Variety (October 1911)

14 VARIETY London, Oct. 4. The biggest surprise London has had for some time was the unkind re- ception accorded to "The Spring Maid" at Whitney's theatre the opening night. In view of its enormous suc- cess in New York great things had been expected of it, but few of these expectations were fulfilled. It was gen- erally held by the experts that the thing was badly constructed, indif- ferently cast, and that the entire ef- fect of the second half was killed by the front cloth and the last scene. In the matter of the cast it struck me that there might have been many improve- ments, although l understand that Fred Whitney is paying New York sal- aries. The first half gave every prom- ise, and the people had settled down to what they calculated was a good thing. Then it seemed to go all to pieces. Walter Hyde the tenor, sang well, but he lacked soldierly dash, and does not seem to have much person- ality. Marlse Fairy, the Princess, was quite good in her way, but hardly strong enough. Charles MacNaughton whilst being extremely like his brother Tom in appearance, mannerism, and deportment, is lacking in that essen- tial magnetism which must have meant much to the New York produc- tion. Courtice Pounds was the male hit of the show, though the ''Charley's Aunt" business in the second half hardly did him credit. Throughout there was a disjolntednoss which was totally unfavorable to the play's suc- cess. If the future of "The Spring Maid" in. England depended upon the music and the chorus, it could run for a year. Greto Welsenthal recently put on in Germany a dance pantomime phantasy in the course of which she accom- plished several new dances, notably a "Bird" number in which she is feath- ered. Mr. Stoll saw the show and Im- mediately booked it, but not as most people imagined for the Coliseum. It will go to the Palladium early in No- vember for a season. Robert Loralne produced "Man and Superman" at the Criterion for a short run. It has proven quite a suc- cess, which is the more notable com- ing as it does immediately In the wake of Arnold Daly who failed to make "Arms and the Man" a success there. Friend and Downing succeeded so well at the Coliseum they have been engaged for pantomime at the largest salary they have yet touched over here. Jack Johnson agreed to play the dates for the Variety Theatres Con- troling Co. and all lawsuits against him by the Butt company were called off. Nella Webb has been prolonged at the Empire for a further week. She has successfully tried out several new songs. I^ater she goes to Austra- lia for Rickards at $625 a week. LONDON VAMETY'S LONDON OFFICE • QUEEN ST., LDCBSTIB gQVAKB W. BUCHANAN TAYLOR. •*««- ("BAYABD") Mall for Americana and Europeans In Europe, If addressed care VARIETY as above, will be promptly forwarded. Ive Sewell Collins, the American artist, who does the theatrical and other il- lustrations for "Black & White" is at work on a Russian play for Charles Frohman. When George Grosamith goes to Paris shortly to appear in a new Revue, his place in "Peggy" at the Gaiety, will be taken by Louis Brad- field. I consider that Bradfleld is still one of the best light comedians we have. It is said that Charles Manners, who, with his wife, Fanny Moody, recently received $1,500 a week in the music halls is about to do an operatic version of "Elijah." There are still a few premieres due in London. Among them are "The Honeymoon" to-day at the Royalty, and the complete and original version of "Sumurun" at the Savoy. Rejane*s reappearance at the Hip- podrome was marked by much warmer welcome than she had in the summer. For one thing she brought a piece which suits her better, and gives her more scope. She is now playing in a comedy of one act entitled "L'Alerte" by Dario Nicodemi. This Nicodeml, who is at present in London with Rejane is a queer sort of cuss. I asked him the other day how he filled in his time in London. He said he chiefly stayed at his hotel. He was afraid to go out, he said, because there were so many nice outfitters shops in London. He has a passion for neck- wear, and claims that he is too poor to be able to gratify his desires in this respect, So he stays at home in order to live within his means. It would seem that the fit of mental abberation which seized Frances Kap- stowne and caused her to be lost for several days has brought its reward. From being in a comparatively back- ward position at the Empire she has developed into a leading lady in a sketch at the Alhambra and has se- cured the position of lead in the pro- vincial tour of "Baby Mine." Ray Reveridge is shortly to appear in the. West End in an American sketch, probably at the Palace. When Pavlowa and Mordkin split there were plenty of offers forth- coming for the woman's services. Daniel Mayer, who had to sue Mord- kin for commission, put before Pav- lowa the suggestion that she should accept a tour of the provinces playing the first-class theatres with a legiti- mate backing. The result is that, ac- companied by Novikoff and the rest of the troupe who danced with her at the Palace after the departure of