs
for herself In Australia, and the Critic,"
published at Adelaide, has the follow
ing to say of her acting In the title role
of a new play, "Sunday":
"Miss Tittell Brune is in the way of
being a little genius. In the notable
and much-demanding part of 'Sun
day,' this young American artist
wrought a golden impression on most
minds. She has the sweetest and
prettiest and freshest voice heard in
drama for a long, long time. Also a
petite, young figure. That's how she
fits the early picture of that-miner's
cottage scene so well. She wears such
an artless child-of-Nature air. Now,
an actress must be physically young
and fresh to play and frisk with such
an unschooled glrl-tfcamp abandonV
"Even when she is "out" conventionally
In a magnificent ancestral hall, her
youthfulness Is preserved. The long
frocks, the black tangled curls tucked
lip into a Psydhe cluster to crown her
witching head, scarcely change the
fresh, buoyant Individuality of 'Sun
day.' In the hour of her sorrow only
does the full-grown woman's soul of
her speak out, and so forcibly, with
such, a ring of truth and pain that the
whole audience is caught up and
swept on in a huge wave of sympathy.
"I think the charm of Miss Brune's
acting is In her exquisitely seductive
voice. It Is pregnant of expression.
It sobs and smiles and coaxes and de
nounces and fondles, is wistful and
lots' of other delightful things. The
key is always changing. So Is the
expression. The result is that her
words take on a color and life that is
as fascinating as the play of vivacity
in some faces.
"There is no dressing of any account
In the Yankee drama. Miss Brune Is a
stickler to the canons of her art. In
the Brinthorpe Abbey scene many a
Sunday would take the opportunity
to gorgeously dress the part. But this
star preserves the notion of Sunday's
slow social evolution. She therefore
wears a white frock of the simplest
description, and seems the sweeter, the
truer and the more convincing on that
account. Returning to 'the boys' in
the California hut, Sunday goes right i
away back to her old black dress and
primitive wardrobe. Of course, the
course of true love runs smooth in the
end. and the path of Sunday leads
along once more to Brinthorpe Abbey
and the roses.
"Tomorrow afternoon Miss Tittell
Brune Is to star socially. J. C. William
son has issued cards for a reception at
Her Majesty's to meet the American.
Music is mentioned, and the affair
promises to be jolly."
Empire to Reopen.
Commencing today, the Empire Theater
will be dark for a week, but Manager
Weldemann announces that It will reopen
on next Sunday, when a new policy will
be adopted. The price of admission will
be reduced to 10 cents for any seat in the
house, and the entertainment offered will
be light comedy, varied by an occasional
melodrama with a number of vaudeville
acts interspersed. Manager Weldemann Is
now in Seattle arranging for the new or
der of things, and will return to Portland
tomorrow or Tuesday to complete his
plans. The Weldemann stock season, it
is announced, has been a success, and the
company has made many friends here by
Its excellent and consistent work, but the
management has decided to place the or
ganization on tour throughout the West,
and for that reason the permanent stock
play has been varied somewhat. Some of
the old members, however, will not go
out with the road company, and will ap
pear In the new productions.
Bright Lights at Cordray's.
Hundreds of people who passed in front
of Cordray's Theater last night, stopped
In wonder at a new and attractive light
which has just been installed. It is com
posed of a cluster of changing lights, set
upon Iron posts, which are placed on the
sidewalk Immediately In front of the the
ater. The lights are attached to two
golden balls and are contained within
opaque globes, which every 15 seconds
change into red. white and bjue lights.
The quick changes are made by means
of an electric motor and create a very
beautiful and unique effect. This is the
only light of the kind In this country,
and Is the original design of John F. Cor
dray. The actual manufacture of the
apparatus was entrusted to Thomas Hof
faker, the house electrician, and his able
assistants, and- every part of the work
was done right In the theater.
COMING ATTRACTIONS.
Ralph Stuart.
Ralph Stuart, long the Idol of the Mur
ray Hill and American Theaters, New
York stock companies and recently a full-
fledged star by virtue of his successful
production of "By Right of Sword," both
on the Pacific Coast and at the American
Theater, New York, comes to the Baker
Theater in the near future.
Mr. Stuart is both a handsome, manly
young fellow of exactly the type that he
Impersonates, but In addition a sterling
actor, who knows how to handle heroic
situations with the lightest comedy touch.
