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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 2, 1906)
THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAX, PORTLAND, 'SEPTE3IBER' 2, 190G. "The Stowaway" are extensive, and the play has to be well mounted to give the proper Idea. The yacht scene, with the stowaway and his dramatic discovery, is one of the roost natural bits ever inserted in a play. The Allen stock company has ap peared in "The Stowaway" in Tacoma and made a success. Their familiarity with the roles will give Portland a bet ter performance than would otherwise be the case. The company carries Its own special scenery, and "The Stowaway" will be otased as carefully as when it was first brought to the Coast years ago. Today ends the engagement of "A Great Temptation." the melodrama which has held the boards during the past seven days. There will be a matinee and night performance. "ACROSS THE PLAINS." Rich, Witty, Stirring Melodrama Opens Tomorrow at the Lyric. The offering at the cosy Lyric Theater for the coming week, opening at the reg ular matinee tomorrow afternoon, is a charming, bright and well-told romance of the early days of the glorious West. It is entitled "Across the Plains." and is a strong heart-interest story of the brave men and women who helped to build up the magnificent West. In the scenes of this play the pioneers have settled in Southern California. The play opens at the sawmill of Stevens (Frank Fannin?), who Is looked upon as the boss of the gulch. He is a big, whole-souled man who has taken care of and brought up a little waif (IJly Brans combe) whose father is dead and whose mother was murdesed on the plains 15 years before. She has never known any companions except the boys of the camp and an Indian lass (Herbert Ashton), until a party of tourists arrives, among whom is Mr. Downey, a man who Is in search of the child of his partner, who is now an heiress. - Of course the waif whom Mr. Stevens has reared on the plains is the daughter in question and is the heiress. The rest of the story re counts In thrilling fashion how several are in love with her, how a villain tries to ruin her, how she is identified, how Downey befriends her and Stevens always stands by her. At last Stevens Is reward ed by her return of his love, and all ends ha-pplly. This is one of the best-staged and strongest melodramas that has been of fered on the Lyrfo stase. The characters are all true to life and powerful in their rich ruggedness. It Is bubbling over with bright and clever dialogue and stinging wit. The undercurrent of humor is fre quently seen at the surface, and the en tire production Is well adapted to stir up the Lyric patrons to a high pitch of en thusiastic appreciation. The cast Includes the full force of the Lyric company, In cluding Miss Wanda Howard, who has been resting this last week after playing for 35 weeks without interruption. Miss Isabella McDonald, the new character woman of the company, will also make her first appearance on the Lyric stage in this play. FIXF BILL AT THE PANTAGES. Laughs and Thrills the Order on This Week's Programme. Much has been said about thrills after thrills, and much more could be told about the laughs and thrills that will follow each other at Pantages Theater this week. The new bill which begins to morrow is a top-notcher from the stand point of one who likes to laugh and laugh heartily and who enjoys new and novel acts. If you don't want to laugh or be amused by light entertainment, don't god near Pantages this week, as there will be nothing dull or heavv there. The new bill is Just bristling with things that are new. New features, new acts and new and novel things never seen here before. The bill Is headed with two distinct fea tures. The two of them are so excellent that It would be very difficult to give one precedence. Courtney and Jeanette, eccentric comedy Jugglers, Is one of these strong features, and Mile. Rinaldo. Queen of the Flames,- is the other. They are hard to equal, let alone excel, in vaude ville. Courtney and Jeltnette can Juggle al most anything from a chair to a tooth pick. Running through their act Is a strain of comedy that is comedy, and nearly every one of their feats ls new and original. They keep the audience In wonderment over their remarkable and unusual skill and at the same time create no end of amusement. Mademoiselle Rinaldo introduces a new spectacular dance. It is really a very startling performance, and something de cidedly out of the ordinary routine of vaudeville acts. Her act is indeed thrill ing. The Laftwell Sisters are bound to please. They are singers and dancers. Both have remarkably sweet and well trained voices, and they are exceedingly nimble with their feet. Mary Madden, leeturologlst, who will talk on "Facts and Frills," will live up to her