The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-12-12
ans DelcctatIoa-stage Gossip

eriand BelnR tnc Nost Nh'S1 PS
How They Went to Birmingham to bid
For au Irish Play For the Iris Americ-
ans DeIectatiea-stage Gossip
fCopvrfeh. 1897 by Associated Press)
I,onCon. Dec. 11-Louis II. Parker
new comedy, 1.-The Happy Lie" when
was produced On Monday at the Duke
of York's theatre, is likely to (oe more
popular in America than in London, for
uhe Americans mcnoposiZe the virtue in
the piece, and the vice is allotted to the
English. The comedy is based on an
improbable motive, its dialogue is brill
liant and the setting attractive, wnlcn
overshadoW its improoa,Olhies.
The most interesting spectacle whicn
the English dramatic fell affords TINS
season is the fierce rivalry waged by
the representatives of American man
ayers 30 procure the successful Engllsn
plays for home consumption Every
London and provincial dramatfst or
manager who floats play having the
signs OF popularity finds himself IN TIE
position OF an auctioneer receiving tne
bids of transatlantic competitors. Tne
two most enterprising bidders In the
field are Mr.. Lestocq, the English rep
resantative of Charles Fronman, and
A. l.. Sutherland, vino is something OF
q free lance. Mr.. Lestocq and Mr.. Sutn-
erland engaged in an amusing race at
birmingham last week to attend 1ne
first production of a new irish melo-
drama. "Soggarth Aroon" Daring
Priest0, with a view of securing 1t Tor
America should it prove suitable. 1t is
said 10 be reminiscent in it's atmosphere
and will unquestionabfy kindle the en-
trhusiasm OF Irishmen, wherefore IT
should appeal to the large section OF
American citizenship Of Irish descent
An American great in London is
Sandy Dingwall, VINO came over recent
ly to secure some live melodramas for
Jacob Ilitt and will carry back a brace
of plays for the approval Of his princi-
pal
The English press, particularly the
dramatic papers, are bestowing consld-
erable denuncfatory comment upon
what they are pleased to term 'f'roh--
mans dramatic trust" American trusts
are a subject of great solicitude ON the
mart of the British and here, where the
drama holds a Gnuc1 larger place In
public interest than it does in America,
managerial movements are esteemed
correspondingly important. This tend
ency to the organization OF theatrical
trusts, which the English think they
had discovered, presages in the mind OF
certain critics the downfall of the
drama in the new world as an institu-
ton conservative Of art. There is an
other side to the story put forth ioy the
London representatives Of American
managers. They attribute the opposi-
ton so jealousy OF English promoters
because of the inroads which American
attractions are making.
An enterprise from across the water
which is also attracting much atten-
ton from the London newspapers Is
the Barnum and Bailey circus. In this
case the comment 6s entirely and quite
enthusiastically friendly. The heart OF
the distinguished pioneer OF the circus
whose name this institution bears, the
late P. T. Barnum, would be greatly
gladdened, were he alive, to witness
the splendid froadside of unsolicited ad-
the show, All OF the London papers
print columns OF special articles de-
scriptive OF the preparations under way
at OLYMPIA for the Barnum and Bailey
debut, which is announced for Boxing
Day.
Mrs. Potter has soon repented OF her
resolve to spend the winter resting.
Kyrle Bellew and she begin next week
a short season at Islington theatre, one
of the most prosperous suburban houses.
They will play Charlotte Corday,"
which was conspicuous in their Ameri-
can repertoire The most interesting
project Of Mrs. Potter and Mr.. Bene'w
for the season is an engagement in
Dresden the in5enGant of the court the
atre having invited them to give some
of Shakespeare's plays and the old En-
glish comedies there.
blue Jeans is TO be performed in
England under the management of Rob
ert Pateman and Louis Netaersole. Jo-
seph Arthur is coming TO London to
stage the piece, and Laura Burt, who
played the principal part in the United
States, will duplicate it here.
Julie Ring. young American who re-
Gently arrived in London, will play the
leading part in Captain Rogers Christ
mas pantomine, ''The Sleeping Beauty
to be given al Birmingham.
Sir Henry Irving has been appointed
lecturer rede for 1898 ak Cambridge and
the students are delighted with the new
departure.