Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 20, 1907)
3-4 w OUID that roiiiq dear, kind prov- ldenc wot j 11 send uh a. really good musical sliow. Mtislcal com- tily as It has been given us to see this acason stems asnurodly on Its last leers. "Viill its vosrue is to some desrea on the wane. It still remains a decidedly popular form of amusement. There Is a largo element anions the&tergroers that demands musical comedy year after year, and will have nothing else. To supply this demand we have recently had only warmed-over successes, which hava orfc are In a fair way to outwear tlielr usefulness. Even a good piec cannot endure always, es pecially when the companies are made up f cheap people, where costumes have become hopelessly shabby and scenery is patched to the point ot falling to pieces. There are some fresh produc tions now touring the East and Middle West," but they have not reached the Ooast this year, and the prospect Is not encouraging. , Two mediocre musical shows played the Hellig: last week and received more pat-ronag-e than they deserved. "The Little Duchess" and 'The strollers" were not even ip to the season's low average. Portland will make the acquaintance of a distinguished artiste this week when Olga Ncthersole comes for three nights and a matinee. Miss Nethersole has tiever appeared here before, and natural ly the public Is on the qui vlve to see Just what the famous Englishwoman Is like. She will (tlve "Sapho." with which she Is more strongly Identified than any other piece In her repertoire, and "The Second Mrs. Tanqueray." We are so familiar with both plays that we snail have the added pleasure of comparing her work with that of the lamous act ress. Kollowlnsr the Xethersole engagement will come "Red Feather." with Cheridah Simpson. Underlined for the HeilteT are Helen Byron In the musical comedy, "Sergeant Kitty." new to Portland and aftr that. "Uncle Tom's Cabin," which is said by those who Jiavo seen It to be the most brilliant comedy David Belasco has ever written. e "Hanson's Folly," at the Raker, proved a satisfaction, both to the plavgoers and the management. The play Is & pleasing one and the company played It exceed ingly well. Today the Raker players will again try conclusions with mtislcal com edy, presenting "Why Baxter Butted in," which should prove & novelty. The songs and other specialties called for will give the actors a rare chance to have some fun on their own account. "At Cripple Creek" at the Empire. eapno at the I-yric and "Humbug'' at the star gave much satisfaction to the Iatrona of those theaters. The Inclem ent weather affected the vaudeville at tendance very little. Apparently nothing can stop the popular tide which sets toward the Grand and Pantagea. It Is a foregone conclusion that the coming week will be another record-breaker for them. This week's bill at the Emnii-e Is "The Xlldnlght F'lyer;" at the I,yrtc "The Pulse of New iorir ana at the star 'Dads Girl." A. A,' 0. HOW BAXTER BCTTED IIT Popnlar Tiaker Stock Company lit Another Coinedj JHiIs Week. Tnfi PaHer StocK Campany n oner its ratrons another comedy this wk ATid t.h msixaa.A'emen tt feels assured ttia,t "How a. 1 i m a' VAC0V7LL 1W A ' Baxter Butted Tn" will entertain even the most pessimistic citizen. It is full of fun and comical situations, but there Is pathetic story -woven through It which gives It dignity and holds the heart In terest of the spectators. But when Baxter gets In his work and straightens out things "It is to laugh." The Baker Company has been unusually successful with comedies this season and it would be difficult to say which lias been the most popular. "Last week's pro duction of "Ransom's Folly" was hard to beat.- but it Is thought that this Baxter story will be liked even better. The story is this-: A hard-hearted step-father, Erastus Winch, figures prominently in the atory. Nell rale. his step-daughter, has dared to refuse the man he has chosen as ber future husband. Tlie rejected suitor ac cuses her of clandestine meetings with a stranger, who he fancies Is his successful rival. She dares not explain, for the supposed stranger tm really her brother, who, having fled from his te,p-father under a false charge of theft at the risk of being arrested comes back In order to see his sister and mother. He take's refuge In bis slater's room, but his se- curlty there results In compromising Nell, for at the risk of her reputation she has to prevent the room from being searched, and must remain silent in the face of the suspicion and accusation. Her tyran nical step-father drives her from the house. It is at this juncture that Billy Baxter "butts in," sizes up the situation. and chivalrously proceeds to straighten things, out, with such good results that the real thief is discovered, Nell's repu tation cleared, and a partner for Ufa ob tained as his reward. The following cast of characters is named in the order they appear upon the stage.. The production will be under the personal direction of Arthur Mackley: Braaus Winch, latialorcl og the Kim Ho tel , ...Arthur Mackley Finny Smalley. the head waitress Miss Ethel Terry JBsi-a Quiclc. th hired hlp . Howard RusmII Tabby Tully. Ii Kitrti-n arlrl...