The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-27
ENGLAND.
Novelties ut the London Theatres.

ENGLAND.
--~--
Novelties ut the London Theatres.
LONDON, Dec. o, 1885,
While the old and the new Ministries are engaged
In changing places, like the dancers In State quad
fille and while the Lord Chancellor preparing
che raught of the very brief Queens speech that
Bufiice to adjourn Parliament until next year, and
while there Is lull and calm IN general politics like
shat which follows Presidential election In America
let look in at the theatres where changes and busy
preparations also going on and what novelties
are presented promised for the Christmas season.
That elegant little theatre, the Prince of Wales,
will open the new season next Saturday with new
comedy, by Edmund Yates, Of which great things
are expected. 1t Is to be called tame Cats and l
am fortunately able to give you the plot week in
advance OF Its production. Mr.. Waversham, a
young gentleman Of fortune, is beset by two har
pies, one o poet and the other o female second
cousin, who live upon him and endeavor to ruin
0im. These two people, with another Old mystery
called Mr. Tweedie, are the ''tame CATS Of the
comedy. Hedgewood and the cousin succeed in III
ducing Waversham to invest his money in bogus
shares and to doubt the fidelity OF his wife, Tweede,
like guardian angel suppresses the letter ordering
the shares and yndicates the we's innocence. This
Is the plot; but number OF amusing and pathetic
incidents are skilfuly developed and the dialogue
artists in the company will play In 'Tame Cats,'
and Its success is q certainty.
Let me take GU behind the London scenes for
moment and show you why this new comedy is con.
eidered Of so great importance that 1t now almost
monOpozes the attention OF the London literary and
dramatic worlds. By his comedy OF society"
which you have seen at Wallack's. MI. Tom Robert
son revoutionized the English comedy az Mr.. Dion
lish melodrama by the ',Colleen Bswn.'' Mr.. Rob.
estson followed up his success by ours and by
cnmnate He has pste fs genq M or TO
OF his fame. His dramas have been failures; hfs
comedy Of "Play' did not draw But having once seen
the Robertsonan comedies the patrons OF the Prince
of Wales theatre would be satisfied with nothing
less, and the management cast about 10 ind some
Diher comedy writer TO relieve them from the neces
sty OF beng monopolized by Mr.. Robertson. Byron
was tried and failed. BOuccaut entered the arena
with .How She Loves Him." aud that JAILED. Now
comes Edmund Yates, q new dramatist, but the son
OF actor and already celebrity in literature.
What Will he do: How viii he succeed These ques-
tons are dividing the town. Permit me 10 predict
that he viii prove a rival to Robertson, although in
different style; and by next weeks mail you VIII
The Haymarket, newly and richly decorated has
already begun the new season with a dralna called
1Pietra," by Mosentha, tue author OF Leah" Miss
Bateman, OF course plays the principal par and has
a curse as usual Briefly, the plot OF ''pietrar
German adaptation OF "Romeo and Juliet" The
drama IS written la blank verse and is
often very sned and stacy. Some critics
declare that it Is a great success; Others that
II Is dreary dull and dismal. lake more moderate
view, ana think mat the drama IS not quite good
enough TO hold the stage. Miss Baternan, as the
heroine acts IN her customary style and with her
usual popularity 1t would be as useless 10 criilcisc
The one AZ TO deny the other Her engagement will
end on the oath and then Mr. Sotnern win reappear
In a new comedy, 10y Mr. Tom Robertson, originally
written for JEFFERSON, the iitle OF which has not yet
: After this comedy ',rhe Marble Heart newly
pdapted 10y DR.. Westand Marsion who ruined 'sThe
Romance OF Poor Young Man. VIII be produced,
with Mr.. Sotnern as Voltage, the light comedy part.
This makes up strong programme, but Mr.. Buck
ytone is determined 10 cut down his expenses aud
Miss lone Burke IL 10 retire from the BayInarket.
Perhaps her numerous admirers Will soon
bee her in New YORK; but am sorry to add tnat the
lnannerisms or the English stage have greatly injured
1he former freshness OF her acting
Mr.. l.. T. Smith closed The Lyceum IN n hurry last
week, In order TO yet rd OF mis- present company and
prepare for his Christmas paatomime. Mr. Band
man and Mr.. Faiicough were the trage0ans ut the
Lvceum when the doors were suddenly shut. A I
long ago prophesied. Mr.. baudmanns career In Lon
aon has been exactly the same as ms career ~ New
hnd made a hit: attempted shaksperian parts and
did not succeed; appeared in an adaptation OF Bql-
Ter's might and Morning. and Manager wheatty
Failure. In London he opened at the Lyccum
Sars rSarc wsr t and made M, All the
be tried shakespeare In the provinces ana II would
nor draw Next ne appeared in Buwer's Rightfu
Herr and the critics threw him over, took back all
The fine ssngs they had said about him aud let him
prop. he i<cenily essaycd The part of 0thco at lie
ayceum and ncse q inc leading papers mentioned
turn TO American sgnder aud wiser man. "a dtt,
that he Is 10 marry ilsk hily Palmer and star with
her through the Statos NJ. fgrtSOng IS also ready
~ 20 home. lie could hardli he any sadder an1 nc
will never bc wiser than he ~ now bls faithful
Friend De Guest Accompanies him. The experiences
OF these gentlemen m England ought % Dc warn
ing To ambitious American actors. The Iyceum
pantorlime VIII be called harlequin Humpty
Dampy; or, Dame rrOt and Her Iat,1 but n Is not
the New lorl "humpy Dumpiy,r and VII not be
such u success There j. 10 suen clown FOX IN
London.
The two great pantomlme theatres, Brury Lane
anu Coyent oarden are getting up Their CHRISTMAS
novelties upon scale more magnificent than ever.
That at Drufy Lane win bc called "Grimalkin tne
Great and n q new version ~ T.. l.. Blanchard Of
''Puss IN Boots" That NJ COyent Garden viii be
called Rohinson Crusoe, ana ~ an adaptat on rom
ateur dramatic company. William Beverly VIII
paint the scenery for Drury Lane and Matt Morgan,
the car0unist Of the TOtdRuUt paints that gor Co.
sent Garden. Harris the theatrical agent Is having
Special dtesses made az Paris for the COycnt Garden
piece, aud biuni0n. the artist, s designing comic
masks for the DrHry Lane piece 30 you
Zee the rivalry wiz he stronger even than
I'm former years, and most or the smaller theatres
have prudently refused 10 interfere ~ this battle ~
the giants and WIN produce no special Christmas
povelties
+ The Adephi win go right on with "Monte Crsto:r
pho Priucessi, win after Dark, the strand with
LINE Fled Of the Cloth OF Gold;' the New Royalty,
Eith "lhe Loving CUp,v The Queens theatre, how
over WIN produce new extravaganza by William
MIR. Wilkie Collins ana Mr.. Fechter are writing q
play togetner for the Adelphi, but 1t will not be
ready for several months. haying TO be carefully cut
Gown 10 reasonable dimensions after Il has been
' HT ess IL T kGs ssSat cd to open aa SS
pne Of Pianches old bufitsdSeS' Mis- ,saie Reig.
bods Is In town having finished hef 6Toylncla,t r,
The saders Wells theatre is closed until ,Lris,,nsy
epd AAss SeRA L0kap ~ Qeclilsd a re-epgagemeut