The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-08-07
THEATRICAL TATTLE.

The belief that London audiences are
hankering for American plays rests upon
very slight basis OF fact. The first of
our pieces to escape failure in that city
was "Held by the Enemy. two years
ago, and the success which it achieved
was inconsiderable. The next offer of an
outright American drama there was that
OF Tho Girl / Left Behind Me-" which
ron eight months in London and Is still
going TO the provinces; put In that case
the company was made up OF English
favorites "Secret Service" II the first
genuine triumph of an American play
with American actors In the British
CAPITAL. The next venture of the kind
will be "Ihe Heart OF Maryland" next
spring. with cast headed by Mrs. Leslie
Carter. A ber OF pieces have gone
from America to England and found ac-
ceptance there that were not American in
character. and were not advertised as i'm
portaIt matter. That was recently true
of "The Gay Parisians' and Lost.
Strayed or Stolen. and it will be true of
Never Again. Z" "Too Much Johnson"
and "My Friend from India" all these
being French faroes translated by Amer
ican dramatists. Several comic operas by
Americans. including THE Wizard of the
Nile'' aud "Ei Captain" are TO be sent To
London. but they are foreign In their
themes. While there IL no doubt that any
strong drama. which Is ut the samo tiino
succeed IN that city. no matter what may
be its source. there Is no reason To assume
that an American brand serves as rec
ommendation. 1.-The County Fair, " with
all its sincere and mirthful characteriza-
tion, has just encountered q London
flasco AS to Paris IL would be fooihardy
to put forward a play there ms OF Amer
lean authorship. When Secret Service"
is acted here IL will be in French version
by Decourselle, the French dramatist
One of the advantages Of tho theatrical
syndicate Is that IL has monopoly OF good
humor, ana is so to speak. trust of
TEMPER. No one of prudence can afford to
quarrel with the syndicate. and Its men,
bers travel about with chip on their
shoulders aud nobody To knock IL off.
Managers, at first terrified of and opposed
to the syndicate soon entreated the ad-
mission CT their houses to its list
Authors however independents In spirit
they may lie, realize the futility OF open
enmity against an organization which
produces most Of their plays. Actors, dis.
posed to audacity i'm terms, become hum
ble before trust that employs them.
Here Is the latest instance OF the power
which compels amiabiilty In those who
disagree with 10: ON two occ sions Olga
Nethersole brought suit for damages on
similar accoInts-ths refusal Of Augustin
DAILY and of the Frobmans to carry out
their contracts promising her London
season. Augustin DAILY does not belong
TO the theatrical syndicate. and he had
To pay $500 In order to secure relense
from Miss Nethersole. The great osGu
lator releS sed the Frohmans without ask
ing n dollar rs compensation for her lac.
Grated feelings, frankly giving as cause
for her change In method that n serious
dispute with the Frohmans would inter
fere with her projected season In Amer
H.. Ia raf In n liaf IN
with tho theatrical syndicate Mr.. DAILY lost
1880, ana by their connection with 10
Daniel and Charles have saved n similar
amount Furthermore. MIR. DAILY and
Miss Nethersole at present meet ss stran.
gers while the FrohmaDs and tie Busser
of Birmingham remain on affectionatc,
NOT to say osculatory. terms