The San Francisco call., 1904-04-24
snsclsl corrssnonasnee.

S HENRIETTA STREET. COVENT
GARDEN. LONDON. April 12.-That
the British drama proper is in nearly
II not quite as parlous a state as
Mcssrs. Jones, Archer and Barrie as
sert cannot be denied.-but probably
London viii be able for some time to
satisfy all demands upon it for musi-
cal comedies. The prices of this
l.ind now on view here are unus-
sally attractive. and no doubt most Of
them viii cross the water before many
days. After A Chinese Honeymoon, -
The School Girl" has the longest run
10 its credit of the pieces now being
performed in the West End, having
been played for 300 times or more. The
book OF this piece was written orig
inally by Paul Potter. but il was whip
pea into shape by Henry Hamilton,
the score being supplied by Leslie
Stuart author OF "Florodora." The
music OF The School Girl' is not as
generally catchy as that Of the play
about the perfume. but one OF the
songs. My Little Canoe" is a great
hit This is sung by Billie Burke, who
Of pink pajama" fame. is also in the
cast. not TO mention the star, Edna
Nav. who never has done anything as
good as the little convent girl who
wanders into the Paris Stock Exchange
and gets mistaken for d typewriter
unfortunately Miss Mays throat,
which began troubling her some time
ago. is little if any better. in spite of
treatment by London's foremost spe-
cialist. and her few attempts at song
in The School Girl" are rather painful
10 hear.
When George Edwardes announced a
musical version of the Sans Gene story,
under the title Of The Duchess Of
Dantzie." 4 failure seemed inevitable.
ia spite Of the managers declaration
that the ibretto which had been writ
ten for him by Henry Hamilton for
n-usic by Ivan Carvll was the best he
ever had read. Hamilton. by the way,
seems definitely TO have deserted play
iu favor Of musical comedy writing.
The version Of the Three Musket-
eers" made by him was a success both
here and in the United States, where
Sothern used it, but though il was re-
ported some time ago that Hamilton
was writing a play for Kyrle Bellew,
lbretti only have come from him. But
The Duchess of Dantzic" at the Lyric
is one Of the greatest successes Ed
v-ardes las had. IN it HOlbrOOk Blinn,
the American singer, has the part OF
N8pCicon The orchid" which open
cd The new Gaiety, has been played 100
times. and probably will be played a
few hundred more, having caught the
toun. 1t is by the authors OF the
'-Toroador" and quite as picturesque
and tuneful. with another Sammy
Gigg" part for Edmund Payne, the
Baiety funmaker. most Of whose char
acters have peen played in America by
abe mirthsome Jimmy Powers. When
The Cingalee." which followed "A
Country Girl" at Days and which was
10 be called Beautiful Ceylon." has
had a few catchy songs dropped into it
il will be one Of the most attractive
musical comedies ever produced. The
staging is gorgeous. perhaps the most
lavish ever seen I'm London, and the
story OF the English tea planters love
for the little Cingalee is more coherent
than is usual in this sort Of piece
Huntley Wright too, has plenty oi
NnanCBS lot auRIkEl-tLdhlnk III NIe
part Of Babu lawyer, who assassin
ates the Kings English and talks about
killing the calf that lays the fatted
egg" and so on. But he has no song
likely 10 be as popular as "Yo no.
Little Girls" nor has harrington an
other "Rsjah Of Bhong" ditty. There
is The Earl and the Girl'' by Seymour
Hicks and Ivan Caryll at the Adelphi
which, assisted BY several American
songs and specialties to which Mr.
Hicks helped himself. is evidently il
Tor lengthy run, and the same may
be said for the Cherry Girl" Hicks
other musical play, at the Vaudeville
It has been played since the Christms'
holidays and, as Charles Frohmsn il
interested in the production. probably
will be given il the United States latel
on.
The news that r. c. Carton has fin
ished another comedy is welcome, fo
playgoers here have been afraid tha
his recent lack OF success had dis
coura -ed tie author Of Lord and Lad,
Aley." Beginning with Liberty Hall,
Carton had long string Of successes
including THE Tree =, OF knowledge,
The Home Secretary, Wheels With
in wheels" and Lady Huntworth's Ex
periuent." But THE Undercurrent.
produced two years ago. was not IA
vorahlv received and "A Clean Slate,
which saw the light last season, ais
failed 10 please. The new piece has no
Vet been named. but in it Miss Comp
ton. the original Lady Algy and Ladl
IIuntworth who in private life is Mrs
Carton. viii appear
Mysterious, indeed, is the light tina
sn audience sheds on a play. Tn
shreud and observant George Alexan
der must have supposed he had
strong drama in 'Love's~CarniNal
translated from the German of tn
successful "Rosenmontag, Otherwis'
he would. not have spent much none,
sand infinite care ia producing tn
piece. Presumably the long series o
rehearsals revealed to the astute actor
manager no dangerous weakness in hi
undert sking; yet the first time a Lon
don az -ience gathers to see the play. J
becomes apparent at once TO even th'
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