reputation as a woman laugh maker. Mary Madrl?n Is one of those good-souled, wholesome sort of persons who radiates good humor. When she laughs you have to laugh with her. Sam Lamar Is to be a strong number on the bill. Of course you know who Sam Lamar Is. He Is. a black-face mo. nologlst, who Is rated as Al In his line of work. He Is a whole show himself. Jean Wilson will sing one of the latest Illustrated songs, and the bill will wind up with the latest animated pictures from the blograph. The excellent bill of the past week will conclude today with continuous per formances. The feature act is Derenda and Green, the leaders of the whole world in Juggling featsv They are direct from the leading music halls of Europe. Six other strong acts complete the bill. "BECAUSE SHE LOVED HIM SO" AVllllam Gillette's Funny Farce Com edy Second Week's Play at Baker. The second week's bill at the Baker will be devoted to that greatest comedy writer of the age, William Gillette, and his great Frohman success, "Because She Ix)ved Him So." which will open next Sunday matinee, September 9. It le a modern comedy In three acts, and tells a very funny tale of matrimonial difficul ties. It is full of new and startling sit uations such as no one but this clever author would ever have conceived. It has always been described as a scream of laughter starting the moment the curtain rises and in most cases not ending until the audience is home In bed and asleep. It has been seen in Portland before, and was one of the great successes of the original Baker Stock Company. It id one of the few plays that seems to grow fun nier each time one sees It. Coining to the Empire. The story of the sea. like that of love, no matter how many times told, still' holds the mystery and charm It has ever known, and doubtless this accounts for the great success that has attended the tremencous scenic production of "The World," which will appear at the Empire Theater for the second week, starting 9unday. September 9. The plot of the play Is Interesting. Its development is thrilling and dramatic, and the comedy element Is mlrtn-provoklng. love's Changes. Indianapolis Star. "You used to insist before we were mar ried," said the distressed wife, "that I give Fido pieces of the candy you brought me. Now, whenever you see him you shout: 'For heaven's sake why don't you wash that dog?" . Play-G oers Flock to "Kreutzer Sonata" BLANCHE WALSH APPEARS IN DRAMATIZATION OF - TOLSTOI'S WORK ANNIE RUSSELL TO PLAY "PUCK" NEW YORK. Aug. 27. (Special Corre , spondence.) In all probability. If all the theaters were running there would be less concentration upon Blanche Walsh's production of the Kreutzer Sonata, , but as , there are few at tractions to hold the attention of the serious playgoers, that Is about all that is discussed. On the other hand, it is possible that owing to the very distinct character of this play and the fact that it Is so widely different from anything that has ever been presented to a Broadway audience, it might occasion the same amount of discussion and de gree of interest and whatever - the play is or is not. It is interesting in a super lative degree. Ever sinoe the Tolstoi "Kreutzer Sonata." came from the pen of that giant Russian. I have resented the use of that wonderful creation of Beethoven. Tolstoi was In error as Gordln was m error but Gordln less so thin Tolstoi.' There is less of the erotic quality in Beethoven's music than in the composi tion of nearly any other- composer who wrote in what is known as the romantic school of which Beethoven was the first great example if not the creator. Wheth er we examine Beethoven the sympjnonist or the writer of the sonatas, we can never for one Instant lose the majesty of his inspirations, and while every pas sion and every emotion is played upon and called into play, there would be noth ing to call forth an unholy flame more than music might do per. se. Tolstoi used this name, although why no one can imagine, unless It be because he is not sufficiently musical to under stand Beethoven In the least. A great deal has been said concerning morality or immorality of music, which for the greater part is pure cant, notwithstand ing the fact that the general impression is to the contrary. Apropos of this, the writer recalls a conversation wltb Oscar Weil last year, at which time that great critic and connoisseur said: "You may say whatever you like about modern music, but I tell you that much of that stuff of Debussy, D'lndy, Loeffier is as obscene as anything Du Maupassant ever wrote." And he really meant It. But I dare to fancy that It was his way of expressing his absolute devotion to the old ideals of the classic masters, of which Beethoven was the first tp break away by making his musical idea rep resent something tangible or philosoph ical. If the above statement