The billboard (Oct 1910)

24 Xlic B ill boar <1 OCTOBER 1, 1910. LONDON LETTER The Follies, on Its Recent Return to England, Meets with Joyous Welcome—Evelyn Millard - Opens m The Crisis PARIS LETTER A Further List of Plays Scheduled During the Com- ing Season—Comedie Francaise Seems to be Particularly Lucky with Five The most cbeerfol event of the Eeason so. fax has been the retnnl ot Xbe Follies to London, and witb tbem mlrtb and melody, gaiety and fiollc. After an nnlnterrnpted rnn of oTer two years they went away In the early spring for a short enmmer tonr and holiday and now they have returned, funnier If anything, than ever. The first night was like the meeting of old friends. Every number was rapturously ap- plauded and It seemed as though the entertain- ment would never be allowed to finish. I have always understood that no entertain- ment of a similar character has ever been given In the United States so a short descrip- tion here might not be out of place. The pro- gram consists of three parts and the first Is devoted to a mlsceUaneous entertainment. lou get a moat charming singer In the person of Miss Ethel Allsndale warbllnK the patlietic tale of Pansy of Fenn^lvanla. Miss Gwennle Mars, one of the most aceompllshed comediennes In England, sings about tbe home she wants In Sante Fe and explains the why and wherefore In her daintiest manner, SnlaUng np with a fascinating: dance. Then Lewis Sydney, a dole- fnl looting comedian, offers up a new budget oi whimsical stories, at the end of which the audience is nearly exhausted from laughing. Miss Bffle Cook and Miss Mnriel George, both first-dass ballad singers, sing songs that loot like becoming the first favorites at every em>- cert this winter. Morris Harvey, carefully apologizing for his lacit of vocal ability, offers some Imitations of .BngUsh actors—* toart- ment In which, he is nmntpaBSed. And thiough- out—Pellsslcr blmseie. ■ ^ This young gentleman of some 300 ponnds in -welslit. Is the piwiainjf genius of the whole con- cotT It to be who writes an the songs and mnaie, does the stage management, evolves «ie wheezes that spread all over the town, and fin- ally plays with such a zest that the rest can- not help bnt follow. But the gem of the first part Is the Arcadian Pastorale, a perfect little niece of foolery. Fellssier Is the shepherd Cory- Son; MISB Cook la the lltUe woolly Ismb and while these two converse the rest of the com- pany keep up a bleating refrain while Lewis Sydney has a pecuUar buzz aU his ovm, '^at Is that?" asks the indignant shepherd. ^"Ttat' is the answer "la n n«>««^^"_3f£°l°'!?S,,i? Tonns," and the boose rocfcs with langbter. tnie flrst part, snbaeqnenay finishes with a series of "Gastronomic Qnartettes. The second part opens with a Voice Mrf. Peilssler Is at home to aspirants for ids com- pany. Xou get a heavy German contralto; the Client 'cdHst who murders tte classics ai^ then discovers that his true forte Ues In recit- ing and bursts Into an Impassioned jendratog of thS Pool of Blood. Then a Spanish Toreador— hnalled off on the spot! a demure Uttle maiden "who can play the violin and ""»5I«»SLJ5SS self on the voice;" a Swtch accent would bring about bis Instant murder m Glasgow; a damsel at the awkward age—known to Kngland as a "fiapper/' whose song, A NanghSFLlttle Twinkle In Her Eye. qnlte cap- S?ate8 the audience; and flnagy a CostK- telo^ SSrtmX refuse lo leave. Threats and_teare dtte aii useless In brinrfng about their d^ iii^rBUid finally they have to be lowered ^t^oOT. Everyone of th^ taVmost perfect piece of characterizaHon and to SoSe^^cts 1 think this show Is about the ctereiest tbtag The FoUles have ever done. The program concluded with The fottej Faeeant: To those who did not go through tte iw^l ame whin every Uttle town and vm^e In EngUhd thought It incumbent opmjtselt to or^nlze an "Historical and AUegorlcal Pageant." the Item may perhaps not ™ovey mtKh. But those of ns who f*™, It all appreciate it to the full. In ttejnatter if "setuSg" The FolUes have ^^r. attempted anything so elaborate. The t<>o*^*i.