Page 6

THE SHOW WORLD
ST. LOUISANS OBSERVE
A BIG REVIVAL WEEK
Hopper in "El Capitan," Lackaye in "Aristocracy," and Good-
win in "When We Were Twenty-One" Make Hits
BY BASIL WEBB.
De Wolf Hopper made a distinct
hit in "El Capitan" at the Delmar Op-
eratic theater. Wlen one realizes that
Hopper had to
wear a metal hel-
met and   breast
plate  and   the
thermometer reg-
istered about 96
in the shade, it
naturally  g o es
without   saying
that le thorough-
ly deserved his
success. Ajax de-
fying the light-
ningwasn't in the
iero class with
Hopper, for he
wasn't required to
hc funnly, ainld
Hopper was. But
tlhe star was not
tile oinly illil doing dauntless deeds.
Darling, tile nmusical director, was
perspiring  seven  different  colors,
striving to get the maximum amount
ofsound out ofa niimum amonin of
instrtiments and Ilis success was tin-
doubted.  He got the volume of a
full concert orchestra out of an or-
dinary thleater once aind set the air
ringing with Sousa's inspirited music.
Hopper fills the role of Medigua in-
imitably. It istoobad thpat esitouli
disguise dis voice so mucy in oter
prodluctios forlieshows in thisthat
he has a fine clear voice of almost
operatic timbre. Siince Messrs. Klein
and Sousa Ilad the big comedian in
mind when tiey wrote tileplay, it is
little wonder tiat lie is funny, iilfact,
lieprobably fills tile role in tihis
opera better than in any other. Dor-
othy Webb comes out strong as Es-
trelda. She sings. dances and acts the
role with  delicious freshness and
gaiety, in fact, so hard does she work
that it looks at times as though she
were stealing thunder from the star.
The local press still continue their
verbal admiration of Anna Tasker,
and she certainly deserves it, for she
improves week by week and certainly
has a great future in store for her.
Local critics are complaining that
Carl Hadyn is not taking sufficient
care of his voice, for lie is inclined to
sinz a little bit off color just now.
William Sloan fills the light comedy
role of Posso withl just that naive
drollery which should stamp it.
Wilton Lackave is appearing at the
Suburban Garden theater in the role
he created in "Aristocracy."  He is
exactly the actor to bring out the
strong points of the role of Jefferson
Stockton. but the show is rather out
of date by now and the sentiments of
it are distinctly so. Lackaye, how-
ever, is proving a great drawing card
at this popular garden and the Oppen-
beimer Brothers did a good stroke of
business when they engaged him for
one of their summer stars. Lackaye
and Fenwick furnish the whole show
this week. for the rest of the support
does not fill its roles quite as happily
as they have on sundry other occa-
sions.
* * *
Nat C. Goodwin is still the stellar
attraction at the Delmar Dramatic
theater.  His current offering   is
"When We Were Twenty-One." This
play seems to be making even a more
favorable impression that his produc-
tion of "The Gilded Fool" last week.
The role of Richard Carewe is better
suited to the abibties and age of an
actor like Goodwin than the role lie
essayed last week. In fact, the pub-
lic have maybe never taken quite so
much the actor's interpretation of
the role of Carewe as they have
this week. Frances Ring as Phyllis,
on the opening night, certainly gave
Goodwin an awful race as to whom
should gain the most applause, and
the finish  was remarkably  close.
Phyllis is just the sort of role that
suits Miss Ring-a sort of ingenue
lead, with fine dramatic points. It is
the kind of part that many first-class
stock leading women would ruin utter-
ly, but Miss Ring revels in it and
makes a great hit in it. Walter
Thomas, as the Imp, was a great suc-
cess with the house. His penchant
for chorus ladies was always getting
him and his four batchelor guardians
in hot water. Charles Millward should
have more opportunity to show his
capabilities than lie is getting, for in
the public estimation he is very near-
ly a star himself. This week Manager
Russell was forced to borrow from
Manager Fishell, at the   Operatic
theater and the consequence was that
Berenice Mershon was enlisted in the
ranks of the "legits" and radiated the
entire stage with her personality as
the Fire-Fly. Miss Mershon might
very well give up the singing end of
the business and stick to acting; she
would probably find it more profitable
in the end.
* * *
Frank Oakley, better known as
"Slivers," is the undoubted head-liner
at Forest Park Highlands this week.
Slivers bids fair to rank as the most
versatile clown in the world. He is
still giving his  aitonimic comedy
entitled "The Ball Game," and lie
carries the house with hin. As his
assistant he carries Artie Nelson,
formerly a member of the famous
Nelson family. Nelson gives a great
acrobatic exhibition. Fulgora is de-
lighting everybody with his marvel-
lous transfigurations. John Keller is
the most wonderful whistler who has
visited this city for some time. He
keut the audience continuously an-
plauding. Armstrong and Verne, Theo
and her Dandies, and the Marlo Trio
complete an exceedingly popular bill.
