Saint-Albin, music by Charles Lecocq, at the Variétés Theatre, Paris, France.- 17. Production of "Simplicius," operetta in two acts and a prologue, libretto by Victor Leon, music by Johann Strauss, at the An der Wien Theatre, Vienna, Austria. Hedwig Niemann Raabe, the noted German actress, arrived in New York City from Europe. She made her American début at the Star Theatre, New York, January 2d, 1888. Banquet in honor of Lester Wallack at the Lotos Club, New York. Speeches were made by Whitelaw Reid, Lester Wallack, John Gilbert, Judge Brady, Steele Mackaye, and Willie Winter, the latter delivering a poem specially written by him for this occasion. Edward J. Henley and Peter Blow, of the Deacon Brodie company, procured from Judge Donohue an injunction restraining J. M. Hill, manager of the Union Square Theatre, and Robson and Crane, from producing The Henrietta" at that theatre during the week commencing December 19th, 1887, claiming to have made a written contract with J. M. Hill for the lease of his theatre during that period. 18. Death of Sefton Parry, actor and manager, at London, England.- -Death of Marco Duschnitz, retired operatic singer, at New York City. 19. "Olivia" (play in four acts, by W. G. Wills, adapted from Goldsmith's novel, "The Vicar of Wakefield ") was presented for the first time in America at the Chestnut Street Opera House, Philadelphia, Pa.; with the following cast: Dr. Primrose, Henry Irving Squire Thornhill, George Alexander Burchell, Mr. Wenman; Farmer Flamborough, Mr. Howe; Moses, Mr. Haviland; Mrs. Primrose, Mrs. Pauncefort; Sophia, Winnifred Emery; Olivia, Ellen Terry. First representation at the Deutsches Theatre, Berlin, Germany, of "Flecken in der Sonne," in four acts, by Max Bernstein.- Mathilde Cottrelly appeared in "Die Fledermaus," at the Thalia Theatre, New York.- The injunction issued by Judge Donohue, on December 17th, 1887, directing J. M. Hill to give up the Union Square Theatre for one week from date, was dissolved, bonds in $3000 being furnished by Manager Hill for the protection of the interests of E. J. Henley and Peter Blow. 20. Production of "The Monk's Room," at the Prince of Wales' Theatre, London, England. 21. Production of L'Oncle Anselme," an à propos in one act, in verse, by Georges Lefevre, at the Odéon, Paris, France.--Funeral of John Howson, at the Church of the Transfiguration, New York.-Death of George B. Loveday, manager, at London, England. 22. Production of "The Golden Ladder," drama in five acts, by Wilson Barrett and George R. Sins, at the Globe Theatre, London, England; with the following cast: Rev. Frank Thornhill, Wilson Barrett, Samuel Peckaby, George Barrett; Michael Severn, Austin Melford; Mr. Peranza, H. Cooper-Cliffe; Jim Dixon, Charles Hudson; Mr. John Grant, Charles Fulton; Noah Learoyd, W. A. Elliott ; Brunning, Horace Hodges; Joe Brunning, H. Wilson; Mr. Perkins, James Welch; Mr. Jones, Mr. Russell; Lieutenant Valnois, H. Fenwick; Dr. Lemaire, Henry Dana; Captain Jackson, J. H. Bervage; Colonel B. Eilram, Frank Pitstow; Lilian Grant, Miss Eastlake; Lillie, Edith King; Victoria Alexandra Peckaby, Phoebe Carlo; Mrs. Peckaby, Mrs. Henry Leigh; Mrs. Freyne, Alice Belmore; Mrs. Dixon, Alice Cooke; Mrs. Stricklay, Lillie Belmore; Matron of the Prison, Miss Meadows: Rosoamzy, Harrietta Polini; Rao, S. Murray Carson; Ambulaus, Mr. Wensleydale; Jack Hardy, James Harwood; Turnkey, E. Irwin; Rev. W. Stanley, T. W. Percyval; Inspector of Police, E. Cathcart. The Rev. Frank Thornhill has long and faithfully loved Lilian Grant, a rich banker's daughter; that his love was returned he more than suspected, but poverty seals his lips, so the young curate went out to Africa as a missionary. A fortune un expectedly left him by an uncle brings him back to England, and on Lilian's birthday he asks her to be his wife and is accepted. Innumerable melodramatic troubles ensue through the villainy of Severn, cashier in the Grant Bank, whom disappointed love for Lilian has turned into an enemy. In one scene Severn fells Thornhill with a blow from behind, and places the curate's revolver in his hand that he may appear to have committed suicide. He is only stunned and revives, when Lilian, who is now his wife, takes the revolver and accidentally shoots Severn. The latter recovers, but the evidence is too strong against Lilian, and she is sentenced to prison for attempted murder. After three months the broken-hearted curate is for the first time permitted to visit his wife in prison. Lilian learns that her child is dying from pining for her, and her distress so touches the heart of a lady visitor that the latter changes clothes with Lilian, who then flies from the prison. Just as she is threatened with recapture, news arrives that her pardon had been sent before her escape; the child does not die. Thornhill and Lilian are made happy and wealthy, while retribution is brought down on the head of the villain. Incidentally various comic scenes are introduced. First representation in America of "The Pickpocket," at the new Opera House, Chattanooga, Tenn., with J. F. Ward in the principal rôle. The piece was originally produced under this title in England, being an adaptation from a German comedy. The version presented at Chattanooga was adapted for the American stage by Mrs. Charles A. Doremus.