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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 13, 1904)
IS THE SUNDAY ORE GONIAL, POBTLA2SD, NOVEMBER 13, 1904. & "irr ifiifii irT .. m. t , t -nr it b i 'iian a i i n w iniiiiiw nil - -r-- ui is the star. eW; r ill mil V , J- ' : ..lUiMf JAMBS J. JEFFRIES in "I Killed a B'ar"; melodrama with a stiff punch side issue; "Belshazzar," sacred opera under the auspices of- one of the leading: churches; "Tho Tenderfoot.", a burlesque Wild Vest show set to .music. These for the Marquam. How was that for all things to all men? A Dutch team and roystcring musical comedy a la Rodgers Brothers, those were Mason and Mason at Cordrays in "Fritz and Snitz," by long odds the best attrac tion that house has had since the sea son opened. More Injuns, not of the "Tenderfoot" tribe, however; martial music, brave he roes and a coward or two in blue uni forms, horses climbing the stairs, burning gunpowder, blff-boom-blff, unfurling the Stars and Stripes good-night, ladles lias-and-all's-well. That was The Girl I Left Behind Me." whlcn our friends the Columbia players gave us. These and the vaudeville shows amused us, and it was a week which supplied a lot of right down enjoyment, with per chance a paucity of things particularly noteworthy. GEORGE ADE explains In Pearson's for November that-ho wrote "The County Chairman after he had hit the bullseye twice in succession with "The Sultan of Sulu" and "Peggy From Paris,' because he thought that musical comedy was on the wane and that the public wanted plain American, songless drama. He was uncertain as to what would become of his rural comedy, but he had faith in it be cause it avoided the well-beaten path of musical comedy. "The Chairman" suc ceeded, so has "Arizona" and many other convincing plays, but not because they lacked music. Rather in spite of that fact. Ade's . peint was not well taken. The shows that the people, the unmerry multitude, want axe trifles light as air, arranged with music, laughter and the tripping of dancers' feet. Who goes to see slaughter-house drama or the laboratory play? Ibsen starves to death in a theatrical land of plenty. Who cares for the old-time trouble exhibit? Melodrama still draws, but it is rather because of the serio-comic who does the specialties, the noise of exploding steam engines, and because the Hero always wins the Girl. In "the hunt for happi ness" we've no time for wolves or mud hens or porcupines. Most of us ordinary plug citizens live in a Held where rue thrives better than the morning glory vine. Some of us find much rosemary and a few roses, but rosso wither soon a&d rosemary after all Is not a joyful herb. So when we want to for get the adduces and the barrenness and above all the sordidness of things present and things to come, we hire players to play for us. We buy our amusement with real money and the things wo buy we insist must be unreal. Happiness Is as unreal as the stuff dreams are made of, so say we; "give us happiness." We want clowns in motley, not tragedy in jeans, nor in a velvet cloak. THE WORLD is old and tired. We have not been merry creatures since Sherwood Forest was surveyed and fenced. At least not since the incident of Crom well and Charles. Laughter is not spon taneous, and the funny bone Is missing in the anatomy of modern manikins. When the world was young we hired mourners to weep for us. Now that the end of things approaches, we pay jesters to laugh at us and for us. So it happens that when we give real money to crowd Into a theater we want no frowning Aeschylus. If the gods and the box-office "man would please their people they must show us a grimacing Arlstophane. Apro pos of Sherwood Forest, a moment ago, this is going farther around Robin Hood's barn than it is from Schenectady to Troy, but it brings mo back to George Ado and to 6ay that frivolous entertainment, whatever It may be the people are for it. The role of the hired laughmaker Is not passing and so long as we ache to get away from things present and things to come, we will continue to beseech the pur-, veyors: "Give us merriment with dance and music, and if needs must be, just the smallest dash of rue-bitters, and a sprig of rosemary by way of remembrance." A, A. G. "THE GAY PARISIANS." Farce Comedy Success Will Entertain Patrons of the Columbia. The Columbia Theater Stock Company will present this week, beginning with a matinee thlB afternoon, Sadie Martinot's farce comedy success, "The Gay Pari sians." It is one of those fast, furious French farces, its plot devoted largely to a gay wife, a susceptible business man and a young lover, all of whom become hope lessly Involved in a desperate situation at a well-known Paris cafe, the Mascotte. Llk a good many others of the French school, this comedy Includes some brisk scenes depicting life ..as It actually is in the French metropolis. In staging a pic ture that has that coveted element of at mosphere and reality, the French dramat ists are unexcelled. The farce is Ingeniously constructed out of the story of a careless husband, a wife who seeks distraction, a hen-pecked hus and the would-be distractor and his in timidating wife, who herself gets tangled In the plot. By a clever trick of the au thor, three couples are brought together In the cafe, and each of them Is In ig norance of the