Consequently, "By Right of Sword," while
at the basis a Russian melodrama of the
most strenuous type, is fairly punctuated
with laughs by this light-hearted young
American hero, who declines to take any-
thing too seriously. Thus he goes through
duels, Nihilistic conspiracies and the of
ficial red tape of Russian bureaucracy like
the fearless young republican that he is,
and not only "By Right of Sword." but
by strength of his good right arm ho con
founds the conspirators, saves the life of
the Czar, wins a medal, to which he re
fers contemptuously as "a bunch of
Junk," and what Is more to his liking,
captures the heart and hand of a beau
tiful Russian girl. Thus love, laughter
and thrills make "By Right of Sword"
the most charming and exciting comedy
drama of the day, and as such it was
hailed by the entire press of New York
during Its run at the American. Mr.
Stuart carries the complete new scenic
production, the most elaborate ever seen
at that theater, and the entire original
company on this tour.
"The Sign of the Four."
An event of much importance and in
terest to the theater-going public of Port
land will be the early appearance at the
Baker theater here, of Sir Conan Doyle's
greatest play,, "The Sign of the Four."
which comes West with the heartiest In
dorsement of the Eastern press and pub
lic. The company, which Is now en route
to the Coast, Is, according to the critics,
where the play has been presented, the
best and most capable that has Inter
preted the great writer's characters, and
crowded houses have greeted the produc
tion since Its. opening In the East several
weeks ago. Sherlock Holmes is of
course the central figure In "The Sign of
the Four," and in this work of Doyle'3
he is seen in an entirely new light, the
author having woven a pretty and delight
ful love Tomance about him, which makes
the great detective doubly Interesting.
Kyrle Bellew Coming.
" 'Raffles' Is the antithesis of 'Sherlock
Holmes' and greater than 'Sherlock
Holmes.' " Such Is the opinion expressed
in New York and elsewhere of Kyrle
Bellew's famous drama, "Raffles, the
Amateur Cracksman," in which he and a
splendid company, Including E. M. Hol
land, will appear at the Marquam Grand
Theater shortly. The drama was written
by E. W. Hornung and Eugene Presbrey,
who used as a foundation one of the
sketches published In two volumes by Mr.
Hornung under the titles of "The Ama
teur Cracksman" and "Raffles," respec
tively. Warde and Kidder Coming.
Frederick Warde and Katherine Kidder,
supported by an excellent company, will
present the big spectacular dramatic pro
duction of "Salambo" at the Marquam
Grand Theater in the very near future.
THE STAR.
The Kins-Ners, a Great Vaudeville
Sensation, Tomorrow.
For the week beginning Monday after
noon, the Star Theater management has
engaged another great vaudeville sensa
tion. The Kins-Ners, the marvelous European
equilibrists, whose amazing feats of
heavy-weight balancing have startled two
continents, will be the headllners. worthy
to stand on a pinnacle built of other fea
ture acts. Pianos, cart-wheels and trunks
are dangled from the chins of these per
formers with ease, and their other feats
are equally startling.
The Star show Is a great eight-act bill.
Mr. and Mrs. Hunn will appear in a gen
uine black-face sketch. The Great Bur
dock has an illusion act that is more than
mystifying. Edward De -Moss, .a phe
nomenal baritone, will make his first ap
pearance in the West in vaudeville.
Another novelty act that Is worthy to
be billed as a headllner on any show Is
that of De Shields, a wonderful equili
brist, juggler and aerial cyclist, who rides
an ordinary bicycle on a swinging strand
of wire. Will Brown Is a jovial jester.
Will C. Hoyt sings a new illustrated song.
and .Edison s projectoscope will flash a
new series of moving pictures.
The show today is continuous from 2 to
11 P. M.. the Great Loretta Twins and the
Glrdellers making their last appearance
In their famous acts.
THE ARCADE.
New Programme With Famous Nov
elty Acts Begins Tomorrow.
The vaudeville horizon has been scanned
for acts to delight the patrons of the Ar
cade Theater. Only the latest novelties,
the wittiest comedians and the sweetest
voiced singers "nave been chosen for the
new bill that begins tomorrow at 2:30 P.
M.
Rizal and Fatima are two star perform
ers, and the team Is composed of a famous
equilibrist and a contortionist who ties
V