--Death of James Griffiths, for years a clown with Dan Rice, at New Brunswick, N. J. Death of Horace L. Richards, owner of the Bristol Equescurriculum, at Fort Hamilton, N. Y. 23. Revival of "Euryanthe," opera by Carl Maria von Weber, libretto by Helmina von Chezy, at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York; with the following cast: King Ludwig VI., Herr Ermblad; Adolar, Herr Alvary; Euryanthe, Lillie Lehmann; Lyseart, Herr Fischer; Eglantine, Frl. Brandt; Rudolph, Herr Ferenczy; Bertha, Frl. Dilthey. Production of "Der Glücksritter," comic opera, by Czibulka, at the Carl Theatre, Vienna, Austria.-Death of James Rhind Gibson, actor, at Brixton, England. 24. Production of the following pantomimes, at London, England: "Sindbad and the Little Old Man of the Sea," by George Conquest and Henry Spry, at the Surrey Theatre; "Fee-fi-fo-fum; or, Harlequin Jack the Giant Killer," by John Douglas, lyrics by F. Marshall, at the Standard Theatre; "The Frog who would a Wooing Go," by William Muskerry, at Marylebone Theatre; "Jack the Giant Killer, and the Butterfly Queen," by Henri G. French, at the Elephant and Castle Theatre; Bluff King Hal," by Frank Hall, at Sadler's Wells Theatre; "Robinson Crusoe." adapted from H. J. Byron's burlesque, lyrics by Horace Lennard, at the Crystal Palace Theatre; and "Little Jack and the Big Beanstalk," by Arthur Lloyd, at the Greenwich Theatre. First representation in New York of "Paul Kauvar; or, Anarchy," melodrama, by total seating capacity is over two thousand.- Frank A. Robbins opened a Winter Circus at the American Institute, New York. 25. Mrs. E. L. Fernandez gave a Christmas party at Clarendon Hall, New York, to over one hundred children connected with the stage. 26. Production of the following pantomimes at London, England: "Blue Beard, the Grand Bashaw," by William Muskerry, at Sanger's; Whittington and his Cat," by Geoffrey Thorn, at the Grand Theatre; "King Trickee," by J. Addison, at the Britannia Theatre; "Puss in Boots," by E. L. Blanchard, at Drury Lane Theatre; "Robinson Crusoe," by Geoffrey Thorn, at the Pavilion Theatre; and "Jack and the Beanstalk; or, the Seven Champions," by Henry Hersee and Horace Lennard, at Covent Garden. Revival of the old Ravel pantomime, Mazulm, the Night Owl," at the Academy of Music, Philadelphia, Pa.; with A. H. Denham in the title rôle. Julia, the daughter of a dying mother, becomes an object of attraction to a wicked baron, who pursues her with evil intentions. The Spirit of Purity, always near her, protects her and invokes the aid of Mazulm, the Night Owl. Mazulm appears at the grave of Julia's mother in answer to the invocation. A magic branch is given to Emile, the true lover, who by its power is enabled to call upon Mazulm at any time by plucking a leaf, and thus the machinations of the wicked Baron Bariano and his servant Maclou are always defeated, and Julia in the end is rescued from her abductors; the bold, bad man is sent to Sheol with his servant, and Julia and her lover are made happy in the blissful gardens of Wonderland ever after. The piece was presented at the Academy of Music, New York, January 9th, 1888. Revival of "Julius Cæsar," at the Academy of Music, New York; with the following cast: Brutus, Edwin Booth; Cassius, Lawrence Barrett; Marc Antony, E. J. Buckley; Julius Cæsar, John A. Lane; Decius, Charles Collins; Casca, Ben. G. Rogers; Octavius Cæsar, Lawrence Hanley; Metellus Cimber, L. J. Henderson; Trebonius, Charles B. Hanford; First Citizen, Owen Fawcett; Portia, Minna K. Gale; Calphurnia, Elizabeth Robins. First representation in New York of “A Run of Luck," by Henry Pettitt and Augustus 27. Ernst Possart made his American début as König Karl in "Die Bluthochzeit," by Lind. ner, at the Thalia Theatre, New York.- John A. McCaull fractured his leg at Chicago, Ill. 28. "In the Fashion," by Selina Dolaro, was presented by the regular stock company at Wallack's Theatre, New York. The piece was originally produced at an authors' matinée at the Madison Square Theatre, New York.-Kate Forsythe sailed for Europe. 29. Production of "Wyllard's Weird," comedy-drama in a prologue and three acts (founded on Miss Braddon's novel), by Dr. Harry Lobb, at the Criterion Theatre, London, England.Ilma Di Murska, after several years' absence, appeared in concert at Chickering Hall, New York. Ernst Possart appeared as David Sichel in "Freund Fritz," comedy in three acts (dramatized from Erckmann-Chatrian's novel, L'Ami Fritz"), at the Thalia Theatre, New York.Death of Carl Stepan, at Mannheim, Germany. 