New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-09-05
LONDON DRAMA.
Outlook for the SeasoR-Farciicai
Comedy FaUored By Managers.
London. August q

Z
eraI trade and when the income tax stands AZ
shilling to the pound. Even Shakespeare is -
be adapted to a duh and thOughtless time and
presented either in its highest vein OF comedy
or in its most whimsical form Of fantasy The
Tanning OF the Shrew'' has remained one OF Mr.
Benson's standard attractions for provincial an
diences year after year; but it has not been seen
in London since Miss Ada Rehan filed the stags
at Days with joyousness and vivacity. Ths
fine old comedy is TO be revived at the AdeIph
Theatre with the full text and with the prof.
Ogue the curtain raiser Mr. Oscar Asche is
to play both Christopher Sly and Petruchio and
he is well equipped for each part. His admirers
have been expecting to see him carry of high
honors as OtheIlo: but probably PetruchiO is a
safer performance for him. and certainly it will
be more amusing Miss Lily Brayton. who has
been gaining power IL not charm since the time
OF her own and MIR. Asches apprenticeship in
Mr. Benson's company. will be the Shrew. but
cannot be expected to rival Miss Rehan in
breadth and dignity of style The Tempest is
to be the opening number at His Majesty's The
atre and Mr.. Tree has announced that he viii
produce this poetic fantasy as iTnaginatIvely as
possible The five acts viii be recast into four,
and there will be a series OF wonderful stage
pictures, the shipwreck being managed with
thrilling realism Mr. Tree is hoping to make
Ca1Dan q comic rather JtetlA a eA- AZ
ter and Mr.. Lionel Brough Is TO support him in
eccentric comedy. Miss Tree viii be Ariel and
Ceres. and Miss Norah KERN viii labor strenu-
ousIv over the difficult part of Miranda The
-rernDest' has been repeatedly performed in Lon
don during the last ten years. but this revival
promises 10 be particularly brilliant and ef-
fectfve Mr. Tree holds in reserve a new plaY
bv MIR. stephen Phillips entitled Nero" but 1t
is not likely to be enacted until the autumn OF
next year
Mr. Bourchier. who dignIfed the season a year
ago with a splendid exhibition OF the old fasa-
toned art OF acting in The Arm Of the Law,
has been advised by the box Office that It IS
more profitable TO amuse the public than to
thrill il with an amazing impersonatlon or cnaf-
acter. So he has turned from Mr. Gilberts
parodv Of an old fashioned pantOmime 70 Mr..
Henry Arthur Jones's hypnotic farce. The
Cbevaleer." and the Garrick is again the scene
of rollicking farce. as it was nine years ago.
when The Rogue's Comedy" was produced by
Mr. Willard. II is in Mr. Jones's spTightlisst
vein and Mr.. BoUrchier has a most amusing
part. and it is so rapid in movement that the
evening ends before the play seems to have
begun. The Haymarket being closed for changes
In construction, Mr. Cyril AIauds and his excel
lent comedy company will make a fresh start
next week at the New Theatre in Beauty and
the Barge" and as MI ". W. Jacobs has gen
nine gift Of hunor and his associate IS play
wright. NJ. Louis Parker. has a marked pTeiu-
dee against tragedy a farcical comedy may Re
con1dentIv expected Miss Ada Reeve has
eruirad a company for the Criterion Theatre,
where winnie Brooke Widow is announced
as an old fashioned farce Mr.. ZangwiIIs
Merely Mary Ann is the opening piece At ths
Duke of Yorl's Theatre. after American audi
ences have been amused by the flight of the am
bilious heroine from the basement TO the draw
ing room
Romantic drama is rot utterly abandoned N
the theatrical quest for thoUSh-less amusement
Mr. George Alexander found refuge last season
from German military meiodCarna IN extremely
light vaudeville saturday 20 Afondoy,' bur he
* starting this autumn ~ ths S. James The
atra with ..Fhe Garden Of Lies a melodrama ~
romance and intrigue similar TO "If We've
King The Prisoner OF Zanda' and other PLAYS
in which he has done his best work z IS Mr.
sydney Grundys version OF Mr.. FOrman'S novel
and is full OF action and entertaining bypiay-
Ar Waller after a temporary revival Of 'A.i-z-
abeth's Prisoner at the Imperial Theatre, is 10
produce The Master o. the Kings Company
with elaborate changes Of scene and costume
M Esmond, who is q resOurcefCI actor, as wen
as an ingenious playwright, IS 10 take the part
Of Charles II and TO rival IN makeup Mr. Fred
Terry's representation Of the pleasure loving
monarch Mr.. Asche and Miss Braytou also
have a romantic drama IN reserve Tor the
Adelpht II The Tanning OF the Shrew'' fails 70
hold audiences there. The Chetwynd Affair
BY Mr.. Reginald Kennedy-Cox. IS the drst al
traction ct the Royalty Theatre, and IL IS a
society piece with mere nelodrara than COM
edy Miss Lena Ashweu. who has undertaken
this season the labors and responsibilities OF
theatrical management, IS 10 appear at the Cor
onet Theatre in Al English version OF La Mon
tansier" Marguerite is the new title and TIE
adapter is Mr. Michael Morton 1t viii have
strong emotional part for Miss AshweL
Mr. Pinero's new Pldy-prO5ably at either
Wvndharu's or the Duke Of NOrk's Theatre-ls
assumed 10 be a comedy I'm his earliest strain;
Yet nothing is known of il except that Mr..
Weldon Grossmith was offered the leading part
and after mature deliberation declined II IS
unsuitable for him. \ substitute has not yet
been found for him. but Mr.. Dion Boucicaull'
Miss Marie Ellington AMI Miss Lettuce Fairfax
have been engaged for other parts. If this work
proves 10 be farcical comedy it will be most
interesting to compare its reception with the
popularity which has been justly earned o. Ln9
Duke of KnliCranlxie''-the most profitable play
of the year Mr.. Barrie is reported to be WIZ
ing plays for Miss Ellen Terry and for Mss
Edna May. but the titles. themes and styles Oh
work have not been disclosed. He has a quaint
way of referring 10 the tragedies in the bottom
drawer. which managers cannot be induced 70
look at, although he assures them that they are
superior to his comedies and sentimental ian
tastes but it Is not likely that either Miss Tern
or Miss Edna May has lent encouragement %
him 10 court the tragic muse The kencaHs
who are seldom seen in London. have secures
O Dev- plav by Mr. NIatCalfa Wood, which IS r.