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TWO women stars, one a novice, the
other a favorite for several sea
' sons, i-aced the Heilis stage durinfr
, last week, and each iii her own way made
- a success of her engagement. -It
was Portland's introduction to Maude
Fealy, the beautiful young Denver eirl,
who is starring under John Corfs man
agement for the first time. Her play,
"The Illusion of Beatrice," is as light
as air, a pretty, sentimental little, piece,
which serves the purpose of exploiting
Miss Fealy very well indeed. Opinions
differ as to her ability to act, but I am
disposed to believe that, given a year or
..two of experience a-starring she will All
. a, place of .importance In her profession.
Maxine Elliott, famed as a beauty
for more than a decade, came to town
at the close of the week and demonstrat
ed to the doubting Thomases that her
claims to favor do not depend on her
face and figure. Clyde Fitch has written
a play for her which none but a capable
actress could succeed In, and Miss El
liott gives the best performance of her
. career." The Elliott engagement was the
society event, in a theatrical way, of the
present season,, the most critical audi
ences which the town can, turn out being
present at the three performances. Mrs.
Reed's recital and the Gabriiowitsch con
cert delighted music-lovers.
In prospect for the coming week at the
' Heilig are the GustaV Oechsle benefit to
night, the Rosencrantz violin recital on
. Monday evening, and "Cupid in Poster
land" Tuesday, all by local talent. On
Wednesday night the veteran- romantic
actor, : James O'Neill, returns o Portland-
to present for the last time
his old success, "Monte Cristo." This
" will be the bill on Wednesday night, Sat
urday matinee and night, while on -Thursday
and Friday nights he will put on his
new Biblical drama, "The Voice of the
MightyT"
A thoroughly satisfactory offering was
' A Social Highwayman," as given by the'
, Baker Company. It served to Introduce
' Ernest Hastings, the new leading man,
who came, was heard, and proved him-
' self. To my mind he is an actor of rare
power and if he has -the proper degree
of versatility should become the most
popular man who has ever appeared here
at the head of a stock .company.
The magnificent dressing of the stage
for each of the four acts fairly made the
' audience gasp. Such settings are seldom
seen here, and then only in productions
. that have been imported direct from
Broadway. The theater patrons of this
town are much beholden to Manager
Baker for his liberality in giving them
tl productions at popular prices. It Is a
pleasure to record that the present sea-
, son is a booming success from a box
office standpoint. ,
This afternoon the company will essay
' Shakespeare for" the first time, and an
unusual degree of interest has been awak
ened tn the appearance of John Sainpolis
as Shylock. There is every reason to
believe that he will give us something
that will long be remembered.
The Allen company ,ln "The Slave
Girl" and the Lyric stock players in "The
Wages of Sin" filled their respective the
aters all through the week and with high
ly satisfied audiences.
. i
- "Quincy .Adams Sawyer," at the Em-
' pire. was an especially, deserving at
traction and merited heavy patronage.
' The company which presented it was ex-
- cellent and the production carried would
have dona credit to any stage in town.
. "The Two Johns." a musical comedy
' which has not been out this way for
' years. Is the offering for the present week,
commencing this afternoon.
The, vaudeville theaters. Grand and
Pantages, continue to please a large and'
irrowing clientele with' bills that are as
a whole well worthy the public support. '-
-. The active' campaign being carried on by
th enterprising East Side progress clubs
for a theater across , the Willamette, is
bearing practical fruit, and a fine play
house In the heart of the East Side busi
ness section is now assured. At least half
the city's population lives on that side
of the river. In every direction, from Sell
,wood to St. Johns, a phenomenal growth
Is noticeable. There Is no reason what
ever why a modern theater should not
be a paying venture, and It would beyond
question be a valuable addition to all por
tions of the East Side.
, The promoters, who are representative
and influential business men and taxpay
ers,' are fortunate in having the co-operation
of John F. Cordray, one of the
most successful and highly respected the
atrical managers on the Pacific Coast. Mr.
Cordray has never been identified with a
iheatricaj failure in a career covering 30
SiiTlC ' V51 'SWftw'.--5- ;S - -ACT IV-A .trttt in Veni. . '
Sr-rgElf W !L-xZZ I II ''"i SLsx ' - - -"VVna'XH'I- III ACT v A eourt f Justice in Venice;
Jj3s5l . t 1 - II II bsssws&$SS&SSKs- V' 'v vli s iBC III Shylock demands the pound of fleb.