^^% been removed and In their place are two rows of dSSmyipectatbre In Itont of whom the condnc- *°FlStS SJftESfia the opentog speech of tte local Mayor, whose pompous address ^ a mas- «^ece of snbtle satire on the Clara. Then STttTflS episode. The Birtt ^ ^^S^T^ a Tinage concert In prehistoric times, ^ext is tteAnSent Druids Including four of ^e com- jSly responsible for the buUdlng tosnrt"f « bSSng 6f Stlnehenge. Following to .Qol* sp«: ?Slon are Helen of Troy ttie Godlva's ride through Coventry reveall^ the doselr concealed behind a huge and « lirzenmbrella: finally the Kings and Queens ^f^'lSluS Including Wmiam ^e Cou'Se Shakesoeare. Ellzabett, John and Hall- Came, iu the one ind only Wtoston^nreb- in, a not altogether beloved figure In Engiana, as yon may perhaps have heard. Is a rea tonic to see this ^OT. I me peoplB can It amateurl^ *°B„?^t ™ cMss lies in Its amateurism. Knn It on narv everyday lines and In a. -week the cnSty^ tte players and the lr»ta«« and originality of the matter -fO'M ^arc ito- appeared. To an ^^^.^''';5'^^^;^^S;S K^e can disabuae Ws niM ofa» MM ttrt te is going to see * tsijeal J^oJcm SS'SSS; —1 wSnld recommend the FoBlea as tlis Onm to be seen before all. , _ . _ „_ Evelyn MlllaPd opened h» seasm at tte .Naw inSt^lStwedkwItt The Crisis, Hndoieh «aairtrtl<m of PlOTS Bejton-s^ B^- ^OTtro. Like most I*ci"* J''"'" twhSi. it struck one m Insincere from be- to <SdSd to Its It lju fion^en The ©lot Js onconvtedng in the ex- A^L^ServA » iM»g n^Uclan. Is married to « woman—Benee-JWho iSSS^to Ite^nSt set and aoes "otj™ SS^n. eSTpt *». the posltton .ln aoete ly Sat be *4s able to give her. On the UigS wrifiSle-.ilgto snd bUl blgi ^owV^bose husband wm ^f^S^^-^ on the seene and Eenee tatrodn^ ber Sard In mOet that he may act »» ^ l«al a4 ^Sa in some UHgatlon conwmtas/tbe to- -S^s wHL Benne Is a »»a wwnan_ma^5« .jQj^tximonial - experiences;nave:'been she Is determtoed to have nothing more to do with men. However, she falls to love wltt Ser- val, and he rciprocatlng, she makes up her mind she hud better clear -out altogetter. Then comes the great scene ot the play. Renee has a lover—a mere stage dude—who Is in the habit of visiting her at night. One night Camille accidentally sees him at the house. Adrlen unexpectedly returns Just after an unexpected check In his political career. Camille consoles him an i cheers him and then he wants to see his wife. Camille Is hoirlfied, and 'knows not what to do to prevent him going to his wife's bedroom. Finally as a last re- source she adopts the desperate expedient of asking him to stay with her. He does so. From tbe stage point of view the scene is ef- fective, risky as it Is. AU tbe same' it is un- convinclDg. On the fact of it the situation Is deliberately manufactured. It does not develop of Itself. Like tte rest of tbe play It jnst falls short of **grip.'* - . After this scene, Kennee comes to suspect Camille, who admits the truth; bnt learns also that Camille deceived her to save her. There Is anotuer big seene between the tnvo women, but eventually Camille goes away wittont tell- ing Adrien wbat she knows lor fear of starting a scandal and ruining his career. Slie might have secured Serval for hereslf but for bis sake passes right out of his life. From .beginning to end one has not tte alight est sympathv with a single character. Axter a time- the old artifices and general artificiality begin to bore., one completely. Even the actors seemed unable to do ttelr best. As first rate artists aU, of course, acted weU, but one conld see that their parts held very little in- terest for tbem. Miss Evelyn Millard depicted the growing love, the hestitation and self