Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-04
The Foreign Stage.


LONDON, January 20, 1906.
II Is about time for renewed outcry on
this side of the water over the "Ousting
OF tine British playwright by his American
fellows With no less than five plays by
American authors coming on in London
practically all at the same time, there Will
be more fearful assertions that the native
drama is "moribund," and as usual COM
plete disagreement among learned doctors
as to what is really the matter with the
patient.
Perhaps there is and perhaps there isn't
anything to be deduced from She coming
boom In American plays. Meanwhile how
ever, London is looking forward with un-
common interest to at least two of the
transatlantic pieces now promised in such
pTofUsion. London doesn't really care
whether play is home or foreIgn-made
so long it is worth seeing, and the an
noVnu"ment that both shore Acres and
"The Gilded Fool are to be done here
forthwith has proved unusually welcome
1t seems. however. that both these tried
American pieces are to be Angllcized to
some extent before being given here. Cy
ri Maude has secured the rights in Shore
AcreSs and arranged with Eden Philpotts
to tr,Rster the scene to England. and Nat
Carleton play to similar treatment before
producing 1t al the Shaftesbury. This thea
ter. by the way. is open TO Goodwin, owing
10 the complete failure of c. NJ. c. Nc
I.eliau's ambitious Jury of Fate" which is
TO be SHOWED next week after a brief ca
reer.
MI Goodwin says that If his old Ameri-
can standby should happen to please Lon
don. he would be inclined TO make a
lengthy stay at the Shafteshury. and to
produce there several other items from his
American repertory. Everybody will wish
him well, for, as the actor once remarked
at public dinner here, he has already
three tomb stones in England-the me-
tropolis having frowned on When We
We're Twenty-one" and likewise given the
cold shoulder to The Cowboy and the
Lady and An American Citizen
OF the other American plays that are
coming on shortly perhaps the most inter-
est is being taken In Paul Kesters Dor
othy O. the Hall" Written for Fred Terry
and Julia Nelson. who made so great
success OF his Sweet Nell of Old Drury."
this piece Of Kester's has been ready for
production for some time. But the Terrys
have done so well with their Scarlet PIN
pernet' that they only recently decided on
a change Of bill. Dorothy o. the Hall
will be seen at the New Theater some time
during the coming month Meanwhile THE
Lion and the Mouse is to be put on at
FrOhman's Duke OF York. Theater as soon
as the run Of Peter Pam comes TO an
end. while at Wyndhams will be seen MI
chael MortOns new comedy, which he calls
The Little Stranger" Morton is now with
BeerbOhm Tree and The Little Stranger"
Is practically the first play he has written
since lie adapted Resurrection for the
English actors use Tried on in the prov
inces, Il has proved a successful laughter
maker and should do well when produced
in the metropolis.
Another little instance of American ac-
uyity in European dramatic affairs is the
fact that a German purveyor OF entertain
ment has just arranged for the German
translation rights OF short comedy by
Curtis Brown. entitled Mrs Hazenby's
Health" the English rights of which have
been contracted FOR James WEIGH, who ex-
poets to produce the play in London this
season
cyril Maude had bad luck when Charing
Cross Railway station tumbled over on the
Avenue Theater and crushed the result OF
months OF careful work and thousands OF
dollars OF expense on the part OF the actor
manager In the hope OF making q perma-
nent playhouse for himself. Winifred EN-
cry. VINO Is Cyril Maudes wife and leading
lady, has been III. too, and that has been a
severe blow. SO when the popular pair APP
peared this week in the hrst performance OF
nc SupSEtOF MISS REMEMBER at the WAL
dorf Theater there was a mighty eutburst
OF enthusiasm on the part of the fash!ouable
audience Cyril Maude can always count or
for his premieres. II was an inexpensiye
sort Of play, calling for only four women
and two men, and two sets of scenery
There was good fun in Il. too, and good
nature and plenty OF good writing-but lit
tie dramatic effectiveness. 1t told OF the
wooing Of Mrs. Psllender, most attrae-
tive young widow OF the helpless, clInging
sort, by the timid and hesitatIng but
wealthy Mr.. lister. This pair, OF course
was Mr.. and Mrs. Cyril Maude. The widow
has four children. a romping girl and boy,
a, pretty daughter of the selfsh-invalid
type. and the eldest daughter, tho superior
person from whom the play takes it's name
The superior Miss Peilender is little bet
ter than young scold. and her rather In
efheient mother cannot summon courage to
TEL her OF the engagement TO Mr.. lister
Xhas amiable gentleman's feeble efforts TO
Foften his prospective step-daughter's heart
Jhad her TO suppose that II is she whom he
"a wooing and In the end Mr.. lister ana
Mrs. Peilender have to elope leaving let
ter for the girl TO read as the final curtain
comes down.