J Hi S-ncZfr . " II fATkX mV!3'. t. ' jv.'SS; II ACT VI Portia's garden at Belmont; the
- I I jf HI Incident ot th rings.
ESff'' 'f jlJI xt1 '" J JJJ Opens Week Engagement at' Empire
years of ceaseless activity. Within the
past year he has built and launched two
magnificent theaters at Spokane for an
influential syndicate, the properties being
among the most valuable in the North
west. For years he conducted successful
theaters in Portland and some of the most
prominent stars of the day owe their start
on fame's highroad to John Cordray. He
knows the business forward and back
ward, and an opinion from him may be
taken as high authority. He is one of
the heavy taxpayers of the Bast Side and
Is prominent in the social and political af
fairs of that section. Should he assume
the task of building and operating the
new theater. Its success would be almost
a foregone conclusion. A. A. G.
STELLAR THEATRICAL EVENT
Baker: Company Presents "Jlerchant
of Venice" This Week.
The stellar theatrical event of the
present season is without doubt the
presentation of "The Merchant of
Venice" by the Baker company this
week, and all previous stock records
are expected to be surpassed bx the
gorgeous production which will be of
fered by the wide awake management
of this theater.
The announcement alone that Mr.
Sainpolis will appear as Shylock in
sures the -universal attention and
patronage of the Portland public, and
added to this attractive feature are
the roles of Portia in Miss Lawrence's
capable hands, and of Bassanio with
Mr. Hastings. The Baker company has
not appeared before this season in
Shakespearian drama, but the notable
performances along other varied lines
have proven its members most versa
tile. The magrnificent production of
"The. Sorceress" gave a slight insight
into the capabilities of this excellent
stock organization and has raised pub
lic expectation to an unusual pitch.
No one will ba disaDDolnt-ad tHi week.
THE SUNDAY OREGOXI AN, PORTLAND DECEMBER 1&06.
J I fpr: ,r:Ti"v'; $v? j
for 'the presentation has been most
carfefuliy prepared and the settings
will be appropriate and rich.
Mr. Sainpolis is eminently fitted for
the role which has made so many
stars, and which so many stars have
recreated according to their individual
interpretation. He is one ot the
strongest character- actors on the
stage today and hiS ' characterization
of the greedy old money lender Is
anticipated with much speculation and
interest. There have been innumerable
Shylocks in the hands of innumerable
stars and whether Mr. Sainpolis Will
present the old Jew as Sir Henry
Irving did, or as la,ter actors have done
is: a Question.
Miss , Lawrence will make an ideal
Portia, her voice and figure being all
that could be desired for the rohe, and
Mr. Hastings has already proven to the
Portland public that he makes an ex
ceptionally sympathetic lover. The
Initial performance of "The Merchant
of Venice" will be given this afternoon
at the majtlnee. Tomorrow night the
patrons will have opportunity to enter
the guessing Contest for the Christ-
the
The following cast of characters is
compiled with reference to the order
in' which the actors, appear . on the
stage:
CAST OF CHARACTERS.
Antonio Wallls Roberts
Solanio I.eo Llndhard
Salarlno... James Gleasoq
Gratlano. . . . Donald Bowles
Lorenso.. ...1.... Howard Russell
Portia... Miss Lillian Lawrence
Nerissa Miss Anne Singleton
Balthazar Thomas Harper
Shylock John Sainpolis
Launcelot Gobbo v- .William Dills
Old Gobbo William Harris
Leonardo George Bradford
Stenhano Charles Wilcox
Jessica Miss Marabelle Seymour
Tubal Walter Greenleaf
Puke of Venice Walter Greenleaf
Magniflicoes, Attendants. Citizens, etc.
SYNOPSIS.
ACT 1 Scene 1, a street in Venice: scene
2, Portia's house at Belmont; scene 3, a
street in Venice.
ACT II Scene 1, the exterior of Shy
loek's bouse; scene 2, a street in Venice:
scene 3. the exterior of Shylock's- house.
ACT III Portia's house at Belmont. The
choosing of .he caskets.
mas . gift of a fine piano ' which
management has announced.