Caroline Ehrmann, easily thebest out-
(door vocalist they have had in the
garden this season, has been re-en-
gaged to sing with Cavellos' band.
West End Heights is in its second
week of vaudeville and the public does
not seem to have taken very kindly to
it yet. The Oppenheimers have got
a good bill together and they deserve
better patronage than they are receiv-
ing. Gilbert and Katru, Hebrew par-
odists and dancerts, head the bill. They
have apparently an unlimited stock
of new parodies set to popular airs
and their dancing is distinctly good.
Ina Claire gives some imitations of
Harry Lauder, which are as success-
ful as any imitations of the great
eccentric Scotch comedian can be.
Lee and Leland, who are strangers in
this town, present a very diverting
Irish comedy. Edwards and Glen-
wood present a wire and ladder act
which takes exceedingly well.
* * *
The Four Buchanans head the bill
at Mannion's Park this week. Their
act is handsomely dressed and each
member of the troupe is an individu-
ally clever dancer. What the public
enjoyed most was an acrobatic dance
by one of its members. Charles 01-
cott, an exceedingly clever pianist,
takes well with the house.
Robert Meek Dead.
AKRON, Ohio, July 12.-Robert F.
Meek, died Saturday forenoon in a
hospital here, after an illness of three
days, resulting from a stroke of par-
alysis. He had been with Ringling
Brothers' show, being in charge of the
ring stock when the last affliction
came.  Deceased was born fifty-two
years ago in Baltimore and went to
Baraboo twenty years ago, since which
time he had been in charge of the
ring stock of the Ringlings.
AL LEECH STRICKEN
ON FIFTH AVE. STAGE
NEW YORK. July 13.-Al Leech
was stricken oii the stage of Keith
and Proctor's Fifth Avenue theater
last night and was removed to a local
hospital. His condition is said to be
dangerous and due to a nervous men-
tal collapse.-REVELL.
VAN CURLER THEATER
OPENS WITH STOCK CO.
Schenectady's Playhouse to Begin
Regular Season August 2-Shu-
berts Deny Lease.
SCHENECTADY, N. Y.,July12-
The Van Curler opened today with
Day's theater stock company for a
short season of summer stock prelim-
inary to the opening of the regular
season  on  August 2.   The com-
pany is a very creditable one with
Beatrice Morgan as leading woman
and A. H.Van Buren as the leading
man and a strong support. The open-
ing bill is given as "Miss Brown,
Burglar," although the city was pa-
pered announcing that the opening
bill would be "The Awakening." The
companyis givingnew plays inthe
way of try outs and several promi-
nent New York managers are ex-
pected to witness the performance of
the playslwith a view to taking them
for anutltimate metropolitan produc-
tion.
J. J. Shubert denied that the Shu-
berts had taken a lease of the Van
Curler, which has been with the syn-
dicate since it was opened, although
a rumor to that effect had appeared
in the local press and was believed
to have some colorof truthito it. It
is said that Manager Benedict, of the
Van Curler, has conferred with the
Shuberts earlier in the season about
a lease. It is known thatlocal mon-
eyed men are quietly completing ne-
gotiations forthe buildingofanew
theater for the Shuberts here to cost
$150,000,and to haveahseatingcapa-
city of 2,500 people. The project will
soon take definite shape.
TheOrpheumTheater, playingmov.
ing pictures and vaudeville, will close
during August to complete building
operations which will greatly enlarge
the auditorium and give it a seating
capacity of 1.100 and a much larger
stage.-WM. J. HEALY.
Incorporate in New York.
ALBANY, N. Y., July 12.-Forest
& Tulley have incorporated with the
Secretary of State to do a general
theatrical and booking business. They
will also act as producers. The cap-
ital stock of the concern is $2,000 and
the directors are: E. Forest, William
A. Tulley and George F. Martin, all
of New York City. The principal
place of business will also be in New
York City.
The Eutah Amusement Company
has filedearticlesof incorporation with
the Secretary of State. The concern
will equip, manageand purchase the-
aters, sell and buy plays, etc. Tue
capital stock is $8,000 and the direc-
tors are: James Madison, Solomon J.
Saphier, Herman Lobel and Julius
Miller. Tilhe principal place of busi-
ness -will be in New York City.-
CARDOZE.
Laura Nelson Hall Quits Company.
CLEVELAND, Ohio, July 13.--
After this week Laura Nelson Hall
will not appear in the stock company
that bears her name.    The other
players will continue and plays will
be given in which the male role is
dominant. An exception will be made
week after next in the presentation
of "The Other Girl," in which Vir-
ginia Kline will play the leading part.
-CHARLES F. YOUNG.
"Girl From Rector's" Opens.
"The Girl from Rector's" opened
in Toledo, and turned away thousands
of people. "The Girl from Rector's"
also opened in Atlantic Cityaand had
one of the best advance sales ever
known.
Will Re-Christen Playhouse.
NEW YORK, July 14.-Hyde &
Behman's Olympic Theater, Brook-
lyn, will be re-christened and here-
after will be known as the New
Court Theater.
6
July 17, 1909.
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