-. mim MaiilMl Seymour AWv McfK, villas aport,,.Wm, Pius Zenui Weak, deacon and Justice --. Wllllan, Harris Miranda. "Winch, wlf or Eraitui. . Mr-. Mirux C. Qlaon IS111 Dale, her daughter ty m. former mirrlaitn Mis, Lillian Drew M. 1. Baxter. th traveling- man i .a. ............. .... ,Jb.B BaJaUpoHs THE SUNDAY OIIEOOXIAX, POKTLAXD, IS if ft y , 1 WW IliHS'lD! Bos Quig; ley, ttaa dining-room sir! , , Miss Ethel Jones Hope Sawtell. the sentimental chamber maid Mien Volberg Alaren Sue Jarvla, ah. dairy maid r. . . Minn Xjucllo Webster Laura Spruce, leader of the choir ' ..Miss Florence Davenport Ed Za,le. Winch's stepson, the accused. . Donald Bowles Lut ZTalata. rcpreaemtlns; trie la tv .James Gleason Ben Jitson, a farmsr Ronald Bradbury Hotel OiMAtm, Farmers. Church Members, etc. 8TXOP8I8 OF SCBN'EB. ACT I OtTica ot tha Elm Hotel. Bavr Crkf K. H. ACT IT Exterior of the Elm Hotel. ACT TTI Seen 1: A. room at Mrs. Tully's. Scene 2: Tfie Beaver Oreelc Meetlna-House. ACT IV Scene 1: Justice office of Judge Zeniis Meek. Scene 2; In the apple orchard. ACT IV Same as Act 1. " THE KMriRE'S OFTERIXG. "Tlie Midnig-ht F'lyer," m. Melodra matic Succesa, Opens Today. The Empire Theater will offer this week one of the greatest and most sue cesaful mlodrmmfttlc productions ' ever put oia the road, "The Midnight Flyer.' It will open with today's matinee. Sel dom, It ever, has & utagft offering received such superlative praise from the news papers and uch attention from church publications.- zsiot, only liave. all classes ot regular tHeatcr-goers be?n attracted by "The Midnight Plyer." but all other circles have patronised aad indorsed it. ."..?Sr:" iUSi 1 ffr- mm - :-urKr .4 The grand illuminated scene, the mammoth ship scene.' the storm at sea, the realistic- shipwreck, "the Adirondack: Mountains in -Winter, and the thrilllntr rallrp&ci scene, are some of the scenic effects that are to t9 set n In tW9 production. Tlie play aa fttagArl by Mr. Ar.de.-soT. and the ftnpport- cozxipan)r la ot that hl4h ejccellenco JANUARY - SO, 190T. ' 1 f4 :5?-:-.-;: toct &r ' ( i. flaaalfri,iartl1sTlafrf'-AC'- 'ttk! (fltl1ITIsll 1 fs always seen in productions given "by this well-known and popular manager. Stagecraft has reached a heinrht In the present-day 'perfection of electrical con trivances that has spoiled critical audi- ences for anytlilne but tio very iest in mechanical effects. "The Midnight Flytf" i; production . will be found equal to any- If X 1 "A mimmm,fmii if! . --Av ;. H.MDU6ZQff thtnp ever shown in Portland tn this re- upeot. and each marvellous scene will amply repay attendance. The curtain will rise on the Initial performance promptly at 2:1a o'clock today. There will he the usual popular pried matinees on Wednes day and Saturday. Regular patrons should secure their seats in advance. OIjGA XETJTERSOIiE TOMORROW Ira "Sapho' and Tlie Second Ers. Tanqiierny" at Hellig. , Ola-a Nethersole. the eminent English artiste, wiil pay Portland her first visit tomorrow (Monday), Tuesday and Wednesday. At the opening perform ance tomorrow night and the two per formances on Wednesday she will pre sent "Sapho." and on Tuesday evenins "The Second Mrs. Tanqueray." -Miss Nethereole regards "Sapho" as really one of the best plays of her ex tensive repertoire. I,onR before she produced it in New York: In 1S99, she had the Idea of playing: "Sapho" In a ajrama made from Daudet's familiar noVel. The book, had lain undisturbed In libraries snd book: stores for years. It waa admittedly a classic in litera ture. ! - - Yet, when It wag announced that Miss Kethersola would appear in "Sapho." a storm developed which cul minated when-- she finally produced Clyde Fitch's adaptation of the novel. Of the resulting; agitation It Is not necessary to speak: In - detail, except to emphasize the fact that Miss Nether- solo was triumphantly acquitted of the charge of presenting an Immoral play, and that "Sapho" was permitted to be presented without Interruption, and has always since remained one of her most popular offerings. A year or two after "Sapho's" reat rim In New York, Miss Nethersole produced the play In London at the Adelphl Theater, where It ran for many months, and where the present King: of England witnessed her performance accompanied by Queen