THE COURIER
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Never before has the Lansing theatre
been taxed to its utmost capacity us it waB
Thursday evening when "Off the Earth"
was presented by Mr. Edgardo Foy, famil
iarly known as Eddie, and his larb". company of
stars and choristers. The pieco hasHrPgn com
mented upon in the east and the west is not-slow
in showing its appreciation of Foy's new extrava
ganza. "Off the Earth" is a very pretty and amusing entortainment.
Its humor is broad enough to please the laughing contingent, with
out being so coarse as to grate upon moro delicate sensibilities. Most
of the music is of a good order of excellence, and all is of that catchy
kind which fills towns with whistling and pianooanging performers.
The duet of Gavotte and the Prince, 'I Spy," and the song of the
lunar chappies are both pretty and well sung. The song and chorus,
'The Rainbow,' is especially delightful. "Off the Earth" is most
sumptuously staged. Not even the Henderson extravaganzas have
more completely filled the measure of possibility in the way of
scenery and costumes. The garniture of the second act will rank
with the famous ambler ballet setting in "Aladdin Jr." and easily
surpasses anything of the kind that we witnessed in "Sinbad." Foy
has not fallen off in his powers since he left the Henderson forces.
He still makes people laugh, even men and women who laugh
neither loud nor often; and it is a good thing to do that in these
days. He works up the risibilites of the audience by coming on aa
a beast tamer, with great knots of muscle sticking out in the wrong
places all over him. By such artless means ho causes the people to
laugh and though his fun is not of an elevated or elevating tyje, it
is at least measurably free from the vulgar suggestiveness so com
mon with players of his class. The company numbers one-hundred
people and they all seem to be the right people in the right
place, especially Louise Montague, Sadie McDonald, Lillian Haw
thorne and Kate Uart, four capable women, whose faces and figures
are conspicuous even amid the pretty and graceful members of a
chorus which for youth and general attractiveness is the best which
the season has provided.
COMING ATTRACTIONS.
The successful pantomine-comedy, "Eight Bells,' will bo present
ed by the Brothers Byrne at the Lansing theatre tonight. The
Brothers Byrno have made an outlay of over 815,000 for this season's
production in the way of new scenery, novel tricks and catchy
paper, with the intention of giving the theatre-going public a
superior attraction. There are numerous amusing situations, and
in the end everybody is happyt There is no villian in the piece
Incidentally there are 6ome very clever specialties and there is a
moonlight 6cene, humorous throughout, causing hearty mirth. It
is therefore, good medicine, easy and pleasant to take.
The late author Steele Mackaye reached, perhaps, the highest
pinacle of fame of any American dramatist, and his many plays will
always find a placo in the hearts of the theatre-going public. His
"Hazel Kirk" will always be leminiscent, for the beautiful love
story it tells, the venerable old Dunston KM: and the loving Hazel
will always seem as though they were our own homo companions,
the quietness of this play, and the poetic way in which the story is
carried out, was its chief charm. Then the versatility of the autnor
was shown when he produced "Money Mad," which even in its title
impresses one of the intensity of its theme, and the semi-maniac
characters that were its central figures always left a shuddering
impression with the auditor. It remained, however, with "Paul
Kauvar" his masterpiece, in which he combined all the beautiful
ness and love of "Hazsl Kirk" and intensity of "Money Mad" which
in combination formed a production that will live for ever; still not
being satisfied he wrote a new version of "Paul Kauvar"' calling it
"The New Paul Kauvar" wherein he put all of his untiring energies,
making changes until they suited his own brilliant critical opinions,
allowing scope for all the embellishments, grand scenery and
mechanical devices, and when completed, ho said like Monolus when
ho chiseled the last line of Vesetto, "At last I have reached my goal."
This is the production that will be seen at the Lansing theatre,
Monday February 25th, with a superb cast headed by J. Harvey
Cook and Miss Esther Lyons.
Herrmann, the marvelous will bo at the Funke Opera House,
Vedneeday, February 27th. Herrmann will give theatre goers of
this city an opportunity of seeing for the first time his new illusions
and marvels which have created such sensation this season wher
ever presented. The claim is made for Herrman's entertainment
which he will produce hero that it is the most elaborate one he has
ever given. Ths program which ho will present is brielly as follows:
Tho entertainment will commence with his marvelous sleight of
hand performance in which he will introduce Carte Volontes. The
Mysterous Orange, Santano Ribbons, The Listening Cards, Ragid
Transit, The Mesmeric Flowers, Sun and Moon, The Exhaustable
Hat, Hunting Without Powder, and a number of novelties conclud
ing with tho bewildering national spectacle, The Columbian Trans
formation, with Madame Herrmann's Columbia. This will be fol
lowed by the Persian marvel, Tho Asiatic Trunk Mystery, in which
a woman is tied in a sack, locked in a trunk, which is bound, and
then placed in another trunk. At the--end of a few seconds this
woman is seen standing without the trunks and another woman,
totally different from her in size and appearance is found in her
place. Next follows The Artist's Dream, and idlic sketch in
which a young artist falls in love with a picture painted b him and
which comes to life. Madame Herrman's dances will complete tho
entertainment. Seats on sale at Zehrung's, Monday morning at 9
o'clock.
With the fact that Dorothy Morton is in tho cast will undoubted
have tho effect of drawing a largo audience for "Tho Fencing
Master" at the Lansing theatre, Saturday March 2nd. 'The Fenc
ing Master" has proved to bo one of the best, if not the best, comic
opera companies that ever appeared in this city. The presentation
of DeKoven and Smith's pretty opera is thoroughly pleasing. Of
course, Miss Morton with her sweet voice, her dimpled chicks and
pretty face and form, completely captivates tho audience. Dorothy
Morton has many warm and admiring friends and she deserves them.
Not only does she sing well but she is apparently perfectly at homo
in the character of Franccsca and handles a sword like a veteran
fencer. David Torrence makes a handsome Fortunio and sings well.
A. M. Holbrook and Oscar Girad as Viscouuti and Pasquino,
respectively, make an excellent team of comedians and their every
appearance upon tho stage is the signal for laughter. The chorus
is first-class.
"The New Dominion" which Gustavo Frohman offers to the
patrons of tho Lansing theatre, March 1st. with such a verstile actor
as Mr. Clay Clement in the title role is located on the banks of the
picturesque river, in tho old dominion state of Virginia. A young
German nobleman, while traveling incoyn ito, and pursuing his
favorite study of botany in Virginia, falls violently in love with the
beautiful daughter of the planter, at whose mansion he is staying.
His host is almost ruined by the war and the subsequent financial
panic, and his hostess persuades her daughter to keep her hand free
in order to finally marry a vulgar roue, who has inherited the
blanket mortgage, which threatens to wreck the old family home.
The Baron presses his suit, therefore, in vain, although his affection
is earnestly reciprocated, and returns to the fatherJand; not, how
ever, before he has secretly bought off the mortgage which hung
between him and the girl he wished to take back with him to his
castle on the Rhine. On Xmas day he wanders back to the scene of
his first love. The play ends happjjy and has proven to" be one of
the greatest New York successes this season.
Lieutenant R. H.Townely entertained a few of his friends at a
dinner in honor of his birthday last Saturday evening. The follow
ing were present: Mr. C. O. Whedon, Mr. J. A. Buckstaff, Mr. F.
W. Brown, Mr. N. C. Abbott, Mr. J. D. MacFarland, Mr. J. H. Har
ley, Mr. J. W. McDonald. While the number of guests was not verv
large the dinner was one of the best that has been served in the city
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