Mordkin, she will start Nov. 13 at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle, after this visiting Glasgow, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, Brighton, Shef- field, Dublin, Liverpool and other chief centres. The tour will be for 14 weeks and the program will be a kind of triple bill, two farces "Judged by ap- pearances" and "Bachelors' Babies," with Pavlowa and her troupe inter- vening. Quite a new phase of vaudeville work in England has been hit upon by George Robey. At the time when all the talk was going on about the possible reduction of artists' salaries, he was arranging a tour of one-night stands. With a concert party of four he visited about twenty small towns, and is said to have cleaned up in one week $1,760 for himself, clear of all expenses. As he appeared but once nightly he was beating the best salary he has ever got by a mile. They played in town-halls, some theatres and, in fact, any kind of building that had a stage and would hold any kind of an audience. "Let 'em reduce" says George. Hedges Brothers and Jacobson have been booked for pantomime which in this country is equivalent to your superior burlesque. Their contract is with Robert Arthur, who usually runs about half-a-dozen first-class produc- tions. It has not yet been decided what town they will work, but the con- tract provides for eight weeks certain in one city. The 2 Bobs are also booked for pantomime at Dublin. Dorothy Ward, the stately principal "boy" and musical comedy artist, recently married to Shaun Glenville, is appearing at the Alhambra. She opened with a poor selection of songs, but made an entire change on the second night and is now doing extremely well. Jack Hayman recently with Braff and previously the Continental repre- sentative of Oswald Stoll has been ap- pointed booking manager for the Palace, and the Victoria Palace. As I forecasted by cable, Trou- hanowa has been selected to play the part of the "Holy woman humbled," in Max Reinhardt's production of "The Miracle" at Olympia around Xmas. From among a host of famous mimes, dancers and actresses Professor Max Reinhardt selected a Russian woman as possessor of the necessary attributes for the portrayal of the wondrous heroine in the record wordless play. Trouhanowa was one of the first Russian dancers to invade Paris, and she may be regarded as something of a pioneer of the vogue of Russian dancing. There are seven phases to be illustrated in the life of the Holy woman. There is no woman more talked of in Paris than she, and no public character creates such interest and curiosity in the places where people congregate than this brilliant Russian. For the wandering minstrel who accompanies the unfortunate Nun practically throughout the play, the management of Olympia has secured the services of the most famous male mimic in Australia, Max Ballenburg, who is connected with the Hofburg Theatre, Vienna. The big fight being off everybody seems to want to book Johnson and Wells. The night the fight was de- clared Impossible Johnson was en- gaged to open at the Palladium the following Monday, and Wells was ne- gotiated with for the Syndicate halls. Ernest Wighton, manager of the Finsbury Park Empire, previously at Liverpool Olympia, and a brother of David Devant, has been appointed booking superintendant of the Moss Empires. He takes up his position immediately. He is the right man for the job. The present arrange- ments in regard to booking committee are that Gething and Hatton Wharton remain at the head office to assist Mr Wighton and Frank Allen. Gerald Morton takes on a roaming commis- sion in the country, and Bulmer takes charge of New Cross Empire. Mc- Lachlan leaves Immediately probably to take up a position with Alfred Butt. Rejane brought off a clever stroke when she arranged the benefit mati- nee for the sufferers by the "La Liberte" disaster. It is not certain whether Bernhardt will appear, for reasons fairly obvious. In the ballet of "New York" at the Empire, Freddie Farren will play the part of Washington D. Sharp the "amateur American Fregoli." Ida Crlspi is cast as Hattie Hazel, an American soubret, Lydia Kyasht as "La Moskowa," a star Russian dancer, and C. Mozetti as a "Dutch" boy. Trouhanowa and Ballinberg who will play the chief parts at Olympia, in the "Miracle," were booked by Braff. The news that Mountford had re- tired was conveyed by your represent- ative to the V. A. F. officials. Not much surprise was expressed. The new Olympia, Glasgow, con- trolled by Samuel Lloyd, long the man- ager of the Pavilion, has opened suc- cessfully. Lafayette was interested in the project and was accompanied in Edinburgh by Lloyd at the time of the disaster. Mr. Lloyd is in partnership with Hayman and Franklin in a musi- cal extravaganza railed "Mixed-up,'' which Is topping bills in the provinces. TWO STARTERS. Philadelphia, Oct. 11. Anna Held, in "Miss Innocence" will be at the Forrest next week. Baltimore, Oct. 11. The new Klaw & Erlanger produc- tion, "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine" with Charlotte Walker, is bill- ed for the Academy of Music next week.