Alexandra. t On Tuesday evening Miss Nethersole will he seen.Jn Plnero's play of modern society. "The Second Mrs. Tanqueray." Miss Nethersole im a wonderfully versa. tile woman, and without a doubt the greatest Kneltsh-speaklngr emotional , actress now on the stage. Her splendid talents never showed to better advan tasre than In her portrayal of the men tal suffering's of Paula. the second . Mrs. Tanqueray, who, In spite of her doalre to lead a good life and win the affections of her husband's grown daughter, could not wipe out the atafn of the past, and was finally driven to take ber own life as the only atone ment. , Miss Nethersole, durins; her engage ment In Portland, will be supported by Frank Mills, a, younsj American actor 01 note, and her specially selected Lon don company. The curtain at the even- insr performances will rise promptly at 8 o'clock, and at the matinee at 2. No one will be seated during the first act. Spat? are now Belllnf at M Dox-omce of the theater at Fourteenth avnd ?2 !l 11 mil fc r 4 v J ''RED PEATHEU" THTRSDAV Cticrldati Simpson In Comic Opera SllCCfVS a t the Hclllg Tlioater. comic opera or musical play vlslt liis; Portlaud diiiins the past decadn com - JTWudeCl greats attention or won warmer praise tfhan "Red Feather," which WUH last icen here something; more than a year aieo. but "which wn presented with out the presence of atlso Urace Van Studdiford. at that time prima donna ot the orRanlxatidn, who was too ill to no pear. Now an opera that can succeed In the absence of the most important member of Its cast is worth while, and that's aliat Portland people said at that time. "Red leather" will return to the rtellifT Theater next Thursday. Friday and Saturday night, January 24. 25 anil 28, the last three nights of the week, with a special matinee Saturday, this time bringing o us - Miss Cheridah Simpson, whose brilliant soprano volr-e and opu lent physical Charms have gslned for her a place in the very front rank of Ameri can prima donna.. Sire has attained thisj rank fhrousjh the prwseesfion of notablo natural gifls. and an experience which has comprehPiidfd the portrayal of fomo of the most tilfficult and diverse nlnglnR and acting; parts which the builders of musical playa have provided durins- re cent years. . . Miss Simpson created th role of Faola in "Kingr Iodo." and Prince Kaele In "Woodland." among recent achievements, and wan engaged by Manager Joseph M. Galtes for the title part In "Red Feather" after the entire list of important appli cants had been gone over critically. Miss Simpson has Justified the best hopes of her manager by eliciting the unqualified praise Of the public and critical writers everywhere by her -pirlted rendition of the rather exacting role. The book of the opera, has been written by Oharles TClein. whrjew more recent works. "The 1 ton and the JdOWO." and "Thq Music Master" have been enormously auccesful. Mr. Klein has laid the scenes of his opera. In the Imaginary kingdom of Romanclfl. where a upurper occupies the throne and a con- gplrary Is hatched to fcetore the rightful sovereign. The latter's cause in cham pioned by a leader known as Fled Feather, who takes the road and holds up various Important personage? in true bandit style, using the funds fw obtained to ad vance the cause of the true prince. Tha audacious Red Feather proves to be the Countess von Drsga, a noblewomen with numerous sultora, among them the crown prince, who recognizes as his principal rival the captain of the Imperial Guard. The countcm loves the captain, who is hated In turn by the crown prince, who orders the captain to take Red Feather at all hazards or be dismissed In disgrace from the army. The second acts takes place In the castle of the countess, who has assembled her guests for a grand ball. Captain Travera believes he has traced the myaterioua Tied Keather to the castle' and In the ballroom scene so de clares. To save her lover from disgracs e .count,eS3 onteeae her dual identity juat at the moment the forces of the true prince effect an entrance, and overthrow the pretender, so that everything ends happily, as all well-ordered comic operas should. , This brief synopsis gtvea but a hint of the sClrrlnsr acenes, laughable yet telllnsr situations, and the witty and gracflful dialogue and lyrlca of the play. The mu- slral numbers are really brilliant Charlei Kmerson Cook has written the JyHcs. while the score of Xe Koven Is quite the best we hav had from the pen of ttoe fitter composer Of "Robin Hood" and "Hapm-land"." Among; thd Important members of an effective casrt are Miss T Aicy Monrop, a. charming comedlcnnn who introduces a chic upecla lty In the second act; 'Junoesque May Emory, the contralto; W. J. McCarthy, one of the
