The Washington times., 1901-11-24

several theatrical acquaintance about the
matter. but they instantly pooh-poohed the
idea. Hadn't every big theatrical man
ager in New York positively refused to
touch the piece? Surely, my friends
argued. / was not more astute than the
other amusement caterers, who had spent
the better portions of their lives in the
show business was, in fact. much OF a
novice, having had but one season on the
road, with Mime. Modjeska, although I had
managed the theatre at San Diego. Cal.
for a number of years. Yet-thel idea OF
producing such an important musical
piece as 'Flofodora' was great undertak-
ing. and especially for me.
"Hoxever.I was not worried much by
the advice Of my well-meaning friends.
and when the performance was first given
at the Casino. New York, and almost
every paper in the city denounced 'Floro-
dora as one of the positive failures of
the season, and my friends knowingly re-
marked, Didn't We tell you SO over in
London l did not lose my confidence in
the worth of the musical comedy.
"Our first weeks business was not en-
couraging by any means. and it was not
until the commencement of the third week
that the public commenced to take an
interest in the entertainment. Then the
crowds started to come our way, and
they have been visiting 'Florodora night
ly ever since, and there is at present no
signs of an abatement in the business"
ITO what do you consider the popular
ity OF the piece is due?"
well, II anything, / guess 1t must be
the double sextette. Such a thing was
never tried before Leslie Stuart attempt
ed 1t in 'Florodora,' and almost after
the very first performance in New York
We heard of this number more than any,
thing else. The idea Of having twelve young
men and women, froek-coated and modish-
ly gowned, walking about the stage as
though out for an afternoons promenade,
was new to New Workers.. The graceful,
swaying gait was varied by illustrative
gestures. The burden of the ditty is that
love is an unromantic fact. though neces-
sary to man and woman, and TO be taken
with the same ease and refinement as
ones dinner or a stroll on the avenue.
The girls sum the matter up when they
say: L must love some one. and it might
as we'll be you' The worldly wise ex-
pressions of face that accompanied these
words we're remarkably comprehensive,
and actually took the first nighters by
storm. Rarely has there been a song
more enthusiastically encored to my
knowledge. Even the apathetic second
nighters got up in their seats and ap-
plauded. And this, l really believe, made
the success of our venture possible.
"You must bear in mind that all this
time we were not sitting still. with our
hands and minds unemployed. We were
actively engaged in devising means to get
'Florodora' before the people. If one
of the sextette-I mean one of the young
women-was fortunate enough to win
three quarters of milliop or some such
sum in Wall Street, we were not too mod
est to keep the fact from the newspapers.
And by the way, speaking of the SEX
tette, reminds me that Washington con-
trfbuted much to that now famous original
crowd for two of our prettiest young wo-
men were Margaret Walker and Marie
Wilson, both of whom are from this city.
Leslie Stuart recently told me how he
happened to write the Tell Me, Pretty
Maiden number. He had had the idea in
mind for some time. but couldn't exactly
hit upon the right theme. When / asked
him why he had decided upon six men and
similar number Of girls he said Be
cause they would just comfortably reach
across the stage He had tried in vain
to get suitable phrases that would carry
the song. One night about two weeks be-
fore the opening Of .Florodora' in London
he was standing in front of the Lyric
Theatre, wheh In some unaccountable
manner the phrase, 4 must love some one,
it may as we'll be yol,' occurred to him.
Two hours Iafer Tell Me, Pretty Maiden,
Are There Any More at Home Like YOU
was on papers ,.
There's the real history Of the song
and don't know If it has ever before ap-
peared In print. Mr.. Stuart told me of
the incident during his visit to New
York last month";
"Beaucaire,v p which was SO we'll liked in
Washington last week. will be given in
London by Lewis Waller early next year.
There was some talk Immediately after
Mr. Mansneldp appearance in the part of