Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-04-15
Npecla Corrosnnndence.

Specia correspondence,
Y ONDON, April 3.-Dayld Belasco
Is evidently Il better playwright
than NJ, Jean Richepm. That is
the impression one receives from
the French authors "Du Barri," which
Mrs. Brown Potter has just produced
in English-at the Savoy theater. NJ.
Rlchepln made fuss, It viii be re-
membored, when Bellscos "Du Barry"
was given IN America, two or three
years ago, and declared that the best
Of IL was stolen from him. Nothing
came OF his protests however, and
the Belasco play earned lot Of money
for It's author and Mrs, Leslie Carter
Now, the adaptation of Rlchepins
"Du Barn" which Mrs Brown Pot
ter is using, is an "authorzed' one.
A free adaptation no doubt, and one
made I'm accordance with Mrs pottcrs
ideas and those Of her manager Gil
bert Hare. Charles Brookheld was
originally chosen for this work, But
for some reason Mr. Brookdeld's ver-
Sion failed to please Mrs. Potter, and
so new adaptation of "Du Bari"
was made by Christopher St John,
who is a member OF the American
actress company Gilbert Hare had
a hand I'm II, too, and this version of
the Riohepin play it was that saw the
light at the savoy the other night, Just
what NJ, Rlchepln thought Of it has
not been diyuged The French author
supervised an the final rehearsals,
however and occupied a box on The
first night, 80 there is every reason
to suppose that he considered that the
Savoy play represented him fairly.
IN that case David Belasco Is fully
entitled to pat himself on the back,
Critics at home agreed, IL one remem-
beers rightly that he had put the story
Of Louis NN's f1Noute on the stage
20 as to make il dramatically effective.
This NJ. RiChepiu has failed to do, one
wonders, i'm fact how Mrs Brown Pot
ter could have thought his play worth
llvishlng money upon, That money
was layished ON this "Du Burri" there
Is no doubt The piece is acted by a
numerous and experienced case Include
ing, besides Gilbert Hare W. l., Abng-
ton, who recently returned from Amer
lea, Jerfold Robertshuw, and Herbert
Ross The setting Is uuCommonly
real value accompanies the action IL
is most unfortunate that Mrs. Brown
Potter's munitccnce is SO frequently
misplaced. The Golden Light" her
first production at the Savoy must
have cost thousands of pounds 10 pre-
sent. 1t was pretty bad Church and
Stage the vicar of Gorleston's play
got os sunptuous "a production as the
American actress could give it-and it
ran less than a week
Tho Rlchepln "Du Harri" Is a melo-
drama that contains not a single new
situation and few effective ones. Four
hours long on the opening night, It
takes It's heroine from her bonnet shop
days 10 the scaffold, IN prologue,
three acts and three tableauN. In this
version the Du Barri is ruined and
banished from court because of the
kings discovery that she really loves
Prince Rohan de Rochefort, disciple
of Rousseau, and friend OF the people,
Then we see her "A prisoner IN the Con-
ciergerle, I'm which her lover is also
confined a passport to safety Is con-
yeyed to her, but she gives II TO her
sweetheart-whom she tells that two
have been given her-and he escapes
while she is carried off I'm a tumbrl,
Mrs, Brown Potter as "Du Bari
looks more beautiful than ever ANA
does well IN the lighter scenes, while
Gilbert Hare makes his Louis XIV
truly royal figure. 1t viii be rather
surprising however, II a success is
scored at the Savoy.
Londoners arc uncommonly interest
ed IN the several important American
productions which are promised as
soon as Lent is over According to
present arrangements Miss Maxine I'll
lott win open in Her own Way" at
the Lyric theatcr on Easter Monday
Mr. McLellan's play, Leah Kleschna,"
which Is the most eagerly awaited item
IN the seasons program, was put In
rehearsal at the New theator yesterday
Lena Ashwell rs, OF course. TO play Mrs,
Fiskes part, while Sir Charles Wynd-
ham, who is stlll on the ocean viii be
the hero. 1t is expected that the piece