The San Francisco call., 1904-07-08
Terry Viii Tour america.

eFfy " III orr HHteT1Cd.
LONDON, June 22.-At the present
writing arrangements are practically
complete for a lengthy tour in the
United States on the part of Edward
Terry, the English acror-manager.
He Will be seen in America about the
end of the year in THE House of Burn
side which he is now giving at his
own theater in London and which, II
ii is not a workmanlike play is at all
events an interesting one and shows
the actor at his best.
Few actors on this side of the water
are better known than Edward Terry,
though this will be his first visit to the
United States. He is famous as one of
that merry band who disported them
selves at the Old Gaiety when the "Sa-
cred Lamp of Burlesque" was burning
most brightly, and of whom Henry Irv-
ing. Nellie Farren and Toole were also
members, but perhaps he is best known
on account of his connection with
Sweet Lavender" The Pinero comedy
was one of Terry's first ventures at the
theater which he opened in the Strand
in 1887 It was his great card-he played
Dick Phenyl. the hero, $40 times in Lon
don. and goodness only knows how
many in the provinces and colonies.
Since he was obliged to shelve Sweet
Lavender" Terry has been looking for
another such play, without much luck
until now. His last appearance in Lon
don. when he used a piece by Captain
Basil Hood, was a dire failure. But it
really looks as if the actor had a good
thing in The House of Burnside" 1t is
one more adaptation from the French
by the indefatigable Louis N. Parker,
and well enough done for all practical
purposes. The original was called La
Maison." The story is simple. Richard
Burnside, the gruff but really tender
hearted old hero, is exactly the sort of
character which Terry is happiest in
representing. He is head of the great
shipping house of Burnside, but great
as is his pride in the business, ii has to
take second place TO his love for his two
little grandchildren. Burnsides son,
Dick. has proved ne'er do weel and
after his death his wife, Marion, and
her two children have come to live with
Richard Burnside. The shipowner has
planned that the boy. little Dick, shall
succeed to the business. On the little
girl. Maggie, he intends to settle half
his fortune.
Then tragedy comes in at the door.
A letter arrives for the young widow
which falls into Burnside's hands and
which speaks TO the woman of "our
child" Needless to say, it was not
written by the shipowner-s son. Thus
upon the proud old man bursts the
knowledge that one of his grandchil-
dren is illegitimate- The question is,
which one? Burnside believes that he
can drag the truth out of the mother,
but she declines TO tell. And the rest
Of the play shows the old man crushed
by the knowledge that has come TO him
and harassed by doubts as to what
course he must take. 1t is all tragic
enough, but the author brings about a
happy ending by making the old ship
per decide to take both children to his
heart again and to carry out his first
intention regarding them.
If Warp and Woof," the new play
by the Hon. Mrs. Alfred Lyttelton. pre-
sents true picture, as il purports to
do. of the state Of affairs existing in
fashionable London dressmaking estab-
lishments, then it constitutes an in
dictment of the Government of which
her husband. the Colonial Secretary, is
shining member, for failure to enforce
the factory acts. One might para
phrase Hood and call it a dramatic
Song of the Skirt We are intro
duced to the sweat shop, not in the
purlieus of poverty stricken White
chapel but in the luxurious West End
We are shown wretched, pallid, ill-fed
women being worked early and late in
defiance Of the law to complete in time
for some fashionable function the cos
tunes ordered by society women who
are utterly indifferent to the welfare of
the toilers who minister to their pleas
ure Their shallowness, vuIgarity and
selfshness are strikingly depicted. The
most dramatic scene in the play is that
in which Theodosia (Mrs. Patrick
CampbelD enters the drawing-room OF
Lady Jenny Barkenstone with the
gown which the latter is awaiting.
While making it Theodosia's sister had
tainted. In the presence of her guests,
Lady Jenny, irritated by the delay in
the garments arrival, treats Theodosia
to torrent Of abuse. 1t is then that
Nhc ShoP Sill oiiNSh desperate Dy the
sufferings she has witnessed and the
unjust attack upon herself, lets fly at
her ladyship and the assembled COM
pany and tells them some wholesome
truths from the working womans
point Of view. Some critics assert that
Mrs. Lyttelton's picture of the condi-
tions prevailing in West End dress
making establishments is grossly over
drawn Dressmakers and factory in
spectors have been interviewed and of
course they declare that the ills which
Mrs. Lyttelton has portrayed exist only
in her imagination.