30. Ernst Possart appeared as Shylock in The Merchant of Venice," at the Thalia Theatre, New York. 31. First representation in America of "The World Against Her," English melodrama in five acts, by Frank Harvey, at the Leland Opera House, Albany, N. Y; with the following cast: Madge Carlton, Kate Claxton; Jenney Clegg, Esther Lyon; Lucy Danvers, Leslie Tillson; Sally Millet, Alice Leigh; Liz Markland, Maud Hosford; Annie, Little Daisy; Gilbert Blair, A. H. Forest; James Carlton, Charles A. Stevenson; Robert Danvers, Ed. I. Hall; Simon Clegg, Palmer Collins; Harold Vernon, Payson Mackaye; Bob Millet, Ed. E. Egleton; Dick Markland, R. Hickman; Heslop, Theodore Williams; Thwaites, Ed. Short; Ned, Master Frank Dean. The piece was originally tried January 11th, 1887, at the Theatre Royal, Preston, England, and received its first London (England) production August 1st, 1887. Ernst Possart was re-married to Anna Deinet by Mayor Whitney, at the City Hall, Brooklyn, N. Y. The couple had been previously married in Germany, and were separated in 1883. -Destruction by fire of the Opera House, at Tremont, Neb. Marius Audran. Born at Marseilles in 1817. Died January 9th. This musician, formerly a tenor singer at the Opera Comique, was the father of the now famous composer, Edmond Audran. He had a brilliant artistic career at the Salle Favart, from which he retired in 1860, returning to his native town, where he attached himself to the Conservatoire of Marseilles as a professor of singing. Esther Potter Ashley (née Esther McCormac). Born in Philadelphia. Died suddenly, on January 29th, in Cleveland, O. She made her début at Philadelphia, and in 1840 was married at Louisville, Ky., to John S. Potter, actor and manager. For about twenty years she acted with him at his various theatres. After his death she remained on the stage and was in John A. Ellsler's stock company at the Academy of Music, Cleveland, O. She afterward went on the road until her retirement from the stage. She kept a confectionery shop at the time of her death. Marie Aimee (a nom de theatre; real name, Marie Trochon). Born in Algiers, in 1852. Died October 3d, at Paris, France, while undergoing a surgical operation. In her girlhood she began the study of music, and made her début, at the early age of 14, in Rio Janeiro. Within two years tidings of her success reached Paris, and the director of the Variétés secured her to create the part of Fliorella in "Les Brigands." Her first appearance created a favorable impression, which was strengthened when she essayed the leading tôle in "La Boulangerie" on the occasion of its first representation. Later the Parisians applauded her in the majority of the characters with which Schneider had been identified. Leaving the French capital, Aimée toured, with distinguished success, among the principal European cities. In Vienna, Brussels, Berlin, and Dresden she was received with special favor. When the Franco-Prussian War broke out she came to this country with a French company. That opulent speculator, James Fisk, Jr., introduced her to New Yorkers at his Grand Opera House, on December 21st, 1870. Her success was immediate and pronounced. A stimulus was by this means given to opera bouffe which it had never previously enjoyed in America. Aimée filled several engagements and returned to France. Her comrades at the Variétés were reduced by the siege of Paris, and she sent them her check for 5000 f. to aid in relieving their distress. In the autumn of 1871 she visited the United States again. In the month of January following she appeared at Lina Edwin's Theatre, on Broadway. October 4th, she was seen at the Olympic Theatre, New York, with a new French troupe. During the three succeeding seasons she continued to be seen in the light and popular pieces of Offenbach and the other French com posers with steadily increasing success. She went abroad again in May, 1875, and remained away one year. On September 25th, 1876, she reappeared at the Lyceum Theatre, in Fourteenth Street. On March 27th, 1877, she produced "La Belle Poule " in New York, and on October 1st following, at the Broadway Theatre, "La Marjolaine." At the Park Theatre, in May, 1878, she presented "Les Cloches des Corneville" for the first time in French. In the summer of 1879, the restless prima donna went to France once more, and stayed away almost three years. The profits of her American career had been large, and to gratify a whim for management, she speedily began to throw away a considerable portion of her fortune. She leased theatres in Brussels and Rouen, expensively remodelled them, and engaged for two seasons in the production of opera bouffe. |