Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-05
Why the Censor Spoiled a First
Performance.
ALBERT EDWARD has MANUSCRIPT
Suspicion That He Greatly En-
joyed Its Reading on the Quiet.
VISITS BEHIND seen e S
Written for The Evening Star.

1t is perhaps characteristic OF the Eng
lish people and their answering loyalty,
which amounts almost to a religion. that
there has been little lampooning of the
popular prince, whose pecadilloes certainly
afforded ample opportunity. But it is less
than fifteen years ago that one of the bold
est schemes to spring the dramatic sensa-
ton of the century and openly hold Eng
lands future king up to ridicule upon the
public stage was nipped in the bud by the
watchdogs of ST. James Palace. The pro-
moter of this daring enterprise was none
other than George Edwardes, then and now
lessee of the Gaiety Theater, who has since
made a worldwide reputation by providing
such entertainments as Inc Gaiety Girl
The Runaway GIRL San Toy etc, and
/, who now tell the story for the first time.
was the instrument chosen to put the dar-
ing project into effect.
At that time Mrs. Langtry was playing
in Merry Wives of Windsor while Mrs.
James Brown Potter was appearing at the
Haymarket Theater in an adaptation of
Wilkie Collins novel, Man and Wife, a
play dealing with the Scotch marriage
laws In collaboration with Augustus NJ.
Moore, then editor of a paper called Soci-
ETY., and brother to George Moore, the nov
elist, L was commissioned by George Ed
Wardes to write satirical extravaganza,
to be entitled THE Merry Man and Wives
of Windsor
A Clever Idea.
The scheme was to have the Falstaff of
the travesty Called in the skit False
Taffy') made up to resemble exactly the
Prince of Wales. Mistress Ford and Mis-
tress Page were to represent Mrs. Langtry
and Mrs. James Brown Potter. 1t was even
thought possible that they might have been
engaged to play the parts if money could
have been made an inducement. Justice
m ha arfn
ment of Sir George Lewis, legal adviser to
the prince and famous divorce lawyer
and a skillful handler of difficult cases. The
first act was laid in his Office, where a chorus
OF well-known society women appeared
clamortng for speedy divorces. In the sec
ond act, on the banks of the Thames at
Windsor the episode Of hiding Falstaff in
the clothes basket was humorously treated,
and the scene Of the final act was the castle
Of ''Bally Moral in Scotland, where, by an
absurd application Of the Scotch marriage
law, all the divorced couples were mad
vertently united. Throughout the plot Ford
and Page, standing for and resembling Mr.
Lentry and Mr.. Brown Potter. were to be
represented by inanimate dummies, dragged
In and out at opportune moments.
The piece was written and ready for pro-
duction, I supplying the book, and Moore
being responsible for the lyrics. Edwardes
was enthusiastic. He expected to create a
colossal sensation. 1t was, of course, his
opinion that after the first or second repre-
to represent the prince, the women with
whom his name had been associated, and
| many prominent persons In the highest So
ciety, would be peremptorily forbidden; but
he argued that the royal veto as to costume
and makeup would cause such rush to
see the piece that it would prove extremely
profitable, even when, afterwards, as he
proposed. the actors and actresses appear
ing in it should wear only their own ordi-
nary walking dresses and no makeup
wha tever.
Formulation Declined.
A copy Of the manuscript was carefully
compiled, so that no hint Of the actual in
tention as to make up" ETC., should ap-
pear in the text, and 1t was sent to the
examiner Of plays, ]. s. Pigott, representing
the lord chamberlain. who Is the official
censor. A few days later George Edwardes
received an intimation from st. James
Palace that 1t would be wise for him to
withdraw his application for a license for
the extravaganza, polite way Of absolute
ly prohibiting the production. The type
| written manuscript was returned, and with
| in year an equerry of the prince called on
| Mr.. Edwardes with a reQuest-a royal re
quest. which Is tantamount to a command
| that the manuscript of the prohibited play
| be delivered to him. 1t probably rests at
| the present time in some corner Of the
| Prince Of Wales private library.
| That same night his royal highness occu-
| pied box at the Gaiety Theater, grace
|
incurred the royal displeasure, and, indeed
during an interval between the acts Albert
Edward jokingly intimated that he had
| read the suppressed satire and had been
much amused by 1t. The prince still con-
| tinues a warm supporter Of all entertain
ments provided by George Edwardes. In
spite Of Its non-production, Edwardes paid
| Moore and myself a handsome sum for the
work. Whether the aStute manager was
| actually out Of pocket by the transaction
| or not am not in a position to state.
Prince and Players.
| When the Prince Of Wales, usually ac-
| ccmpanied by the princess, officially honors
London theater with his presence, two
| large bouquets are provided by the manage
ment and placed conspicuously in front OF
the royal box. Eut there are many other
| occasions when England's future king hob
| nobs with those whom an unrepealed ole
| law designates as "Rogues and Vagabonds,
although his presence Is entirely unknown
| to loyal subjects in front of the footlights
| and only guessed at by the majority Of
| those behind. By the experienced an extra
! air of importance, unusual business ant
faultless evening dress eXhlblted by the
| manager, combined with rigid enforcement
| of the rules of prohibiting lettering in th'
| wings or outside dressing rooms are recog
| niZed as indications that somewhere II
some carefully guarded nook In the king
| dom of make-believe, the first gentleman IL
Europe Is making merry after his own Ian
guild but always dignified style.
His peeps into the play-actor's world arr
kept profound secret, and woe betlde tn
| s,mn1e chorus girl so devoid of tact as t.
so much as intimate by word or look tina
she recognized the future king. Such an in
iudicious act meant instant dismissal Inc!
who were sufficiently clever to act IN TN
royal presence as ingeniously as upon th'
stage were sure of valuable present, sen
ANONYMOUSLY the following day, while high
er favors were bestowed upon those wh'
became special favorites.
While singing at the Savoy Theater dur
ing 1881 and 1882 1 frequently saw tn
| LAND Az