"The Two Johns," a bright and en
tertaining "musical absurdity" will
open a week's engagement at the
Empire today, beginning with the
matinee this afternoon. This is pro
nounced by the press a one of the
most clever and entertaining musical
comedies of the season -and is replete
with witty lines, bright musical scores
and comical situations. '
Two fat men, both named Johns, are
the principals in this merry musical
farce. Those roles are taken by James
E. Marron and John H. Marron, who
weigh over 300 pounds each. Catchy
music has been interpolated and the
farcical story or plot which weaves it
self around these two characters makes
one of the most delightfully entertain
ing presentations of the season. The
costuming of the pretty girls who form
the choruses and character parts has
been much commented upon by the
Eastern press apd the scenic effects are
decidedly New Yorky in appearance.
"The Two Johns" will open at today's
matinee and there will be additional
matinees Wednesday and Saturday
afternoons, at popular prices.
"CUPID IN POSTERLAND."
Amateur Musical Comedy at the Hei
lig Tuesday Night.
Tuesday evening of this week will be
the occasion of an unusually interesting
event at the Heilig Theater at which time
some 75 young people of Joyful tendencies
will don the happy smiles and natty at
tire of comic opera for the purpose of
giving Portland the first amateur musical
comedy show of its kind we have ever
h.ad. .
"Cupid in Posterland" is the title of
this two act musical farce and with the
present cast It is said to approach very
dangerously near to the lines of profes
sionalism. James W. Evans is the direc
tor and author of the production, and
although he has had a vast amount of ex
perience throughout the country staging
similar performances declares that Port
land should be extremely proud to en
courage their local talent. Inasmuch as
they are a little the best that he has
had anywhere. The cast is as follows:
Old King Cole, J. B. Gaasch; A. Piker
Franklin, Walter Wlstrand: Foxy Grand
pa, Wilbur Boss: Happy Hooligan. Jas.
Powers; Laughing Jim, Frank Hennessy;
Boy Blue, D. H. Quimby; Policeman, R.
C. Putnam; Pretending Percy, J. New;
Buster Brown. Paul Averill: Jack, Jas.
Sharp; Cupid, Master Max Shaull; Mrs.
Katzenjammer, Anna Holm: Miss Muf
fett, Bculah Cad well: Bo Peep, Echo
Tice: Jill. Ethel Holm: Mary Jane,
Blanche Waller; Countess Also, Lillian
Chapman: Fairy. Minnie Mcintosh, and
Lady Bountiful, Elsie Garrett. Many of
the players are well and popularly known
as possessed of marked ability.-especlally
among these being Miss Garrett who has
had professional experience In this city
with the Kendall and the Stewart Opera
Companies. The first act introduces Lady
Bountlful's garden party in honor of his
royal majesty, Old King Cole, and it is
one continual buzz of fun and life. A
general quarrel amongst the lovers neces
sitates Cupid's interference, and with the
aid of a kind fairy and all his subjects
kneeling in homage, a great seashell
bursts open, revealing the little rogue.
The second act is a merry time in King
Cole's court, spiced with a generous sup
ply of catchy songs and musical num
bers. The Dramatic Order of Knights of
Khorrassan benefit from the receipts.
JAMES O'NEILL.
"Monte Cristo" and "The Voice
the Mighty" at Heilig Theater.
Next Wednesday and, Saturday nights,
December 12-13, and' at the special mat-
nee Saturday afternoon, the celebrated
actor James O'Neill will present his fa
mous success, "Monte Cristo," at The
Heilig Theater. Thursday and Friday
nights, December 13 and 14. hie powerful
biblical drama "The Voice of the Mighty."
Mr. O'Neill has enacted the role of Ed
mund Dante more times than Jefferson
did "Rip." To the theater-goers of the
country he is the ideal conception of
Dumas' her.o. For years Mr. O'Neill has
tried, to shelve the play, and he has made
many elaborate productions of new plays,
but the demand of the public and theat
rical managers has been like the "Call
of the Wild" and he has been compelled
to return to "Monte Cristo." It is, how
ever, quite likely Jhat the present season
will be the last opportunity of seeing this
great American actor in the great French
play. In "The Voice of the Mighty' Mr.
O'Neill has at iast found a play that will
enable him to put aside his "Monte
Cristo." not alone because the character
of John the Baptist is so well suited to
him, but he has a play that has been
acknowledged to be one of the best liter
ary efforts turned out for the stage in re
cent years. The theme has been done in
several plays, but only in. a secondary
way, and John the Baptist has never been
the central figure. In f'The Voice of the
Mighty" the" author has made John the
principal figure and woven about him the
other characters so well known in Bible
history. The character Salome in Mr.
