The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-19
LONDON THEATER NOTES.
clement Scott Says Pure Woman Is
Rare on the Stage


LONDON, Dec. 1S.-Clement Scott. the
dramatic critic, has stirred up a strife by
the circulation of advance sheets of an in
tervleW for Great Thoughts attacking the
morals or the stage Its utterances are
Daseu on the most intimate lifelong ac-
qualntance with the personnel of the pro-
Iesslon, and his position as dean of the Lon
oon critics gives his views Importance. See
ing the advance reception, Mr.. Scott re-
quested the editor not to print the inter-
view, which he refused to do Mr. Scott
In the interview aid it was nearly i'm
possible for women to remain pure who
ADOPT the stage. adding that the freedom
OF lie, speech and gesture behind the cur
tam renders it almost impossible for a
woman to preserve that simplicity of man
ner which is her greatest charm.
What is infinitely more to be deplored,"
ne added, is that woman who endeavors
10 Keep her purity is almost as a necessity
Ioredoomed to failure in her career. 1t is an
aWIul thing to say, and still more terrible
II is true; put no one who knows the life
OF the greenroom dare deny it,
Mr.. Scott says Dtne English stage is the
worst because the Engnsh are the least
artlStlc people in the world and more COM
pleteiy without the saving grace of humor
Being interviewed on the subject of this
interview, Mr.. Scott protests that it is not
an attack on the stage, that he has not
been accurately reported and that it is
not falr to quote extracts, as he was speak
ing Tor a religious paper and from a moral
Standpoint. Many actresses he continued,
lead noble lives and the children of actors
VINO are foreWarned OF the dangers seldom
go astray."
Christmas pantomimes will absorb the at
tention and the money of London theater-
goers and theatrical managers throughout
England during the next fortnight. In Lon
don alone there will be fifty pantomimes
staged for the holiday season incIud,np
most of The music halls ard the suburban
houses. The chief attract ms will be pre-
scented at the Drury Lal md Garrick
1heaters.
THE White Heatbo-," ~ n mas been
drawing enormous houses at the Drury
Lane will be temporarily withdrawn to
make way for 1.-THE Babes IN the Woods
the story is 10 be pracucaliy a burlesque
OF the ola nursery tale brought up to date
Inc most elaborate scene is to be a Valley
of Orchids, wherein the players will be
costumed to represent all sorts of flowers
Charles Cartwright, who has toured
America with Olga Nethersole, is planning
to take an English company to Australia
"lIhih month Tor a season of nine months.
One Of the most risque embodiments of
eged life on the stage which has been per-
mitted by the British censor is a curtain
Darnley, running at one of the local the
aters. The principal parsonage, Lord An
noyly, is gentleman who has sown a gem
erous crop of wild oats and sits down to
reflect on these one evening after his return
from one of the night clubs institutions pc
cullar to London. While SOiiloquizing on
the virtues of his modest little wife and
his own unworthiness to be her husband,
his apartment is invaded by Tottie Evans,
a lady Of the demi-monde, who endeavors
to blackmail him. His wife being about to
appear on the scene, the lord retires to the
shelter of a screen and while thus secreted
hears his wife and Tottie Evans exchange
"reminiscences which reveal them as old
comrades in vice. In the denouement his
lordsmp forgives her ladyship because she
has decided to reform, and, embracing, they
both resolve to lead better lives.
Pussy" the fox terrier which has always
accompanied Sir Henry Irving on his trav-
els, recently fell through a trap door at
the Manchester Theater and was killed