might be modified in any way ..and the word im moral or obscene my be permitted in connection with music, it might be said that Richard Strauss in his opera "Feuersnoth," has the most closely ap proached it. But were the music entirely separated from the Idea or from the written word, it Is very doubtful that it would be con nected wjth immorality or obscenity, so returning to the Kreutzer Sonata of Gordln. be It said that the great Beeth oven work had absolutely nothing to do with the passion of Gregoire, the musi cian, for Celia, his unhappy wife's sister. One might go further in analysis con cerning the low moral tone of this very Celia at which point the idea of her be ing carried away by a work of such noble proportions of the "Kreutzer Sonata"' is an offense as well as an Impossibility. Gordln is at present of considerable In terest to those outside of his own circle, and it Is doubtful If any playwright In this country has behind him the adven tures and the experiences of this trans planted Russian, who came from his own country 15 years ago. Already there he attracted public attention as a writer of short stories, and, as was the case with Maxim Gorky, he was revolutionary in spirit. In 1879 he started a movement which eventually resulted in his exile. At this time he undertook to form a society to reconstruct the popular religions of the world upon the sole basis of vpractlcal ethics, to the exclusion of all rites and ceremonies. As may veil be imagined, the society was suppressed by the Russian govern ment, and Gordin. forced to leave his country, selected America as the object ive point. For several years he fought a hard battle with poverty, with a large family besides. He became Interested in the fact that a. Yiddish population of over 200,000 had practically no drama, and it was left for him to set about writing plays. His first being "Siberia." Gordln received as low as J50. and even less, for the entire Yiddish rights to many of his plays, but even this meant something for the support of his family, and as he has written more than 70 plays, it Is evident that he was prolific. The "Kreutzer So nata," produced at the Thalia Theater, on the Bowery, was the crowning point of his efforts, and during the phenomenal run of 300 nights he compelled the atten tion of the entire dramatic world. Gordln's works have an originality which is based upon, robust realism, which abounds In character and incident. While they would come under the head of the problem play In that they are fraught with purpose, and that their ethical im port Is always prominent, they differ from the realistic and semi-mythical plays of Ibsen diametrically in treatment as well as in theories expressed. For example, to Gordtn the home ties and family traditions are the highest points to which he aims, while personal mm '3 11 5-v 7 ANNIE RfSSELL, WHO WILI, PLAY "PrCK" IN WAGENHALS KEMPER'S fcEW YORK PRODUCTION OF "A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM." BLANCHE WALSH IJf THI "KREUTZER SONATA," NOW RUNNING AT THE MANHATTAN THEATER. NEW YORK. freedom is the doctrine of Ibsen. Speak ing of the "Kreutzer Sonata." Jacob Gor dln says: "Tolstoi's 'Kreutzer Sonata' ex erted in its time a most powerful influ ence upon all intelligent Russians. Those who were connected with the If.erary movement felt the influence all the more keenly Upon me Tolstoi's book produced an Indelible impression Later I observed cases in the home life of the Russians where the family rela tions were a vivid reflection of the book and Its tendencies. This suggestion sug gested to me a play, identical in the prob lem only, to that of 'Tolstoi's book. The name "Kreutzer Sonata" was chosen equally for its expressiveness and its at tractiveness. The basis Ideas of the play are racial prejudices, family traditions, social conventions. These are apparently the staunch safeguards of family peace and honor. Yet how often they are the very causes that augment rather than check the development of a deep family tragedy ami that Instead of preserving, smother and destroy the family. Racial prejudices are Involved In the play. The Jewish father, the patriarch of his family, opposes the marriage of his daughter to a Christian officer to a member of another race, hence the catas trophe of the first act. Family traditions mean family honor. To it the parents ruthlessly sacrifice the happiness of their daughter. Social conventions assert themselves. To hush the scandal and hubub the daughter is forced to marry a man who is from a lower social stratum. The social gulf between hus band and wife deepens the tragedy. How ever, love crushed in the bud and the consequences of the ill-mated pair are not the whole basis of the drama. What enhances the whole tragedy is the natural effect of immigration strand ed on foreign soil;, the