The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-09-06
W.S.C|LBFRT TO WRITE
AGAIN FOR THE STAGE
Possibility of New Works by
"Pinafore's'' Long Silent Au-
thor-Gossip of Stage.

LONDON, Aug. 22.-Mrs R. D'Oyly
Carte's recent hint that there is pos
slbflfty of w. s. Gilbert writing for
the stage once more is about the most
welcome announcement in connection
with theatrical matters that has been
made in great while. Since the pro-
duction of ''1Ae Grand Duke" his last
collaboration with his great partner,
the late Sir Arthur Sullivan, eight or
nine years ago, Mr.. Gilbert has given
the stage nothing whatever. He has
continued to administer judgment in
the Edgware Road court room, whose
bench he adorns, and he has been re-
ported busy with a work on the SEEM
ingly unlikely subject of the Crimea,
but his connection with theatrical
matters has been confined to supervis-
ing the frequent revivals of his operas
and plays. That the writer whose
mere manner gave a new word to the
language and whose phrases are quot
ed almost like those of Shakespeare
should prefer to remain silent while in
full possession of his powers has been
generally regretted.
The announcement by Mrs. D'Oyly
Carte, widow of the Savoy's famous
manager, and present owner of the
playhouse, was made in speaking of
the theater's future. The house where
THE Mikado," 'Iolanthe" and most of
Tie OlIcT anu sullivan sue
cesses were produced has been closed
for while, the operations of the
American company which is building
the new Savoy hotel having made get
ting to the theater somewhat difficult,
and Mrs. Carte has taken advantage of
the opportunity to have the playhouse
entirely redecorated and generally i'm
proved.
She has had many offers to lease 1t
one of them from George Edwardes-
but has remarked that she prefers to
manage the playhouse herself If she
can get hold of more attractions Of the
sort that have made its name world
famous. Mrs. Carte then limited that
she might be able to induce Mr.. Gill
bert to write for the Savoy once more,
and probably she had some grounds
for this half promise, for she and the
librettist are great friends.
1t really would not be at all surpris-
ing If Mr.. Gilbert had the books" of
two or three new operas already writ
ten, and among the gifted young men
who are now devoting their talents to
musical comedy it ought not to be diff
ficult to find a composer for them, even
If the musician were not another Ar
thur Sullivan.
Even Hugh Morton, who wrote it,
admits that his comedy, ''Glittering
Gloria" now enjoying good fortune at
Wyndham's, owes much of it's success
to the able bulldog who plays one OF
the chief roles. Evidently the posi-
bilities of the idea have appealed to
other dramatists, for there are prom
ises of two or three more plays with
four-footed actors in them, and it is
even possible that. now we may see
that adaptation of Mr.. Kipling's 9Jun-
gle Book" made so long ago. Mean
while, an actor of prominence declares
that a certain young dramatist has
pressed a play upon him on the ground
that it contains such a good part for
bear
Like Pinero. Sardou likes to choose
his interpreters, and he has not been
inclined to take no for an answer to
his proposition that Miss Olga Neither
sole play in English his new piece,
The Sorceress," which Bernhard will
give in French. Miss Nethersole, how
ever, is not likely to agree, as her plans
are laid for some time ahead. The
question Of the English rights in SD
dermann's latest drama has not yet
arisen. This is called Socrates and
His Companions in Arms" and deals
with socialism in modern Germany
Sir A. Conan Doyle has just con-
firmed the report that there is to be a
characterization of his Adventures of
Brigadier Gerard"