Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-08-15
LONDON THEArERS AND PLAYS.
Where They are Behind the Age,
Where I'm Advance Bad Acting
tbs Rule-Fauny Davenport Gre.
hIing Lively SENSATION,

HV1o lH huthHoe-h hhu AclInK
thH Rnle-Fauny Davenport Gre.
nIing Lively Sensation.
LONDON. July 26.-The theaters
in London are pretty much all
alike-small and shabby. | have
been to six of them, and the prin-
cipal variation seems to be in the
arrangement Of the bar. At the
Vaudeville, where "0ur Boys" is
stillrunning,th brandy and whisky
bottles, weakly attended by a fat
barmaid, face the main entrance at
the head of the staircase. People
come out of the boxes between the
acts-ladies and all-march up to
the bar, and take a drink. The
pit and gallery go in strongly for
beer, which is handed round, and
stalls and circle for ice cream and
cake. In fact, wherever one goes
he finds the British stomach clam
oring for food, and tits always close
at hand, in all sorts of odd places.
except the churches, to which l
think, however, it will come IN time.
The theaters are fifty years behind
the age in comfort, convenience,
and style. In one respect, however,
they are superior to those of Amer
lea, and that through an innovation
so daring that one wonders how an
Englishman could have conceived
the idea of it. In most of the
theaters the orchestra is concealed
from view. 1t is invisible music,
and it comes from down in the Gel,
lar through openings back of the
fOot-lights. This much-to-be-com-
mended change will come into gem
eral use in America, and the coming
generation will wonder at the stu.
pidity of their fathers, with fddlers
between them and the play.
AS for English acting, it is bad
in the extreme, and in perfect har-
mony with the dullness of the
plays, A somewhat distinguished
literary lady said to me, a day or
two since, "We want both actors
and plays, for now we have neither"
There are, of course, one or two
exceptions to the general stupidity.
Mr., Irving is a strong melodra-
matte actor and a most finished
artist. saw him in his last SEN
sation, "The Lyons Mail" which
is no other than that delight of the
Bowery, the "Courier Of Lions"
slightly changed from the original.
Miss Madge Robinson is a charm
ing actress, and would, think, be
received with delight by a New
York public. She does not belong
to the spasmodic school, and does
not alternately surprise and disgust
one. She is a handsome woman,
Of magnificent presence, a figure
suited to tragedy, but plays genteel
comedy in manner that is ire
sistible in its perfect art. Her
voice is most musical, and in that
respect an n-English. Her husband,
Mr.. Kendall, is a very clever actor.
The mass of blockheads who bore
one from the English stage have
no capacity for receiving instruc.
.ion, bat, fortunately for them
selves, are unconscious of the fact.
[ have seen three good low comedi-
ans-George Honey, the one be.
longing TO the court company, and
Mr., Wrightom, the lessee of the
Globe, whose strength seems to be
in burlesque. lie played q parody
on the "Lyons Mail" called the
'Lyon's Tail, "and gave us a clever
caricature of Mr.. Henry Irving.
The regular price Of a programme
in a London theater is sixpence
(12I cents). Mr.. Hollingshead,
however, exacts no charge for this
article in the Gaycty, and has resc-
lutely set his foot down against
the practice of begging in his the
ater. None of the attaches of the
establishment are permitted to re-
ceive aims. Since he commenced
his reforms he has discharged
thirty or forty different ushers and
doorkeepers for taking money from
visitors AT the nrnsant time an