The San Francisco call., 1904-06-12
London's Stage World.
Special Correspondence.

GARDEN, LONDON, May 2s.-Un-
doubtedly the reception accorded TO
The Prince Of Pilsen"-presented here
for the first time the other evening
has been fully described in the tele-
graphic dispatches. Reports from the
United States, however, make Is evident
that the latest experiment with Amer1-
can musical comedy IN London is being
awaited with considerable curiosity at
home, so II may not be out of place
10 90 somewhat into details regarding
the situation. It viii be remembered
that this is the beginning Of an at
tempt 10 provide London with the best
musical plays that the United States
can produce George Musgrove, the
manager OF the Shaftesbury, where
The Prince Of Pilsen" is now running,
announced recently that he had made
a start by securing three pieces that
had enjoyed favor in the United States
the present production, The Yankee
Consul" and Peggy From Paris" and
that If the opening attraction failed to
do business ii would be shelved In
favor Of the second, and so on until
he found a winner. Americans in Lon
don waEed for the outcome with par
ticular interest, for it is, Of course. a
fact that since The Belle of New
York" no American musical play
has found luck in London. It
is also true that not one Of
the plays sent over had been
q real success at home. Judging from
the fact that il had run nearly two
years in the United States. it was felt,
however. that The Prince of Pilsen"
should afford a fairer test. Well, The
Prince" has been presented, and, it
must be confessed, has Jared uncon-
mon badly at the hands Of the review
ers. They find it less we'll mOuGted
than the plays Of this kind presented
by George Edwardes, Of uncommon
feebleness in liberetto, more meritOri-
Gus so far as music is concerned. but
not so very funny, John w. Ransome,
on arriving in London, was asked by
an interviewer If he would noI anglicise
his part a little, SO as TO make it more
understandable by Britishers. The re-
ply was L won't change a single line"
Present indications are that this was
a mistake for on the first night the
comedians famous "catch-phrase" fell
rather fat. Vas you ever in Cincin-
nati2'-the constant inquiry of the
American brewer in the play-tickled
audiences at home; here ii is just as
funny as it would be in the United
States if an Englishman asked Were
you ever 1n Birmingham" The much
heralded Song Of the Cities also
, proved rather mystifying TO London
ers. and this might have been ex-
pected- What significance could il be
supposed TO have. for instance. If the
band played Maryland" to announce
the arrival OF the Baltimore girl. when
this tune is absolutely unknown to an
English audience2 In such respects
The Prince of Pilsen' may prove too
American to succeed in London, in
others IL is voted not American enough
The scene in Nice-there Is little, if any,
American local color; nothing quaint
TO English eyes. as there proved to
be in "Dahomey." So IL is being asked
why il was worth while to bring all
this distance a play so much like the
homemade article? However, it is for
the public to say whether the next item
on Mr.. Musgrove's list shall, or shall
net. be long delayed.
Ethel Barrymore's beauty, grace and
vivacity captured the critics. official
and unofficial. at the first performance
in London Of Hubert Henry Davies
Cynthia" although the poor girl was
so nervous and overwrought that she
was discovered" on the verge Of tears
each time the curtain went up in re-
soonse to the enthusiastic calls of the
audience between the acts and at the
end Of the play. There were indica-
lions that she was going to have a
good. comfortable cry after the ordeal
was over. 1t was rather a severe or
deal. too fer the play did not appeal
as much TO the British taste as il had
TO American taste. The chief question
that seems TO present itself 10 the Brit
ish mlnfis whether or not the average
american girl is as extravagant and as
gnOrant Of the value Of money as
cynthia. Max Freeman and Joseph
Wheelcck Jr., who We're imported for
the production, were particularly well
received, and Gerald du Maurier. one
Of the most intelligent Of the younger
English actors, did all that could be
'one wi The rather empty role of
vnthia's husband
Evidently Beerbohm Tree has an eve
on the patronage Of the many Ameri-
cans who soon viii be in London. One
thinks so from the fact that he is to
follow The Darling of the Gods"
which viii be played for the last time
on May 30. with three Shakespearean
revivals Sir Henry Irving's last few
spring revivals at the old Lyceum were
supported almost entirely by Ameri-
cars. and there should be much patron
age for the younger actor-manager
froi the same quarter, for the three
pieces which he means % revive.
Julius Caesar" Twelfth Night" and
"A Midsummer Nights Dream are
among those which he dc, best In
the last named he will also have the
advantage Of Miss Ellen Terry's, as
Eistance.
Albert Chevalier has been talking
a.