presence of the others, al-. though they are all related and are upon larks which they never should have un dertaken. The story is complicated, and until the end of the play it is impossible for the audience to figure out just how matters will end. Novl types of character are introduced, among them being Maxine, an unsophis ticated schoolboy, whom the French maid trains in the ways of tho world; Mathieu, tho man who stutters whenever it storms; four French schoolgirls and Vlctorlne, the Parisian maid. They all patronize the Mascotte cafe, and unfortunately are there at the same time. .Stage Director Bernard has given the play undivided attention, and something out of the ordinary is promised In so far as the staging of the farce is concerned. Miss Countlss will play the role Which added fame to Sadie Martinot's career, and Edgar Baume will be seen as the young architect, Palllard. Mr. Bernard will play a quaint comedy character, a type In which he has not heretofore been seen with the Columbia Company, while all the members of the organization are excellently cast. The scenery is all newly built by Artist King, and a feature of the production will be tho setting of the act In which three separate private rooms are shown, one of them belns npslalrs. "The Gay Parisians" has been carefully rehearsed. Is well-staged, and, as enacted by the players of the Columbia Company, should prove a great, success. "FINNIGAN'S BALLi" CORDRAY'S One of the Biggest and Best of Mu sical Farce Comedies This Week. Tho ' last week of the Cord ray-Russell management of Cordray's Theater com mences this afternoon and the attraction presented will be the well and favorably known musical absurdity, "Flnnlgan's Ball," which has been one of the most popular and profitable shows which hava been produced In the past decade. This year it 13 larger and better than ever before, and wherever It has appeared this year tho critics hare been louder tfn In the post In their approval of the pro duction. "Flnnlgan's Ball" Is the pioneer of present-day musical shows, and, al though it has been frequently Imitated and pirated, like all original conceptions, it excels all imitations and has survived all its Inferior competitors. It Is a cheering conglomeration of gaiety girls, music and fun, and, although It contains an original score oL IS numbers and approaches very close to light opera, nevertheless It admits of many specialties which are of the highest and most ex pensive order. The comedy lays but little clalam to plot, but Is presented for the sole pur pose of corrallng all the refreshing ele ments of gorgeous scenery, brilliant cos tumes, jolly aoaaeaM, entrancing music, clever comedians, fascinating prima don nas, bewitching soubrettes and a dashing chorus of ensemble singers. The principal comedians this season arc Gallagher and Barrett, and OIHe Mack, who Is managing tho tour and has seen all the best funmakers of our time, says that the leading roles have never before been in such good hands. Among the other well-known stage favorites in the cast are Mayme Taylor, Fanny Trumbull, Ldulso Frost and Fred Wilson. The dancing is made one of the strong features, and some of the most graceful and sprightly artists in this line are with the organization. In addition1 to the reg ular musical numbers some of the latest and best of the New Tork popular song successes are Interpolated. Thero prom ises to be a big demand for seats, and If you want to avoid the jam at the box office you bad better buy In advance. WHITTLESEY AT THE MARQUAM Young Actor Presents "Heartsease" and "The Second In Command." One of the most important engage ments of the season at the Marquam Grand Theater, will be the appearance of the young-, romantic actor, Whito Whittlesey, who will be seen in most elaborate scenic productions of "Heartsease" and "The Second in Com mand," next Tuesday and Wednesday nights, November 15 and 16, supported by a specially selected company of players, under the direction of Messrs. Belasco, Mayer and Price. In San Francisco White Whittlesey has a following that is truly remarka ble. Night after night, -week after week and month after month, he has appeared there before vast audiences and in his recent engagement of 15 consecutive weeks, he broke all rec ords In attendance at the Alcazar Theater. It Is the romantic love-led heroes of the stage that Whittlesey is seen at his best and his managers are presenting him on his present tour In the most successful plays of his repertoire. The plays of "Heartsease," "The Sec ond In Command" and "The Soldiers of Fortune" are closely Identified with tho names of John Drew and Henry Miller. The scenery, costumes and stage ac cessories Are carried entirely for the tour of tho young actor, the organiza tion using two special baggage cars for the transportation of the productions. Every caro has been given to the matter of costuming and for months a corps of skilled tailors and dressmakers was engaged In preparing the costly dresses and uniforms used by Whittle sey and his company. The players in the Whittlesey Com pany were selected for their Individual talent and fitness for certain roles, thus Insuring a complete performance. In the play of "Heartsease," music forms an Important part of the play and a trained choir is carried to render the delightful airs that are sung in the pro duction. Among those who are In the company supporting White Whittlesey are such well-known players as Eugenie Thais Lawton, Vlrgina Brlssac, Alfa Perry. Edith Campbell, Hall J e White and Messrs. J. iL Salnpolls, Harry D. By-.