O'Neill's play is not the. lustful woman
pictured to us in other plays, but a young
girl full of child-like love and trust and
ruled by - the dominating -spirit of her
mother. Herodias. - At the end of the
dance in the fouth act, when Herodias
compels her to ask for the head of John
the Baptist, she does so in fear of her
mother's anger, though she Iove the man
whose life she is compelled to ask for.
The author has made John a man of. flesh
and blood, at tile same time peeping his
spiritual fide predominant. More is a
prophet of whom little has been said
about, yet his life wa full of interest.
This rude, uncultured man of the wilder
ness stirred, all Israel by denouncing the
priests and their laws, to such an extent
that even Its great rulers turned to him.
Mr. O'Neill has gK-en to this character
much attention and study, and one cannot
imagine any other actor on the American
stage better suited to portray the differ
ent emotions of this forerunner of-Christ.
Scat sale opens tomorrow at box-ofllee of
the theater. Fourteenth and Washington
streets, at 10 A. M.
ALBERTA GALLATIN.
Charming Actress in "Dorothy Ver
non of Haddon Hall" at Heilig.
One of the most talented and ver
satile actresses visiting Portland the
past few years has been the charming
woman Alberta Gallatin. Thp theatri
cal firm of Sweely-Slilpman & Company-are
presenting her this season in
a magnificent production of Cliarles
Major's romantic success, "Dorothy
Vernon of Haddon Hall." This cele
brated author who gave us "When
Knighthood Was In Flower," has been
accorded an equal amount of praise
for this delightful play. Miss Gallatin,
supported by an excellent company,
will present "Dorothy Vernon" at The
Heilig Theater for four nights begin
ning Sunday, December 16. with a
special matinee Wednesday. The closing
pages of the lives of Booth and Barrett
could not be written without mention
of the name Alberta Gallatin, then a
debuntante from exclusive Virginian
inner circles. In quick succession after
her contract with these eminent actors
expired, came a remarkable series of
engagements, among which were num
bered the domineering "Gretchen" with
the immortal Joseph Jefferson, and
eadine parts with Minnie Maddern
Fiske. E. H. Sothern and Richard
Mansfield. Then came a period of four
years equally divided between Daniel
Frohman's Lyceum Stock Company in
New York City and the late Thomas
W. Keene, with whom she shared the
honors accorded their portrayal of
Shakespeare's kings and queens. The.
prestige ' gained from this work led her
to be chosen from a coterie of leading
ladies by Henry Miller, against whose
Hamlet she played Ophelia in one of
the most gorgeous productions of the
great Danish Shakespearean play ever
staged. Forsaking the shadows of
tragedv land, she demonstrated her re
markable versatility by blossoming
forth in a starring tour in the beau
tiful comedy, "Under the Restoration."
portraying the character of Nell
Gwynne. the many-sided favorite of
jhe English King Charles. Then came
a period of doublet and hose as Rosa
lind in "As You Like It," succeeded by
a wonderful adaptation of that
heaviest of heavy dramatic roles. Mrs.
Alving in Ibsen's "Ghosts," her rendi
tion of which part secured for her a
permanent niche in the hall of theater
fame.
"A BACHELOR'S ROMANCE."
Sol Smith Russell's Old Play Will Bo
Produced by Bakerites Next Week.
Another star offering Is in preparation
by the busy Bakerites, and the announce
ment is made by the management that
the beautiful and popular old play made
famous by Sol Smith Russell, "A Bache
lor's Romance." will be next week's offer
ing. The plays of this favorfite old Amer
ican actor are nil familiar to the public
and will always be associated with his
name, and in seeing them again he is
forcibly brought back to heart and mind.
The story of "A Bachelor's Romance" is
a familiar one. The gradual and delight
fully told transition of the confirmed
bachelor into one of the most ardent and
faithful of lovers has become almost a
family classic. The story is deliciously
wholesome from beginning to end, and the
gradual change of heart experienced by
the crusty old editor is a perfect fea,st
to theater patrons.
Miss Dot Seymour, the charming new
ingenue, will make her debut in "A Bache
lor's Romance." the character of the
young girl who causes the bachelor's
change of heart being essentially an in-
V