The evening world. Newspaper, January 14, 1905, Page 11

\ :Nibes THE TALKING ° “THOMAS! / Amenities of the Proscenium Are Fast Becoming a Howling Joke—String of Stage Hands Awaiting Your Kind Ap- playse an Appalling Possibility—Why - iNot’ Bring“in the Carriage Caller ‘and His, Megaphone to. Swell the Mighty Chorus?—“Road Rights” Sought for - the Long-Winded Author’s Speech, ¥ HIS has boen a great week for the comedy of the curtain call, I has been played for all it is worth by four of the theatrically illustrious, . We have had the meok and lowly Belasco, the coy Carter, the aspen-leat Daly, and the talking Thomas, ‘The curtain-call comedy is a side-show which never loses its humor, No matter how old or cynical in theatre-golng you may be, no matter how dull and tiresome the incidental play may prove, you are pretty sure to bo amused by the funny exhibition which the hoarse cries of ushers, preas @gents and “memiers of the office staft” bring forth, “Curtain lectures” haye been immortalized by Douglas Jerrold; but the comedy of tho curtain call, with its bows, its bouquets and its anguished Q@iiempts at expression,‘remains tu be sung, \ Like the curtain lecture, the curtain cali {s a fearfully serious affair for the chief actors in if, and a howling joke to the rest of the world, which sits and grins, No “heart bowed down by weight of woe’ ever bowed so low and #0 tragically, as some of those who love {6 stand forth as “popular idols” and 1eoelye the homage that comes to thein in propria persona, (Frank Danieis's burlesque of the time-honored farce puts the curtain speech ‘where it belongs—in the category of the ridiculous, He talks a we ‘ Groat deal without saying anything, but in a much more entertaining way. i Vat aly of his fellows, not excepting the lengthy and lung-y Hopper, who, While he frolics with the sacred ceremony of stageland, never quite Bucceeds ‘In forgetting himeell. eo ht cr) oo N the matter. of carefully rehearsed detail, the curtain call a la Belasco excels, ‘Jt deserves a special curtain of its own with the inscription (and in} English, please!): “We lead all others!” The domedy of the curtain call at Belasco's {s in two acts, First, .the coy Carter’s maidenly reserve ("Thank you—but | can't make a speech | ~teally Tyoan't—thank you”), Wild applause and wilder cries of “B'lasco!” | “Piaseo!’ trom the rear of the house, The dilfident David is dragged from bis lair, “Ho tugs at his famous forelock and glances furtively behind) as though fearing that the “syndicate” or some equally dreadful monster de crouched in the wings ready to spring upon him, Then, still tugging, he finds a few words with “grateful running through them a strong favorite, Finally, with more tugs and more bows, he shrinks back into oblivion, with a fresh gale of applause shricking after him, | But this is not all, Your watch may be ticking toward midnight, but at! the end of the next act—which unhappily is not the last—and while you are yearning and yawning for your bed, “B'lasco!" “B'lasco!” once more rends ‘the alr,, Again the conquering conjurer comes, but not alone, On either hand he has the electrician and the stage carpenter In their Sunday clothes, and you gaze on the beautiful apotheosis of high-born genius clasping the i ‘hearts, and sometimes the endearingly human Sémbrich trips out, smiles, I el 8 ni Mul it THE» CARTERS MAIDENLY RESERVE’ \ 4 makes the less muscular male principals follow after her like a Hoboken mother dragging her progeny to a Sunday plenic, She seizes the shrinking tenor or the half-unwilling baritone with a kind but firm grip and yanka him triumphantly across the wide expanse of stage, They don’t bore you With speeches at the opera-house; they simply place thelr hands over their bobs, waves her scarf and runs away, only to come’ back to wave agaiu, or Co HOSE stars who affect to take’ their, curtain calle “in character” are then sorrowfully lowers his eyes and tragically retires, disarranged, she 18 sad)y solemn; but when she’s had a “sttong scene’—that As a rule, however, our women stars take thelr honors gracefully, Mrs. “flustered” at times, there {s at least a certain charm in her confuston, cry of “Speech!” and he usually m: an awful mess Of his attempt ARNOLD OALYS Ecstacy oF + EMBARRASSMENT, fection in this glorious land as yet, bilt every one of our actors and authors | who orosses the curtain line seems to believe that he is going to make