-s, Reginald Mason, Henry Lewellyn, Carl Yoho, Taylor Curtis. Ervllle Anderson. Seats are now selling. DUNN IN "THE RUNAWAYS." Famous Musical Beauty Show at the Marquam for Two Performances. Arthur Dunn, la "The Runaways," the musical extravaganza, which will bo the attraction at the Marquam Grand The ater next Thursday afternoon and night, November 17, is said to be the most elab orate of all the great Casino successes. The claim is made that Messrs. Shubert, Nixon & Zimmerman expended $75,000 on the production before it began its career of over six months at the New Tork Ca sino. The plot of "The Runaways" con cerns an American Army officer who was a waiter in his early days, and is now a plunger at the racetrack. He Is a con firmed dyspeptic and therefore it Is quite reasonable to find him the guardian of a pretty Army nurse. Tho General's horse .wins the Suburban, the horse being ridden for the occasion by the General's son, who Is the black sheep of the fam ily. This annoys a tall patent medicine man, and a short detective who wanted to seo another horso win. Therefore, they all leave for an island on the Pacific Ocean facetiously called the Island of Table d'Hote. As soon as the General steps ashore he Is made the King of tho Island, and. is expected to marry the Princess Angel cake, but she prefers the General's pro tege, Bob Gray. The General, thereupon. Is requested to marry the six widows of the late King, all young and pretty, but he doesn't, and Is sentenced to death in stead, which is perhaps preferable. The medicine man, who is tall, and his con federate, who Is short, are also doomed to die, but at the critical moment an American warship arrives. Then, of course, nobqdy Is killed, but all are united to the girls of their choice. The music, by Raymond Hubbell, is said to be exceedingly good, some of the 20 song hits being catchy enough to set the audience humming and whistling. In addition to Mr. Arthur Dunn, the cast contains many metropolitan favorites, in cluding Charles Dox, Clarence Harvey, W. E. Meehan, Thomas Whltbread. Misses Ermlnle Earle, Blanche Wayne, Sallle Randall, the Althea sisters and nearly 100 others. In the chorus, which is said to be the prettiest of all recent New Tork suc cesses, are three distinct groups of-beautiful girls the six widows, the daisies and comic-opera queens. The advance sale of seats will open next Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock. FLORENCE GALE AS "ROSALIND" "As You Like If," Shakespeare's De lightful Comedy,, at Marquam. There Is an excellent reason why any performance of "As Tou Like It" cannot but be altogether acceptable. That reasoa Is the fact that William Shakespeare, and William Shakespeare In his happiest vela, stands responsible for the play. His wit tiest witcheries, his tenderest fancies, the most luxuriant exuberances of pulslag poesy, bestowed upon the laexhawtibie cornucopia, of his thought and sentiment, have made this ccaiedy of the aaaster I f. IWI dramatist, brilliant, alive and true be yond the possibility of absolute defile ment. Exceptionally fine gems will show their quality though they be set in crum pled tin. Such being the case, It is Indeed a pleasure to be able to announce that we will have a performance of "As Tou Like It" here in the near future. The cast con tains a number of names which for years have been seen in nothing but foremost New Tork productions. The bright par ticular star of the company is Miss Flon. ence Gale, one of tho best known deline ators, of Shakespeare's heroines now be fore 'the public Nature was very prodi gal In gifts to Miss Gale, for she not only possesses talen of a very high order, but is acknowledged to be the most beau tiful woman on the stage today. Tho supporting company has been chosen carefully by Manager Shlpman and a car load of scenery is carried with a view to making this performance a truly mem orable one. Miss Gale with her supporting company will be the attraction at the Marquam Grand Theater next Friday and Saturday nights, November 18 and 19, with a spe cial matinee Saturday. The advance sale- of seats will open next Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock. ALASKA BAND AT THE MARQUAM Concert Will Be Given of Popular and Classic Music Tuesday Afternoon. The Metlakahtla Indian band, from Alaska, will give a grand concert of pop ular and classic music at the Marquam Grand next Tuesday afternoon, Novem ber 15. The band is 35 In number, and, aside from rendering some of the best and most classic selections, they have in at tendance soloists, singers and native danc ers. Programme: March "American Republic" ' - .Thlela Indian trick soar. "Meaaloot." lit Indian. Indian Cano song and dance , Messrs. Glsgan, Kaax, Jocura, Kiaboo and Klssheeboo. Overture "Morning1. Noon and Night" Suppa Vocal "A Sons of Waiting" Wright Cornet solo "Grand Russian Fantalse"..Levy Overture "Wllllasi Tell" Rossini Vocal "The Hoiy City" Adams W. Calvert. Band Accompanist. Overture "Poet and Peasant". Suppe Vocal quartet "Tho Band" ...White Meeaera. Booth, Dun das. Hudson and Calvert. EuphOBium