The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-09-01
THE LONDON STAGE.
Gaiety Girl" Company on Its
Way to New York.
Henry Irving DepIores the Advance
ment OF Music Halls.
He Will Open the Lyceum Season
with King Arthur"

LONDON. Sept. 1.-The theatrical
week has been chiefly noticeable by the
return to town of the last vacation
stragglers. the reopening of Terry's
Theatre and the Comedy Theatre, and
the sensational announcement to-day OF
the marriage. on Wednesday last. at
Edinburgh. of Justin Huntley McCar-
thy, the son Of Justin Mccarthy, NJ. T.,
to Cissy Lotus, the rising young
actress, who has already made quite r.
leading actresses.
The theatrical world. in addition to
discussing the McCarthy-Loftus mar
riage, Is also commenting upon the ball
given at the Prince OF Wales's Theatre,
yesterday evening, by MIR. George Ed
wardes to his American "Gaiety Girl
company. The Gaicty girls sail to-day
by the steamship Berlin, from South
ampton for New York. This ball com
peted a round of farewell gaieties,
which included a crowded "at home" Mt
the same theatre on Thursday last. At
Waterloo Station this morning the Gal
ETY. Girls were sent off on their jour
ney in grand style the bearers of hum
dreds OF farewell letters, kilograms, bou-
quets, &C.
| Henry Irving confesses himself de-
spondent as to the future of English
drama. He says: THE music halls are
unduly overlapping the theatres, and
many theatres are taking on the vulgar
ways of the halls"
During his vacation at Gairloch Mr.
Irving unbosomed himself OH this sub.
ject. What is wanted, he thinks, Is
State or municipal aid and recognition
The theatre Is or might be n great edu-
cative and moral power, and. in diff
ferent senses. 1t stands greatly in need
Of municipal recognition"
Mr.. Irving has repeatedly discussed
this proposition with Mr.. Gladstone, who
has often sat with him in the wings OF
the Lyceum stage while the play pro-
ceeded. Ten years ago Mr.. Gladstone
did not think the British nation would
ever grant such recognition to the
drama. but, quite recently. before the
present calamity overlook him, the ex
Premier expressed the view that the
mind OF the English electorate was un
dergoing a great change in regard to the
theatre, and that "sooner than some
thought it might become a national In
stitution."
Irving's usual Autumn tour begins
shortly in Edinburgh, and will occupy
his time pretty well up to Christmas
In January he opens the Lyceum season
with Comyns Carr's dramatic version OF
king Arthur" which, with its wealth
of incident and striking personnae, will
Mr.. Irving expects, prove a great sue
cess. Sir Arthur Sullivan is still at worl
on the incidental music. and the scener!
Is being designed by Burne Jones
king Arthur will be followed eacl
evening by little piece from the pen o
Conan Doyle. in which the principal par
will be taken by Irving.
Last Thursday Messrs. Lestocq anc
Robson produced 1.-The Founding a
Terrys Theatre, practically opening thu
Autumn season. The Founding per
sonated by Mr.. Sydney Brough, becoming
engaged to a young lady very particular
upon the subject of parents. exactinl
that everything In this direction mus
be formal and regular, is obliged, beint
a founding, to undertake to find hi!
long-lost progenitors.
His ups and downs while engaged II
this quest furnish the fun, which is clear
ly farcical, and which immensely amused
a firet-night audience.
Charles Groves played the part of al
excitable Major: Susie Vaughan was the
Majors wife, and Emeline oxford pro
vided the music hall flavor. without
which farce-comedy nowadays seems tC
.