the hit of his lite with his prepared fun or his sponteneous brilliancy, Toe English actor does very much better, Sir Charlés Wyndham’ acknowledgments are models of graceful ‘simplicity, and Edward Terry’ sincerity and directness are a rellet after the stammering fldicos that moat of our stars make. The Hnglish manner, self-consciousnoss, js a decided {improvement on the a’aumed coyness and awkward, stammering embarrasamont of so many of our actors and authors, whose crude behavior suggests the achoolboy at an “exhibition,” The actor, of course, {s more or less helpless. when an audience cries for him, But tho manager and the author are thelr own masters and can follow their own sweet wilis in the matter, George Ade ie the one American playwright who really hes an excuse for coming into the limelight, People want to sce him, He fs an exhibit, a s a a a J T 1s very nice and magnanimous of Mr. Belasco to share honors with his mechanteal force, but he should stop to ponder the example he is get- ting, The custom may grow until the theatregoer sees carpenters, scenic artiets, “props,” “grips,” flymen, gas men, clenrers, wardrobe women and sort ladies stringing out to receive his kind applause, ‘The carriage caller with his megaphone may be brought in from ‘the street to swell the chorus of the ushers et al, for the men behind the play. he two-spot light ma; Bete Eh the adjoining vafe or trumpeters may blow blasts in the lobby to announce the author's speech, The papers may mdvertise “See Our throw kisses right and left. a “wt a a a 4 lke the most unconsclously funny of all, Mr, Sothern {s a molancholy example, He gazes upward as though apologizing to the gallery, Nance O'Noil, gone, but unfortunately not forgotton; !@ another who goes in for that pose, When she has nd excuse for appearing emotidnelly delectable morsel loved of actora—she appears panting, gasping, with big glittering tears aud the make-up refractory, Fiske, Julia Marlowe, Maudy Adame and Henrietta Crosman are invariably simple und sensible in this respect, and if Bthel Barrymore does get a bit It ix the actor more than the actress who “takes it hard” when brought into personal relation with his audience, He can’t realet the to respond, The art of making a good curtain speech hasm’t reached per- HE DUTCHESS OF DANT- 66 [ ZIC," @ romantio opera by Henry Hamilton and Ivan Caryll, founded on the story of the rise of loading roles, that of dn ambitious young woman anxious to marry, and who undertakes, assisted by a girl friend impelled by the same clroum- horny hand of labor, Another theatre this week has the talking Thomas as an “added attraction.” Mr. Thomas is always ready to rush forth. If his namo ls ‘merely whispered he hears the welcome sound and nothing can hold him back, His “extemporized” speech grows longer with every play—so Jong, in fact, that we are inclined to suspect he writes his speech and then writes his play to fit the speech, The day may not be far distant when the author will be required by the manager to submit the scenario of his speech with that of his. play, erty, After sitting spellbound at Mg. @home an actor, according to report, rushed to the offer for the “road rights” of the Thomas speech, Arnold Daly, at the Garrick on Monday night, In an ecstasy of om- bayrassment, mourned that he did not possess the silver-tongued gifts of a Bryan, and then just missed backing over a chair, One of these nights our patience may be rewarded by seeing a victim of the speech-meking habit fallin a fit o nd % al ech on Wednesday night, y box-office and made an o a ow A a carrjed out in a spirit of childish gayety that would thaw the most frigid dizapproyal of the custom. At the opera, yrand thongh ft be, fe « w glad song when the ap- plause follows tho curtain as cue dag wiow. we Canintion Here wom- an is decidedly not the subergea half,’ Here the husky prima donna The author's speech is becoming a negotiable prop- | HERE'S one place at least where the proscenium amenities are always) stances, a unique scheme to get rich quick atid set up housekeeping, This the Roy- ‘Catherine Upschet from washerwoman to duchess through the fortunes of Napo- leon—the chapter of French history/used by Sardou dn his play ‘Mme, Sans Gene" — willbe presented by George Edwardes's {company from the Lyric Theatre, Lon- don, at Daly's on Monday evening, The original cast of principals will Inolude Miss Eyle Greene, who will