The San Francisco call., 1904-07-25
LondOi, Stage GOSSIP
Special cor-espondeace OF The can.

GARDEN. LONDON, July 11--As re-
corded in these letters. The Prince OF
Piisen's" reception by London's critics
was none too hearty. Frankly it looked
Ike another American frost a ia The
V-hirl OF the Town" and The Belle OF
Bohemia" and transatlantic dweiiers
here were glum, so much having been
expected OF the new production. The
Play has been kept on. however-re-
Gently passed its fftieth night in fact
but for one had q susDicion that the
mana cement might bc saving its face
at all costs over an iai,ial failure. mas
much as seyera. further American
productions are 70 be made at the
Shaftesbury. a recent visit to the the
ster, however, left no doubt that The
Prince Of Pilsen." like Gillette's "Sher-
lock Holmes" has captured the public
here completely in spite OF disspprOv
ing writers OF notices" On the night
attended the Shaftesbury not a seat
vas vacant in the. reserved portions Of
the house and the pit also was crowd
ed-the surest possible sign Of success.
II was an enthusiastic house too, and 10
prophesy that the piece viii run for 800
nights seems 10 me TO be keeping well
within the mark IT viii not be as great
a success as The Belle Of New York"
first because there are not more than
one or two songs which can compare
for catchiness with those in which Gus
tave Kerker's score abounded. and
though comparisons be Odious-the
cast contains few. il any, members
whom the audiences here viii take to
their hearts as Edna May. Phyllis
Rankin. Dan DAILY, Frank LawtOn and
z. J. Sullivan. who played the polite
iUnatic," were taken. John w. Ransone
seems to be the popular favorite at
present. His Interpretation OF the trav-
cling brewer, with his constant query,
Vas you effer in Cincinnati?" does not
appeal over here as strongly as it must
have done at home, but he gets his
laugh from beginning TO end and is es-
pecially funny in the sOng-which he
has substituted for 1t Was the Dutch"
I'm On the Water Wagon Now"
though audiences here have only 4
vague idea Of what being on the water
wagon means. The Song Of the Cit
les" is a great go, particularly the New
York girls part Of IL; but, speaking
generally, il seems to be the chorus
work and the novel effects" that hit
the audiences here hardest. If they
can keep on doing as well at the
Shaftesbury as they are at present the
success Of MusgrOve's London home
OF American musical comedy will be
assured.
According TO reports from home
Americans have been offered one or
two rather Indifferent entertainments
in the musical comedy line from this
side OF the water recently, but one
which is likely to reach the United
States before long is practically sure
Of its welcome. This is Sergeant
Brue," the new musical comedy by
Owen Hall, author Of THE Girl From
Kay's." which has succeeded "A Chi
nese Honeymoon" at the Strand The
ater- said something soon after Owen
Hall started work on this piece regard
ing the novelty OF the main idea.
Sergeant Brue" is, Of course, a police
man, who is left tremendous fortune,
which is 10 remain his, however, only
while he remains on the force, unless
1t should happen that he is made an
him 10 retire. Brue, however. is a
man Of few brains; an inspectorship is
practically out of the question as far
ss he is concerned, and so though pos
sessed OF the income OF an American
millionaire and of a house in Park
Lane, he is compelled 10 keep on pa
trolling his beat day after day as con-
scientiOusly as If he were drawing the
~
awhile. however. it happens that Brue.
while off duty, befriends a well known
crook" who out Of gratitude declares
that he will enable Brue to win pro-
motion by discovering TO him the
';felonious little plans" Of his con-
freres. But the coups thus arranged
never come off; always land Brue in
hot water, in fact, instead of getting
him. any nearer his inspectorship.
How he finally attains this rank
it would not be fair TO tell, /
but it is only after many laugh /
able situations. Here the part /
Of Sergeant Brue is played by Willie /
Edouin. and is quite the best thing he |
has done since his Hoggenheimer in !
The Girl From Kay's." The part Of /
the crook is taken by Arthur Williams. !
with I5awtrey in "A Message From !
Mars" and the scenes between these
two are among the best that have 1
been given on the stage this
season Cnless new songs can
be lnterpolated, however, the
piece viii have to depend on its
humor for its success, Madame Liza
Jehmann's much-talked of score hav-
ing proved indifferent as a whole
though one bright exception is ditty
called Mother Eve" novel both in
theme and melody. Altogether Ser
geant B~ue" viii give an American
company no end OF opportunities
George Alexander's production OF
The Garden OF Lies" dramatized
from Justice Miles Forman's Story, is
% be one OF the first OF the autumn