torture of Camille very well, but throughout' her acttog lacked warmtt. As Beimee, Miss Sarah Brooke was good, but then she treated the part-as appertaining to sheer melodrama— perhaps tte best way In tte clrcnmstances. Norman IfcKinnel did tte best he- conld with the exceedingly dull part of Adrian. whUe Athel Stewart worked hard to put some life into tte colorless lovar. Still, act as well as ttey like, Z don't tliink that those engaged in this piece can ever make it a success. Miss Mlliard bad better Jfind sometliing a Uttle better quickly. She should-get Bndolf Besler,; who is tbe author of last season's greatest success. 2>on. to write her a play. He would be better employed than In translating ttlrd-rate iPrench' plays. For bis first managerial enterprise Gerald dn Uanrler chose a. piece called Ncyiwdy's Daugh- ter, by George Pastoo, which was produced at Wyndham'a Theatre wltt great edat. Tak- ing talm all; 'round I suppose du Uanrler is easily tte most popular, actor—from tte per- sonal potot of view ot tte andlence—In London at tte present time and everyone on tte first night was . ttere prepared to give the most en- ttnslastlc reception possible. Every curtain was fdlowed by half a dozen caUs and at tte end tte young manager had to make a-speech— a precedient which seemed to cause him con- siderable embarrasment. m choosing tte pres- ent play*' du Maurier has shown considerable bustoess acnmen and a keen valuation of popular taste. . There is not a new idea In it nor a striking phrase.' It Is stuff witt 'which tte pub- lic bave been familiar for a generation^ brought up-to-date In this tostance by tte totrodnctlon of a aeroplanlst with a broken arm and a suf- .Iragette' who discourses on tte ettics of ma- ternity. But In addition to tte useful quality ot familiarity the piece is also foU of good old- fashioned sentiment and emotion., -fHle story Is tte old, old one of tte pre-nuptial child "nobody's daughter." In this case the changes are nm^ by tte' par- ents being very bappl^ manled. not to each otter, bnt:to somebody else, and tte sltnation arises when tte nurse who has reared the child compels tbe motter -to tak'e her nineteen-year- old daughter Into her household. There Is, of course, the final discovery 1)y'the mother's hus- band, but equally, of course, the final curtain Is quite satisfactory, and descends on the sinner In tte husband's arms, tt^ otter sinner, off to command some motmted Infantry, wltt his wife holding his hand and nobody's daughter off to marry a promising mechanic. Tbe acting was tip-top. Du Maurier, released from bis two years' coarse of playing tte np-to-date gentlemanly burglar, put to a first. rate performance as tte alert.and Jolly ImSband.of tte.raotter of "no- body's daughter;" Lillian Bcalttwalte, as 'tte motter, Bosalle TeUer as tte daughter, Hary Rorke as tte nurse with a' conscience for lit- eral readtogs of scrlpttre, and Mr. Sydney 'Val- entine as the other sinner, aU worked liked Tro- jans to give dn Manrler a good start and ap- parently ttey succeeded weU. .Uthongh only a couple of miles from the center of London, tte Coronet Theatre has hltterto always been regarded as a suburban house. '^Tenceforward tte proprietor. Robert -Ar- ttnr. Intends to nm It on the "West End" lines, that Is to say, he will abandon the system of having totirtog companies In favor of the pro- dnction by his own companies ot new and or- iginal plays. This new regime he has Just toaugurated b.v tte production of a four-act play by Madame Al- banesl, entitled Slater Anne, with Marlon Terry In tte title .part. It Is two years since ttls great actress has been seen on the London stage, so her admirers made tte Instance In question an event wMch could not be missed. Sister .Anne Is aiv attractive elderly spinster. Her yoimg step-dsnghter, Pamela, has a lover whom she drives to suicide on