be seen as the duchess. Napoleon will be acted by Holbrook Blinn, an American, who has returned with the company, Others are Courtloo Pounds, who appeared here | with the old MoCaull Opera Company; Miss Adrienne Augarde, Lempriere Pringle and Lawrence Rea, ‘The opera | party of tourists who become separated ig staged in three acts, with four | fron) their companions In the Himalaya whieh show Sans Gene's laun-| Mountains, stray across the Brahma- andens of the Palage of Fontalnes | putva River into Tibet, are captured by the apartments of the Murechal| the ‘Tfbetans, taken before the Barca comedy was first produced al alty Theatre tn London last spring. The | east will Include Cyril Sqott, Edmund | Lyons, Bugene O'Rourke, Lillian Thur- | pate, Daisy Atharton, Emily Rigi, Her- | rt Ayling and Hdna MeClure, r ‘ a Tibetan comle opera which comes to the Fourteenth Street Theatre on Mon | \day night, It ran all summer at the) Illinols Theatre, Chicago, and afterward went to St, Louls, where it was an at-| traction during the World's Falr, The) story deals with the advontures of aj \Lefebyre and the throne room In the m and vondemncd to die at sunset Tullerios, com yt Written by Gus I, Steely, oh 8 4 Uk wom by Bredoric Chapin, In Thomas W, Ryley's production of | te «hy ¥ Us Watton yy yen George Rollit's three-act farve, ‘The | 44s") at ra Ay | Mot dyn done éad Marle Money Make: will be seen at tho) Danigeos Rast . New Liberty Theatre on Monday evens ing.” Ida Conquest, will play one of the - “Me, Him end,” © musteal comedy ‘‘Duchess of Dantzic’’ a Musical ‘‘Mmeé, Sans } zation!” ae tpg Ali egeege CHARLES DARNTON, The possibilities are. appalling’ “Wor His Brother's Crime" at the Star Theatre. exploited by Hurtig & Beamon, will ber gin an engagement at the American Theatre on Monday evening, Messrs. Bickel, Watson and Wrothe have the principal parts. The scenes are lald tn Seattle and Dawson City, In the Klon- dike, and the three comedians imper- sonate the remnants of a “busted” In-| PANN dian medicine show, with Bickel aa | tres 9 German bandmastet, Watson as a ge- pia y nial hobo and Wrothe as the only Irish] 1.00% ‘ows on the Hearth’ will go to the Metropolls, "On the Bridge at Midnight’ wit be the attraction at the Windsor | » Sydell and the London Belles the Dowey | ham will have the Now York wements at other thea- | ld Daly In ann Never’ the prima sony of TA Sa ORHY Ripeillone t Susan," Wi'so) “phe Two Orphans.” with tus allstar faye, In Const oast, wilj be the attraction at the Har- Jem Opera House, In the o James O'Neill, who now pl Chevalter; Clana Morris, Grace Mrs. Le Moyne, Elita Proc Sarah Truax, Jameson Lee Lovis James und J, EB. Dodson, Ward and Vokes, In Pinks,’ will be at the Ga House, The Murray Hill Theatre will tow | 4 George W. Monroe In “aint Bridget,” | “yhe Burgomaster” i, be the musl- eal comedy offering at the West End riterion; ister,’ Mi New, Klosohna, Par of md Opera- Ree! \ Ae a} * Princess; heatre; land." Majest ‘Theatre. “Babvs e' ¥AL OI ik" will be the offer} Viol ut the “Knickarbocker, A Teed Aveous Theatre. will appe oy (a Rweltth Night” Wednes- irviog will be the star of day afternoon. é "ADE I8 EXALBIT 15 | pene simple, dignified and tree from | y be worked overtime shining on dramatic deuces, | 5; ALca atte cat sry eres $ 3eea.ery | AMERICAN eae its |Leah Kleschna | Sst swe ita "GRAND Ati AN FRANK DANIELS Puts THe. CURTAIN SPEECH WHERE IT BELONGS, TWO First Time in América, Punt'’s Royal Hawaiian Orchestra Ruts TIN NUMBER, | ANUERSTEIN'S "iter, 43 015 ri, , Hl Mean Bry Day, She iki ies Dixey. Three ‘Dumonde, Yoamnns, Keno, Wel road ®, ST. NACHO! INTEROO! a im) Admtonton, sai TE mm PRINCESS 2 WEBER & ZIEGEEL DSS The College Wider SGA ORAORG IA Stan SIBERTA® 0 Prices 25,50, 70,81, Mt Bun Att & Baw. Eon aie: Arner Ga [is jean Com iv, PASTOR'S, “Bi ** tbs ey Sns a rnshOn Dixon a Gata” | [MAJESTIC | TRA AOTS THIS DAY, Last 10 Timan lie WW sfext Wh, AT Bway & 0th, Mats, Daily, Valero. Berkere @ Co," 1 or! iin Fay, Pa HG, Knowles, Murphy & Nichols, Thorne & Carleton and others, NEXT WEDK,.; Albert Chevaliod AU ede n THEATRE, arkk BELASCO iaiearttharsts | METROPO LESLIE CARTER " uiine"™- Sa etnies as OME Mat,To-day, 230.1 HOSE MINSTHBLS we Nxt W'k-—-Ward & Vokes, Bye BROAUILAT EN ae ' BIJOU # Vib BLANCO provegia® ea WARFIELD weit tlercn GARDEN, Bowery, (Orletta & hear Cann! Street,|' ayo: To-M'w Nirht—nTd SUNDA WKY ILEE, ALL STAR ¥ /NCARY SU,