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Show THE DRAMA IN NEW YORK. Euslish Musical Oomedy and Good Near Plays Are Offered. NEW YORK. Dec. S. ."The Belle of May fair," Lctilie Stuart's latest musical pla3, had its promiero last Monday evening with Christie McDonald McDon-ald in tho star role. Edna Mn3 was tho popular favoriio of the original London production, and was en.ioviug her usual success when she withdrew from the compan owing to some friction fric-tion with Miss Clifford, who fiuall3 succeeded suc-ceeded her in the lending role. For scvernl weeks the "Belle of Ma3-fair" Ma3-fair" company has-been visiting the large cities, and the production was in excellent shape for its metropolitan presentation. Because of tho idvllic lovo stor3 which Charles H. E Brook-field Brook-field and Cosmo Hamilton, tho authors of the book, have voven about their hero and heroine, f,ho pla3 has been likened to "Romeo and Juliet." Instead In-stead of tho unhnppj- ending with a phial of poison anil a dagger, everything every-thing ends happily for the young lovers, with a wedding at. Hanover Square. In place of tho Montagues there is the Earl of Mount Highgate, a peevish and impoverished baron'jtj instead of Capu-let, Capu-let, there is Sir Jo-fin Chaldicott, an il-literato il-literato brewer, rocentl3 raised to the peerage, while the' young lovers havo their balcony scene in song. The pla3" is in tvro acts, tho time the present, and the locale London's most aristocratic quarter. The first act shows the charity bazaar that is in progress in the p'r'vato park, and the second a drawinp-room 111 a mansion in Mayfair. Julia Chaldicott is in love with Raymond Finchle3, a son of Mount Highgnte. As the course of truo lovo is. said never to nin smooth, so it is with the lovo affairs of Julia and Raymond. The families of both have long been rivals, and as a result aro opposed to tho nitachment that has sprung up betweeni the sou and tho daughter of the respective bouses. The lovers find main opportunities to repeat re-peat to ench other their vows of undying undy-ing constanc3. and. in order to put an end to the attachment the engagement of Julia is announced to Comte do Ferrier, who fpr a small nionctarv consideration con-sideration agrees to act as tho affianced of the Mayfair bidle. After planning an elopement, Julia finallv makes an appeal to her father, which final- results re-sults in a reconciliation between tho two families and i. happ3 wedding for the lovers. "The Man of this Hour," a new play 1)3 George Broadhurst, was presented last Tuesda3 evening atr theSavo3 ' - - i i .- . , . Theater. It presents practical politics, and William A. Brady and Joseph K. Grismcr, under whose direction the play is produced, havo given it an up-to-date scttiug. Many dramatic, incidents are brought out which arc said to be taken from actual occurrences. Ono role is that of a young man of wealth. Alwyn Bennett, who goes into politics and wins a Mayoralty election and brulo at the samo time. Stumbling blocks como to him iu office, but ho surmounts them all and saves his fiance's fortune and his own honor. 1 I IOleanor Robaon produced on lucs-doy lucs-doy night at the Liberty theater her fourth plav of tho season. The. play is "Tho Girl Who lias Everything," when sho gets lovo. There is a strong supporting cast, including II. B. 'ar-nn 'ar-nn Isabel Irving, Ada Dwycr, Larlc Brown, Sarah MeVicknr, Essex Dane and Josephine Mack. The New York production of Fa ill Wilstach's latest dramatic offering. "The Eastman Case," a modern play oi contemporary life, in which Charles Cartwnght is featured , is appearing at the Lincoln Squaro theater this wcck. Kntic Earrv and John C. Slavin are tho stars of 'the new musical show, "Mamscllc Sallie." which is now at the Xow York theater. Raymond llub-bell llub-bell wrote Iho music and Robert B. Smith the book. The cast includes a number of singers and funmakers whose names are familiar to patrons of musical mu-sical comedy. Wright Lorimer and his company nf 200 phvycrs under tho direction of William Wil-liam A. Brady have alread3r commenced at the Acadcinv- of Music an engagement engage-ment of "The 'Shepherd King." t. The new show at tho Hippodrome h.13 caught on. "Neptune's Daughter." which utilizes the big tank to the utmost, ut-most, charms and ni3'stmes the large 1 audiences. The dive of Kdwin Clark, who plunges headforemost into the cen- 1 tor of the tank and does not rise again, is a most puzzling feature. Another remarkable feature is the live bull terrier ter-rier which Mnrceline, as tho silent fish iTinan. hauls upon a line from the center cen-ter of the tank. The bull pup is plaiu-1 plaiu-1 alive and kicking.- HI. After seven more performances Joe Weber will have "Twiddle Twaddle" 1 and "The Squaw Man's Girl of the Golden Gol-den West," moved to the storehouse. Then Weber's theater will remain dark while the stage will be used for the finishing and polishing touches of tho new production b Edgar Smith and Victor Herbert. h Mrs. Fiske anil the Manhattan Com-pan3 Com-pan3 are delighting crowded houses at thc Lvric theater with Langdon Mitchell's Mitch-ell's '"The New York Idea." John Mason shares the honors with Mrs Fiskc. Marion Lea has made a striking success as a smart divorcee. I I |