The San Francisco call., 1904-08-24
On London Boards.
Special Correspondence.


HEADQUARTERS OF THE CALL,
HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT
g GARDEN. LONDON, Aug. 1o.-Prob-
ably because the theatrical season just
ended was one OF the worst on record,
London managers are starting in early
for the fail campaign. The ball viii
be set rolling by Cyril Maude with his
new play by W. W. Jacobs, the story
writer. and Louis y. Parker, which has
been renamed Beauty and the Barge"
and which is to be seen in America
later on. 1t viii be given here on the
3Oth OF the month. A few days later
Lewis Waller begins operations at the
Imperial Mrs. Langtry's theater-
which he has made TO pay thus far
with a revival Of Miss EliZabeth's
Prisoner" This play Of the RevOlu-
lion seems TO have been a comparative
failure at home, but Waller has found
Il a money maker. George Alexander's
appearance in THE Garden Of Lies"
viii occur a few evenings later, TO be
followed closely by the production Of
Henry Arthur Jones' new play at the
Garrick. Later in the season new
pieces are promised by both Pinero and
- Barrie and there is considerable curio-
sity regarding both. OF the announce
ments made for the coming season,
however, by all odds the most attrac-
tive 10 LOndoners are those authorized
by Charles FrOhman just before quit
ting these shores 70 the effect that not
only Eleanor Robson, but Maude
Adams and Willie Collier will be seen
here before many days. Miss Adams
fa-r Faa nd
again and the promises broken until
playgoers here are about convinced
that there amt no sich person" but
Mr.. Frohman guarantees that there
viii be no mistake about il this time
and that the erstwhile Lady Babbie'
viii be seen in a new play which Mr..
Zangwill is now writing. Given a
worthy vehicle" Miss Adams is sure
Of a hearty welcome. Golfers name
is less familiar over here, but it is sell
dom that an American comedian fails
TO score in London and reports as to
the good qualities Of The Dictator"
in which he is to be seen, already have
reached this country. Taken alto
gether. the general attitude toward
American entertainments on this side
Of the water is much more favorable
than it was some time ago. The fail
ure Of The Climbers Dolly Warden"
and Cynthia to mention several
plays like The Sword of the King"
which were said TO have scored heavily
across the water left a dubious i'm
preston in the minds of playgoers
here. The Darling Of the Gods" how
ever, was one Of the few emphatic sue
cesses Of the winter, and The Prince
OF Pilsen," with a hundred nights al
ready to its credit and, seemingly,
many more TO follow, has helped to re-
store the prestige Of American shows"
Incidentally, it is chiefly due to the
popularity Of certain American spe-
cialities that London has had any the
atrical entertainment at all during the
dog-days. With the beginning Of the
warm weather all but seven plays died
a speedy death. one Of these seven be-
ing the luminOusly popular Duke Of
Killiecrankie" and the other six musi-
cal comedies. Not considering THE
Prince Of Pilsen," it is not too much
20 say that THE Earl and the Girl"
would have expired long ago were it
not for the drawing powers Of
Sammy" In Zanzibar" My Cozy-
corner Girl" and the other interpolated
American songs. and "Bedelia" has
from the first been one Of the strong
est features of THE Orchid" The
other two survivors are ''Veronique"
and The Cingalee," the first of French
origin, but the latter entirely home
made.
Henry Arthur Jones usually can be
depended upon to supply a fairly novel
plot, though occasionally the play he
writes around il leaves something to
be desired. The theme of his new Car
rick piece. however, seems to promise
particularly well, for IL is concerned
with the doings Of a man who sud
denly finds himself possessed Of power
20 hypnotic those around him AS
usual there is a good part for one of
the playwrights gifted daughters.
Charles Frohman's activity on this
side Of the water is increasing con-
stantly. At the beginning OF the COM
ing season he viii send out no less
than ten companies to play in the
provinces.
Martin Harvey has long wanted to
play Hamlet" and has now decided to
put on- the Shakespeare play in No
vember. beginning in Dublin.