tte eve of her marriage to a wealtty suitor. .David, tbe lov- er's brotter, swears venseance. bnt is pre- vented by an act of heroic adf-saCfUlee on tte part of Bister Anne, who mairlcs Oand, be- IleTtnx that be loettes her. Tbeo, of coarse, she dlseoveia that he really lores her ud.ln the end she has some admirable scenes to vrbleb sbe Is admirably supported bv Norman Trevor as David. Taken altivetter, however, tbe play Things arc picking up. The dead calm Is passing and a bit ot breeze is blowing in the dramatic business. September always brings something else besides oysters, and among other things, we have tte rumors of what Is coming in mid- season, theatrically speaking. Some o( the forecasts never come true, but then that can t be helped. It's bound to rain sometimes when tte weatherman predicts sunshine. It can t soCh ttat tte weatherman predicts sunshine, be got around. . So tte public ought not to say things and ac- cuse him of bad faith when a theatre manager promises somotbing then can't make good im- mediately thereafter. The Comedie Prancalse appears to have a glowing season ahead ot it. For example. This week, the first new piece of the fail Is to be produced there. It is called Comme Us Sont Tons (How They Are All), and Is by Adolpn Aderer and Armand Ephralm. I have given a literal translation of the title, and no language permits of that. It is necessarily a bit vague. ; don't know the text of the play, nor have even a hl?t of the plot, tterefore I can't do Ijetter. .After ttls piece the Comedie Francaise will offer a play from the pen of Pierre Wolff. The title of ttls piece has not yet been selected, however, though the names of tte distinguished stars to appear in it are known. De Feraudy, Grand, Bernard, Jaques de Feraudy, Numa and Mmes. Plerat, MalUe, Boblnne. Provost, and Faber are tte principals selected for tte cast. Xext In order will be a new play by Henry Bemsteto. Apres Mol (After Me!) is the title of it, and a good deal of curiosity has already been manifest to the work, tte public having been promised it some seasons ago. Mme. Bartet and Le Bargy are to be the main per- sonages in Its creation, and It Is safe to say that Apres Mol will be one of tte gala ptodoe- tlons of tbe year. I understand ttat ail Amer- ican manager has already spoken for this piece and holds an option on it. After tte Bernstein piece comes Le Menage de MoUere (Mollere's Joosebold) a piece In verse by Maurice Don- nay, to this will 1>e seen Le Bargy as Molicre, and. in a way, this production will be for Paris -wliat tte Passion Play is for the Ober- ammergauers. The Comedie Francaise, some times called the "House of Mollers." is a sa- cred Instltttion tor tte French, and ttIspla.TlnK of MoUere blmaelt on tte stage of the "House of Moliere," will not ;didy be sometblng of a novdty, hot Will he-^r ought to be—a paying one, as -welL Cher Maltre (Dear Master), four acts by Femand Varendem, is the flftt play ot the series mentioned. De Feraudy will play the principal part In this. And, of coarse, there will be, several revivals ot other pieces "which have been tested and found all to tbe good In the repertory of this tteatre. Twice I have mentibned tte name of Le Bar- gy as one of the artists selected for plays at be Ci>medle Francaise. I had understood that this actor was to leave ttls theatre; ttat be had already handed in bis first resignation, and ttat only a repetition of ttls resignation was necessary, in conformity to tte traditions of the playhouse, to order to make good the final severance. So I called at tte theatre and asked M. Prud- hon—^In tte absence of M. Jules (Haretle— whEt it all meant. He only smiled and leplled: "Yoa see.. I am only telling yon the proba- bilities when I give out the new plays and ttosc who are to create tbem." It was all very diplomatic, and didn't tell me anything. . I inqnired