The San Francisco call., 1904-07-18
London u aiis fof Benefit
special Correspondence Of The cail.

8 HENRIETTA STREET, CONENT
GARDEN. LONDON. June 29.-Heath
Cottage Hospital Is lucky in having
W. &. Gilbert for friend For il is
doubtful II any one in London with
less personal influence than the author
of "Pinafore" could have induced prac-
trically every British dramatist OF real
prominence TO appear at a benefit per
formance. as Mr.. Gilbert has done in
behalf OF the Bushey institution. Mean
while. playccers here are waiting i'm
patiently for the coming special matt
nee az the Garrick, in which the great
lights OF the dramatic profession are
10 take part
As Americans may possibly have
heard. the chief attraction at this mat
inee Will be s parody on Hamlet.
written by Mr. Gilbert ana called
"Rosencrantz and Guilderstern" There
in Mr.. Gilbert himself. Henry Arthur
Jones. Captain Robert Marshall. au-
thor of His ENcellency the Governor;
Leo Trevor and Mrs. Ryley. who wrote
Mice and Men. as wen as Sir Fran
els Burnand. the editor of Punch"
already have promised TO appear. and
al present II is almost certain that J.
NJ Barrie and George Bernard Shaw
viii on this occasion. also don sock
end buskin Perhaps Mr. PinerO felt
that his dignity would not allow him
10 Join even so distinguished a cast"
Anyhow. IL is a pity that he viii not
be seen. for as former actor he prob
ably would have gwen better account
of himself than any Of his confreres,
- Il -, NJ
Rvley. who. Of course. was once
player. too. In Mr.. Giibert's travesty
she viii be the Opheha. Lady Colin
Campbell the Queen. while Gilbert him
self viii undertake the part Of Den
marks King. II one remembers rightly
This is the first time that the somewhat
sesty cO-author Of the Savoy operas
has undertaken anything as altruistic
as the arrangement of a benefit. but
perhaps Mr.. Gilbert is feeling good over
Nhe success Of his new comedy at,the
Garrick. a Fairy's Dilemma" having
passed its fftieth performance. This
piece also viii be played at the Gar
rick matinee. which takes place on
July IS. IL will be surprising if it does
not prove one OF the most popular ben
ehts ever given in London. Incident
ally. il VIII be a capital advertisement
Tor the Garrick. which has had a good
many such recently, thanks TO the in
Eenuity Of Arthur BOurchier. There
was the small episode in connection
with The Times critic. Mr. Walkley:
not 10 mention the piquant mystery
as 10 the new Gilbert play. and lastly
the agreeable little incident Of the cur
tain raiser which the Poet Laureate
sent in anonymously.
A week or so ago il was hinted in
these letters that there was quite a
good chance that Edward Terry would
pay the United States a visit soon. with
The House OF Burnside" 1t has now
been definitely arranged that this ac-
tor-manager viii leave for America in
the last week OF the present year for
a tour which opens al the Princess
Thester. New York. on January 8 under
the management Of the Shuberts.
Captain Basil Hood. whose luck in
the United States never has been good
has been rather unfortunate at home
latterly. too. for his last musical play
al the Savoy was only halfway sue
cess. and his comedy. Love in a Cot
tage." a complete failure. However.
the captain is going TO try II again
with a new musical play which he
calls The Golden Girl" For this.
however. his former partner. Edward
German. VIII not furnish the score.
which win be composed instead by
Hamish MacCunn.
II is rather doubtful If any city has
80 many theatrical "deadheads" rs
Londpn-where first performances are
almost always invitation sfairs-and
90 il Is appropriate enough that from
London comes the first proposition 70
make such guests show their appre-
citation OF the hospitality granted
Them Robert Arthur. who controls
quite a large number OF suburban
plsy-houses. means hereafter 10 make
every deRdhead pay a tax Of four
cents on his ticket-the proceeds 10 gc
70 a theatrical charity-and London
managers are awaiting curiously the
result OF his scheme.
Every now and then some society
woman or other perpetrates a play
LADY Trouhridge was one OF the last
which usslly is given at special mat.
tnee and then heard OF no more. Mos
people expected that such would be
the fate OF the Hon. Mrs. Lyttleton'.
piece. Warp and Woof." especial,
when Il was produced al a distinctl,
suburban theater But not only die
the Colonial Secretary's wife's frs
drama score 50 prodigiously on its two
weeks suburban tour. that il Wa.
brought 10 Mr.. Frohmans Vaudeville
Theater in the Strand. but there IL !:
proving srch a hit that though al
Over town established successes arr
giving up the ghost. Warp and Woof'
is not likely 70 be heard the last OF
for msny weeks 10 come.
During the past few months Lon.
doners have been rather disposed L
ask Why the lists OF attractions at IN,
music halls here were made up Il
such a remarkable extent OF American
names The result Of 4 recent tria
matinee 81 one OF the halls supple.
an answer 10 this query. AT this matt
nee tDents-nine native rnusic-hall per.
formers who had c0me 10 London il
search of an engagement were giVer
q trial. but not single one was fOuns