solo "Euphonla, Air Varla".. Traaten Medley overture 'TVar Songr of the Boys In Bla.".. Seatr are now selling. Benefit far Miss Angu. Mr. Seraard, of the Columbia' Stock Coropany, announced from the stage, at yesterday's Matinee that the entire com pear had united with several prominent ladies ot the -city, and professional peo ple from all the theaters to give a benefit for Miss Edith Angus, who, it is well known, has been very 111 at Good Sa maritan Hospital for some time. These ladles are not only friends and admirers of Miss Angus, but have always been foremost in acts of kindness in Portland and the 4unlted efforts of all concerned cannot fail to meet with the best results. The programme, which will bo elaborate, will be announced later. It Is a cause worthy of the help and Interest of every one. The date of the benefit will be Tues day afternoon, Nov. 22, ' and tickets will be sold all through the coming week. Two of the Greatest Feature Acts In . Vaudeville This Week. Two of the greatest feature acts ever presented In Portland will be Been at the Star Theater, beginning with tho first performance Monday' afternoon. Not con tent with achieving vaudeville triumphs by bringing each week a sensational act. the management has headed the new bill with two, tho Three Avolas and the Tale Duo, acts whose names are household words among the vaudeville patrons of the great Eastern playhouses. The Avolas are America's three great est acrobats, performing astounding and unheard-of tricks, with the dexterity and skill of phenomenal athletes. The Star Theater patrons have seen many astound ing acrobatic acts, but the palm must be awarded to the Avolas, and It will be when the new bill is seen. The Tale Duo are marvelous club jug glers, whose nimble fingers fill the air with flying missiles, nono of which joins their mark. The club3 are Illuminated in brilliant colors, and it makes a pretty spectacle when the Tale Duo gets real busy. . The other acts are worthy of heading the ordinary vaudeville bllL Richard Bur ton Is the Beau Brummcl of the mono logue world. He dresses In the height of fashion and entertains with songs and stories in the garb of an aftfr-dinner ora tor. Carter and' Mendel are two come dians and rapid-fire conversationalists, never at a loss for a merry quip. Adeline BIrchler, the operatic prima donna, is cer tain to make a hit with Portland music lovers. The Musical Harts, America's foremost musical artists, are on the bill with an attractive novelty act! Edlson'3 projectoscope shows new moving pictures. Today's bill is continuous from 2 to 10:30 P. M., and- Sylvester, Jones and Prlngle will make their last hit with Portland audiences. THE BAKER. Portland's Great Vaudeville Theater After Best People and Best Acts. The Baker Theater was started a3 a vaudeville house with the set policy of catering- to the best people, and for that reason it is naturally required to supply the highest form of vaudeville entertainment regardless of expense and effort. Those who have attended Its performances since It entered upon its remarkable career have noticed that the management has succeeded. Its fame Is secure as the smartest vaude ville theater In the Northwest, and it is unnecessary to elaborate on the ex cellence of Its attractions. The great show which bids for pat ronage at the Baker this week, com mencing tomorrow afternoon, is com posed of the best acts and the most novel and Interesting ones which can possibly be secured. The list starts with Professor Barnold's trained dog3 and; cats, unquestionably the greatest troupe of performing- animals In the world. This rare act comes from Lon don, where it was seen during- the past Summer at the principal parks and concert halls of the metropolis. Puree Brothers and Marks offer their clever comedy sketch for the first time on the Coast and will no doubt create a fa vorable Impression. O'Brien, Mann and Franks will be seen In their original tablols musical comedy, "Our Uncle." The Travlolas, champion head balanc ers and hoop rollers; the Great Mc Shaffreys, the musical .gypsies; the Irving: Trio, the marvelous acrobats; Raymond G. Baldwin, the popular bal lad singer, and the biograph are all on the big bill, and they're all as good as the best. Sunday performances are continuous from 2 until 10:30 PM. THE LYRIC. Everybody Should Know That Next Bill Will Break All Records. Now comes the Lyric, and being: duly placed on record announces that It will submit to Its patrons the best entertainment to be found In Portland during the present week. The new bill will be first seen tomorrow after noon, and the management has so care fully Investigated each and every act offered that it Is willing: to stake its reputation on the quality of the show. It would be Impossible to conceive of a more delightful variety qf turns, and the beauty of it is that each one of them has. been passed, upon by tha most critical audiences In the land and declared to be Al. This statement can be easily proved by referring to the newspaper of the cities in which the artists have appeared alt the way from Boston and New Tork to this Coast. The critics are of one mind In the matter, and nowhere has there beea unfavorable notice. The brilliant list of rare talent rep resented reads like a direetery of th most successful actors and actresses In I