elsewhere as to whether Le Bargy. the great Le Bargy, is to reconsider bis resignation and remain at the Theatre Francaise. No one seemed to know, hut It is ImoH-n that Le Bargy made the state- ment that he ■Kill NOT remain at tbe Come- die if Director Claretie stays there, and cer- tainly there Is no indication of Claretie ever leaving. So Le Bargy will probably go to tte Theatre Sarah Bernhardt, as has been an- notmced. This will be somewhere about next spring, though, If I ain anything of a proph- et. . Becqne's Pollchinelles has been finished, by whom nobody seems to know, bnt finished It Is and will be one of the pieces to be staged at the Comedie Francaise sooner or later. When Becque died be left ttls piece unfinished, and at ttat time people were almost as curious, abont It as they were about Bostand's Chan- teder. So there has been a good deal ot talk abont somene finishing It each season for a long while. At last tbe mysterious SOMEBODY has done It. But no amonnt' of coaxing will or can get the.name from anylwdy. ATHENEE OPENS. (Conttooed on page 68.) Le Dansear Inconnn (The Unknown Dancer) has been revived at the Athence, which opened Its season this week. The comedy by Tristan Bernard, which had such a auccess last season, when It was. produced, bids fair to give the house a good start In this. Le Bel Ete (The Good Summer) will be tbe flrst new piece to be seen at this tteatte. The date for the premiere has not yet been decided upon, as it will not be set until signs show tbat the voEue of Le Danseur is passing. Louis Artus is tbe author of tbe new work. Jeanne Bolly will play the principal female character, and Andre DnbOK win he the leading man. VAUDEVILLE. Tea Denx Ecoles, at the Vaudeville, Is draw- ing big houses, as It deserves. It is a cork- tog little comedy, and since It was produced In 1902,' It has had two revivals, both suc- cesses. After this Capns creation shall have served Its purpose, a series of new works will he tried oat. Paul Bonrget's Le Tribun (Hie Dema- gogue) Is one ot tte early ones scbednled. and llkewliie the first piece ever written In French by Gabriel d'Aoonnzlo. the Italian anttor (title not annooeed). will be staged here. The tltla Of anotter one ot the pieces promised Is In It- self a witticism: Qrioemi, by tbe Binn Heml de Bottschlld! This play Is to he prodnced. supposedly, abont tte first of fbe year or be- fore, THE ODEON Director Antolne is making great preptra- tlons for tbe Odeon's season, and wlttout doubt he wishes to make It tte most brilliant and at the same Ume tte most original seen ttere for many years. Laat week, for tostance, I told of his engaging Vllhert and Dranen, two clever miislc haU comedians, of tte kind we caU "low," for "high" comedy plays—Monslenr de Pourceaugnac and Le Medecin Malgie I<ul. Here are his plans furtter elaborated: In addition to tte translated plays of Shakes- peare, M. Antolne has secured a new work by Bernard sbaw which he proposes to make mnen of. He has also another play, by Tctaekow, which is said to be extremely original. It It probable ttat Dranem and Villiert, thetetore. win be seen to a Bernard Sbaw role. OlMBB OFFERINGS. Henri Michean has definitely dedded to begto the season at the Nonveautes Thnrsdty nltbt ot next week. Bis vehicle will be a new piece entitled L* Enlevement des Sabines (Tbe Abduc- tion of the Sabine Women). Mon Ami, Teddy (My Friend. Teddy) will be revived at the Benaissance tte first of October, when Director Tarride, who has been on a tour of America, will have rettmed. He has been over on your side of the water getting Ideas on how theatres are ran ttere. The wheels wUl not be in good running order wltt this revival when tte long-expected Le Vlell Homo, by Georges Porto Blcbe, will be pro- duced. Mme. Simone will create tbe leading femtolne part at tte suggestion of Porto Bicbe himself. The