family traditions, firmly rooted In the old folks, In the case of their children become . entangled with those of the new and strange land. Family happiness Is threatened, degenera tion and collapse result. Mr. Gordin Is an interesting man ami understands how to defend his point. At the same time the fact that the name is expressive and attractive is hardly a reason for giving It the name which Beethoven before Tol stoi made famous. It may be a matter of interest to know why Beethoven so called his Opus 47 No. 9 for piano and violin. It is simply the dedication to R. Kreutzer, the composer of the great Kreutzer studies for violin. The sonata is extremely difficult and doubtless most pianists and vlollntets know that while playing It they have not .Hl'-'W" 1 x : - -'imam J - V V j 2 $ N 1 much time to think of other things. Some of the movements have a quick, restless, passionate spirit, but, as stated at the outset of this article, the erotic does not" enter for a moment. Herewith presented is the -. latest pic ture of Annie Russell, who, according to present indications, will open the Astor Theater, at Forty-fifth street and Broad way, next Friday. Miss Russell will be seen for the first time as Puck in the production of Shakespeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream." At the present writing the house is not yet completed, but the architects and the decorators assure Man agers Wagenhals and Kemper that It will be in condition to open on the announced date. Miss Russell and lier company have been rehearsing for the past five weeks, and the production is In perfect readiness, but the managers say that un less the house is perfect in every detail the opening will be postponed. No defi nite announcement will be made until next Tuesday morning. EMILIE FRANCES BAUER. DRAMATIC XOTES. A well-known New York manager, speaking of an actress who aspires to play ingenues and who ought to be playing; grand dames, asked James O'Neill what he knew of her. ' Mr. For the Week of September 3 ' THE ALLEN STOCK COMPANY Presenting the strong Melodrama which "Spike Hennessy" and "Kid McCoy," as the jail breakers, made famous The Stowaway" With the Full Strength of the Now Well-Known Allen Stock Company PRICES. Matinees Except Sundays and Holidays, 20 cents. Sunday and Holiday Matinees-r-10 and 20 cents. Evenings 10, 20 and 30 cents. Note Seats for Evening, Sunday and Holiday performances can be secured by telephone. Main 5496. Two performances daily One each afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, and one each evening at 8:15 o'clock. WEEK. OF SEPT. 2 PANTAGES Beit Family Theater CONTINUOUS PERFORMANCES TODAY LAUVELL SISTERS, ' Singers and Dancers. DON'T MISS THESE MME. RINALDO "Queen of the Flames." Introducing her New and Spec tacular Dance. Latest Animated SAM LAMAR, Blackface Monologist. ' TODAY'S BIG OFFERING Derenda and Green, comic jugglers; The Big Four, Sadie Hite, David Williams & Co., Willie Davis, Jean Wilson, Moving Pictures. Performances daily, at 2:30, 7:30 and 9 P. M. Admission 10c and 20c. Boxes 25c. Ladies and Children take any seat at week-day matinees for TEN CENTS. O'Neill replied: "She is a woman about 63, who looks 60. thinks she's 40, dresses like 30. and acts HKe zu. V-A(rA vc rvVian' new tilav. "Popular ity.", will be produced at the Lyceum The ater, Rochester, N. i .. Septemper s, wun Thomas W. Koss ana almost an au-siar cast. This season Sweely, Shlpman & Co. send several stars on the road. The iat includes Roselle Knott. Alberta Gallatin, Anna Day, and probably two others. Clay Clement has engaged Miss Kathleen Kerrigan, a beautiful actress of Louisville, Ky one of the South's fair daughters, to play the leading woman part of Mrs. Houston in Elem ent's new play, "Sam Houston,". wlilJh opens in Chicago at the Auditorium. Flora- Juliet Bowley, the Kate Roberts In company "D" of "The Lion and the Mouse," while bearing a most striking resemblance to Mary Mannering, is no relation to the star. Miss Bowley is a San Franciscan, her brother being Cap tain Bowley. of the United States Army, and now an Inspector at West Point. The company opens at Asbury Park Sep tember 3. The productions of the various late and popular comic operas which John Corf, has given the Stewart Opera Com pany, have cost that enterprising; man ager many thousands of dollars. Each opera has been costumed gorgeously and mounted in an elaborate manner. The Stewart Opera Company comes to the Hetlir.g theatre, Portland, for the week beginning Sunday, September 16. With the engagements of William Little and Reginald, Fife by John "Cort yester day, the company which will support Max Figman on his forthcoming starring tour has been completed. His tour in a com edy which enjoyed a long New York run last season will begin at Troy.N. Y., on October 15, prior to which