The Washington times., 1894-11-12
LONDON PLAYS AND PLAYERS
Production of Becrbohm Trees New
Play. "JOhn O. Dreams"
NOT APLEASANT PERFORMANCE
1t Is a Passion Drama in Which the Femme
Perdue" Figures Largely ormis-
ton Chant Glorles in Her Somewhat Equiv
ocal Victory General Dramatic Gossip
Ecopyrightea, ,ea, by the Associated press.

Copyrighted, '94, by the Associated Pressl
LONDON, Nov. 1.-THE production of Had
don Chambers "John o. Dreams at the
Haymarket Theater, on Thursday last, was
the event of the autumn season. While the
new play was received with every mark OF
approval by critical audience, this was
more due to the splendid acting and staging
than TO Ihe merits of the play itself with its
reclaimed courtesan, whose mother was
courtesan before her, as the heroine and an
opium-eating poet as the hero. The perform
ance was not altogether pleasant in spite OF
the art of Mrs Patrick Campbell and Mr..
Beerbohm Tree.
John o. Dreams is the soubriquet of one
Harold Winn. a young poet and dreamer, who
is contrasted in the play to realistic char
acter played by Charles Cartwright. Both
men are in love with the same woman, a
woman who has through her worldly expert
ence learned TO measure the length of love by
the knowledge of its depth. To quote Mr..
Trees own words in letter TO the Associated
Press, 1.-The yearning for freedom from one
who is bound in the fetters OF a past, gives
opportunities for Mrs. Patrick Campbell to
ItAttl d COlikl4tA ndluE6 DN tit liGiL VI SNUl-
pathy and romantic feeling, instead of cynic-
ism and bitterness, qualities which have so
often characterized heroines by modern
plays John o. Dreams was not written
with the view of enforcing a moral nor of
proving anything. but rather Of presenting
some human beings as they are, with their
human pass ons, and therefore inspiring
human interests.
The play derives much dramatic force
from the heros desperate efforts. through the
influence OF poetic love, TO struggle against
IN hereditary tendency TO seek consolation IN
narcotics | have only family foreshadowed
the psychology OF the play-and have not at-
tempted 10 describe the plot. Perhaps the
Persian poet Hafzs lines may tell you more
than mine. They are the text of the play,
ana they ran;
., When wandered in the paths of love;
When love chung TO my garments lost my
friends' d"
The Times in its critique Of the play draws
attention TO the rapid progress OF the passion
drama and the freedom with which the
"iemme perdue' and her interests are now
discussed on the English stage.
The adverse decision in the case of the En-
pire Music Hall is still Il topic OF excited dis
cuseion all over the town. Tho directors are
chagrlned that their appeal 10 the courts
from the decision of the county council not
10 grant the Empire a Liquor license unless
tho promenade was closed, was dismissed.
and are yet undecided as TO what course Of
action they viii adopt.
! Mrs. Ormiston Chant, the leader of the
crusade against the Empire, is naturally iubi-
] liant over the successful fight she has made.
/ she states that she mas been threatened with
! bombs. dynamite. stabbing vitriol. shooting
/ etc In the streets she is howled at and is
| told in certain shops where she is known to
take her trade elsewhere. And in the mean
/ time the women who lrequented the Empire
! have gone TO other music halls which have
/ secured their licenses with little or no
trouble. as it was predicted they would do,
! and the only practical good done is that other
music bali managers are profiting at the eX-
| pense of Mr.. Edwardes.
Sir George Grove has resigned his position
! Of director Of the Royal College of Music.
! Mr. Alexander opens the st. James Theater
! to-niEht with The Masqueraders' and new
curtain raiser entitled "Gentleman jim, the
work Of Mr.. Walker
siegfried Wagner made his bow TO the Lon
/ don musical world at Queens Hall on Tues
day last. His only success was in drawing a
/ large audience, whose presence was due to
curiosity.
Miss Ellen Terry appeared in Glasgow on
/ Monday for the first time during Mr.. Henry
! Irying's present tour OF the provinces. Her
( health mas been restored.
"AlI Ny Eye Vanhoe.' which was produced
/ at the Trafalgar Thcater on October 81 leii
( so fat that il has been Withdrawn. The our
lesque viii be rewritten aud again presented.