Varieties will open with Le Bols Sacre. a revival of last spring's success, already re- viewed In The Billboard. The Gymnase's first piece will also be a re vlval; by name. La Vlerge Folle, which Cbarles Frohman has bought for America. At the Theatre Berahardt, prior to her -ro- ttm to tte stage, will be seen La Ckiquete d'Attenes, by Albert dn Bols. Also there is to be produced there a drama (unnamed) by An- dre de Lorde. At the Porte Salst Martin, Chantecler Is always tbe thing. There Is no Indication ot a let-np. It Is now nearing Its SOOtt perform- ance and is still going. strong. However^ Di- rectors Hertz and Coqoelto are not to be caoght napping. The sommer Hock at tontlsta have kept Chantecler on tbe vring, bnt ttere la some doubt as to how long be can austato this flight after the return of tbe regular ttestiegaliK bimch. So two plays are held In instant re- serve, one, L'A'^entorler (Tbe Adventurer), s four-act play by Alfred Capiu, and L'Enfant de L'Amour (Tbe Love Cihlld). by Henry BatalUe. This latter play Is also In fonr acts. Lnclan Gnltry, Jean Gaquelin, Andre Bmle, Mme. He- Jane and Dorzlat are said to be encased for ttese productions. Mme. Cora Laparcterle. ot the Bonfles Paris- lens, has come on tte scene again. She will open her own season (her theatre Is now plsy- Ing La Dame de Cbe* Maxim's), wltt Zantho Chez les Coortisanes some time aboat tte flrst of October. MOULIN BOUOE'S TROUBLBS. Business affairs at the Monlln Roage have been going badly for some time. Tbu week therejnras a real scrap between rlTSI manatm. On Friday s meeting ot the shaieboldum .was held, which,. according to report, reinstated a former manager who had been let go some months ago, and two co-managers substltnted. He took possession at eight o'clock the next morning. A quarter ot an hour later tte two co-managers arrived and ordered tbe lone one to clear out. Be refused. Pistols were whipped out (tte drawers assert that they were property pistols 'Witt blank cartridges) and things began to ham. And to pop. The lone manager re- tired from tbe field of battle temporarily st least, besten. The sails of the Monlln Rotlge are sailing on to all tbelr scarlet freedom. Bnt tbe conrta are going to do some grinding on ttelr own book, for the solitary defender of tte Bed Mill asserts he was shot at with ball car- t'Mee, and Is havtog tbe law on bis assail- ants. AND THE OHATBLBT, The Chatelet Theatre, too, where I«s Aven- tnres de Gavroche (with Jack Joyce, tbe American (}owboy. asslstlnc wltt hit stnnts) Is doing business. Is having its trouble. Manager Fontanea Is bavlng trouble with the trades- unions—or the trades unions are having troaUe with Fontanea, whichever way you want to look at It. It all came abont through Jack Joyce's act. One of the scene shifters nnt on one ot tbe cowboy's hats and placed himself so as to be seen by tte andlence. He was discharged. Then all the scene shifters stmek In an endeavor to have the discharged confrere relnitated, and they were retoforced by the property hands. All to no avail. The matinee performance yester- day, then the last night's show, was tied op, and advance money bad to be refunded. This morning Fontanei told mo tbat he woold reopen bis house Sunday with a revival ot Michael strogoff, and with n new itoge crew not con- nected with the nnloD. Then, niyfae, be wtlt have more trouble, SOMB NOTES. Luna Park has an Innovation. Every night at ten o'clock, ten beantlfal yonng women In remarkably abridged costumes, make their ap- pearance for a second on the edge of tbe cbutea pool, tten dive In, There, In the water, they disport themselves seemlnRly to their own aaa certainly to tbe emwd's delight. The stont has proved a big card. ♦ DeMax baa been engaged to fill out tte rs- matoder of the season at tbe Harlgny. Vera BerglM ti the principal tsmlnlDs fan-miker la <Oonttoned on page 68.)