Mr. Figman will direct the rehearsals of "The Illu sion of Beatrice," in which Maude Fealy will star. Marc- Klaw The "23" Club believes that all men are equal on the turf and under It. A. L. Erlanger We want to know what recommends men not who. Sam H. Harris Do things for people who do things for you. Edgar Selwyn--Some people are born damn fools and others acquire the habit. George M. Cohan I'd rather be broke than a piker Cohan's Spotlight. Daniel V. Arthur and J. Fred Zimmer man, Jr., have purchased from George Broadhurst his new musical play, "The Lady from Lanes." The music will be done bv Silvio Hein. the composer of "Marrying Mary." This Is the second production which Mr. Arthur will do in conjunction with Mr. Zimmerman, the other being Cora Maynard's play, "The Measure of a Man." "The Lady from Lanes will be produced about Christmas time In New York. Despite the telegraphic reports from St. Louis that Maude Fealy had been compelled to cancel her stock engage ment on account of Illness, the young actress began rehearsals of "The Illu sion of Beatrice," as originally sched uled, Tuesday, August 28, at the Berke ley Lyceum Theater. Miss Fealy's starring tour under the direction of John Cort will begin at Orange, N. J., September 13, where the first perform ance of Miss Martha Morton's ney comedy will be seen. . Several years ago it was predicted that Wagenhals & Kemper would be come important factors in theatrical affairs, and this prediction has become a fact. This season .they are to manage Blanche Walsh and Annie Russell, and make several elaborate productions. Their new Astor Theatre at Broadway and Fourty-fifth Street in New York is finished and the opening date was August 31st, when Miss Russell was seen as' Puck In a sumptuous revival of "A Midsummer Night's Dream, which is expected ip run until the ad vent of Miss Walsh. Although "The Strength of the Weak' will-be used by Florence Roberts on her forthcoming tour, which begins at the Broad-Street Theater. Philadelphia, Sep tember 17, John Cort has purchased the STAR Phone Main 5496 4TH AND STARK STS. J. A. Johnson, Resident Manager MARY MADDEN, Lecturologist. TWO STAR ACTS COURTNEY and JEANETTE Eccentric Comedy Jugglers. Greatest of All Jugglers and Fun-Makers. Pictures by Biograph. JEAN WDjSON, In New Illustrated' Song. BAKER THEATER Third and Yamhill Sts. Phone Main 1907 Oref on Theater Co., Leuac Geo. L. Baker, Manager THE HOME OF HIGH -CLASS STOCK All Week Beginning Matinee Today, Sunday, September 2 Matinees Also Monday (Labor Day) and Saturday The Ever Popular Baker Theater Company in nie BY WINSTON CHURCHILL, A Beautiful Play of the Sduth. Costumes, Scenery ' and Stage Pictures Perfect Prices Evenings 25c, EMPIRE THEATER Twelfth and Morrison Streets Phone Main 117 Milton W. Seaman, Resident Manager PORTLAND'S POPULAR PLAYHOUSE OPENING OF Sunday Matinee Today, September Second The Charming Emotional Actress Miss Grace Aylesworth, in the Sumptuous Melo- dramatic Novelty THE PLAY OK THE PERIOD Thrilling Scenes Beautiful Stage Settings Gorgeous Scenic Effects The Golden Gate Harbor in Frisco Bay at Night The Opium Den in Chinatown After Dark The Wonderful Electric Fountain The Terrible Earthquake Scene The Beautiful Rose Garden in Full Bloom SEE SPECIAL. MATINEES MONDAY Ins; Prices l ISc, 23c, 35c, 60c. NEXT WEEK sole American rights to "Maria Rosa," a new modern play In three acts by Angel Guimera, and which was translated by Wallace Glllpa trick and Guldo Marburs. "Maria Rosa" will have Its first produc THE BIG ORPHEUM VAUDEVILLE "Something New Under the Sun" Chas. A. Mason Lew Kelly and Company In an Original Laugh Provoker Entitled "The Onion Trust" THE PEOPLE: Chas. A. Mason Of Mason & Mason, for the past five years with "Ru dolph and Adolph." Lew KeDy Leading support of Mason . . & Mason and Ward&Vokes PRICES; Matinees, except Sundays, 10c to all seats except boxes. Evenings, Sundays and Holidays, 10c, 20c and Box Seats 30c THREE PERFORMANCES DAILY AT 2:30, 7:30 AND 9:1S P. M. LYRIC THEATER Week Beginning Sept. 3 "Across the Plains" . A Romance of IN FOUR ACTS crisis 35c, 50c. Matinees 15c, 25c THE SEASON 1906-7 (Labor Day) Matinee Saturday. Erel Matinee, 10c, 13c, 23c. THE WORLD tion when Miss Roberts begins her second New York engagement next January. She will interpret the title role, that of a young Catalan peasant woman. The lo cale of he play Is situated in Cataluna. GRAND THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 3 Special Added Attraction Robt. P. Skilling's Original "Mexican Tourist Quintette" IN "A TRIP TO MEXICO" Mr. Al Jolson The Comedian, Vocalist and Mimic Mark Sullivan and Rillie Deaves In the comedy playlet "Ho tel Asker" Mr. Louis Pritzkow Greatest Tyrolean Warbler on the stage Mr. James Burke "Alice, Where Art Thou Going" Grandlscope "Waiting at the Church" the Mountains