Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-08
ROYALTY AT A PLAY.
1t Sitb In a BOX, hut 1t Pays It's Way
Like Palmer Folk.

From the London Woman.
There Ii, apparently, a popular belief that
members OF the royal family do not pay for
their theater boxes. AS matter Of fact the
royal box Is almost invariably paid for at
the same rate as 1t would be by any ordi-
nary playgoer.
It Is hardly necessary to say that the
Prince of Wales. who is the most ardent
playgoer of the royal family. does not him
self drive up to the box office, or even send
his equerry or secretary to engage the royal
box. The matter is arranged as follows:
The principal of one of the Bond street
libraries" as the West End theater ticket
offices are somewhat ANONYMOUSLY known.
Is periodically summoned to Marlborough
House. and takes with him list of all the
pieces being played. The prince goes through
the list and selects the theater or theaters
which he proposes to visit during the next
few days, and instructions are given to the
library to engage the royal box for the
nights named at the theaters selected. Both
the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York
who, next to his father, is the most import
ant royal patron of the drama-are said to
be remarkably we'll Informed on the merits
of the different pieces before they have seen
them, n: j this is not due so much to reading
press opinions as to consulting friends and
acquaintances who have seen the plays.
Theater managers sometimes find them
selves In very difficult position when they
receive an fntimation that the royal box is
required for night for which it has already
been engaged by a private individual Cases
have been known when 1t has been impos-
sible to refuse the box to royalties, and,
therefore, it has been necessary to let it
twice over; when the first purchaser has ar
rived he has been asked to accept another
box in exchange, and sometimes he has not
shown that spirit of loyalty which is sup
posed to be characteristic of all English
men.
There are certain rules OF etiquette usually
observed In the principal West End theaters
Wnen members of the royal family attend.
when the box has been secured through one
OF the library ticket offices the manager
OF the office attends himself to escort the
royal visitors from their carriage to the
box, In place Of the usual theater attendant;
anu the business manager of the theater re-
ceiVes them at the door as the representa-
tive OF the management. In theaters of
modern construction there is a handsomely
furnished retiring room attached to the royal
pox, IN which 1T Is usual to place cigarettes
ana cofee. When q princess forms one of
the party bouquet is usually put on
cha1r In the retiring room, which Ohe bou-
quet, not the chair her royal highness takes
WIN her into the box. The programs placed
in the royal box on these occasions are in
Varlably printed on white satin
The Prince Of Wales often sends for some
member or members of the company or the
manager. between the acts, and conyerses
with them in the royal retiring ROOM This
is generally accepted as the strongest evil
dence that his royal highness has enjoyed
the piece. The prince has great objection
to any demonstration in the theater when
the occasion of some great gala perform
ance, he does not wish the orchestra to play
God Bless the Prince of Wales,' as is gen.
orally done on other public occasions.