The Washington times., 1906-06-24

Plays have lives, not less glorious
than men. The history of many epochs
OF the stage runs parallel with that Of
many plays. RIP Van Winkle." Uncle
Toms Cabin" THE Rivals London
fAssurance.' Diplomacy" and a number
of Others that could be cited are each
associated with some particular phase
iof dramatic history more than any other
plays, and, as the French would say
each of these plays has its legend. -
Pink DOminOs'' must always be asso-
.ciated with the career of Sir Charles
iWyndham. II was adapted from the
French for him. was the vehicle of his
first substantial success in London and
renabl him 10 obtain a secure foothold
at the Criterion Theater with which his
career, during the past thirty years. has
chiefly been identified by lovers of the
drama 1t Is one Of the few comedies
that can boast Of the fact that two
members OF it's original cast were hon
iored with knighthood. These have been
tSir Charles Wyndham, the producer
who created the principal role of Charles
-GTeythorne, and Sir Augustus Harris,
who created the part of Henry, the
nephew. At that time neither had the
lroyaI handle of "Sir" to their names
rand Harris was only a Juvenile man
After spending some time with Wynd-
ham in the Criterion productions Harris
took charge of the Drury Lane, where
he brought out a series of melodramas
and lifted melodrama to a plane where
1t has been neither before nor since his
passing.
The original production of Pink Dom
tinos" v-as made at the Criterion Thea
tier. LonGon, on March 81, 1877. Prior to
that time various managers had charge
Fof the theater, but on that Saturday
kevening the theater passed under the
management Of Wyndham, who made
Ehis first essay In management there with
Tthe production of this piece. AS an ac-
btor. however. his experience dates even
further back, for he made his debut in
this capacity so long ago as 1864. He
was in America at the time and il was at
Washington that he commenced the ca
lreer IN which has since attained such
leminence. At first. however, his success
was anything but conspicuous, and a
Heading New York journal OF the co.'s
pcriticised his performance In these IN
complimentary terms: Mr.. Wyndham
represented a young man from South
America and had better go back there"
The evening that wyndham rung up
the curtain of the Criterion for the first
'fime he presented n One-act domestic
drama, entitled THE Porter's Knot.
which began at 7:3O O'Clock and the reg
MAR performance OF Pink Donninosr did
not commence until S:45 O'Clock. That
was then the fashion Short pieces al
most invariably preceded the regular
performances. and frequently there were
after pieces TO still further prolong the
evening. The original cast of pink
Dominos" was as follows: Charles Grey
1horne. by Charles Wyndham; Sir Percy
pTUW.
OF Guy Standing; Joskin Tubbs, by
Henry Ashley; Henry. his nephew, by
Augustus Harris: Brisket, the head
walter, by John Clarke; Lady Maggie
rwaggstaff. by Miss Fanny Josephs:
Sophie Greythorne. by Miss Eastlake:
Mrs. Joskin TuDbs. by Miss Maria Davis:
Miss Barron. by Miss Camille Clermont,
and Rebecca, the French maid. by Miss
Edith Bruce.
What manner of plays were produced
in the London of thirty years ago7
This ques tion is answered by a glance
at the bills of the other theaters or. ehe
Saturday evening preceding Easter week
when Pink Dominos'' was first produc-
ed Henry irving was then playing at
the Lyceum under the management of
Colonel Bateman. whose daughter was
leading woman. playing Queen Margaret
to Irving's Richard III. On the evening
OF the production Of Pink Dominos''
Irving made his forty-eighth appearance
in Richard" He announced at that
time that his production of the tragedy
was the first since the time of Shakes
lpeaie on the London stage according to
the best obtainable information.
Forbes Robertson was filling an en-
gagement at the Royal Olympic Thea
ter. where he was playing in Charles
Reade's The Scuttled Ship" Mrs. John
Wood was the actress-manager OF the