The San Francisco call., 1906-05-05
EDNA MAYS NEW
ROLE k FAILURE
Belle of Mayfair"
Not Popular
in London.
Twin PlayS"Make
Hit With Paris
Critics.

oOn, as everybody knows, took 10 The
Belle Of New York" immensely, be-
cause it was tuneful and witty, but the
metropolis gave exceedingly short
shrift 10 '"Ihe Belle Of Bohemia," p"
waich was also sent over from the
United States, but which rpoved to
have neither OF the above qualities.
And now we have THE Belle of May
fair''-completely English-made, albeit
1t is produced by Charles Frohman
ana played by Edna May-and here is
proof additional that it is decidedly
not everything TO be a Belle"
e. For this much heralded musical com
. edy version OF the Romeo and Juliet
story is a distinct disappointment, and
most Of the blame therefor must rest
On the shoulders Of Captain Basil
Hood. who has written particularly
feeble book" and not on those OF
Leslie Stuart, the composer, who has
utilized to the full what few oppor-
tunities have befallen him, or upon
those Of Charles Frohman, who has
given the whole thing a particularly
effective mounting" ana provided an
expensive cast. Previously, Captain
Hood has done some promising work.
His comedy, Sweet and Twenty" was
& great success over here, and some
of the operas which he wrote with
q. Edward German for the Savoy com
psny led q few exuberant souls TO hail
him as s'the coming Gilbert which
was foolish. But he has missed a good
chance this time by providing some of
the very worst dialogue and song
words that one ever remembers en-
cOuntering in connection with first
class musical comedy production in
London, and SO, although, Of course,
The Belle Of Mayfair will be i'm
proved immensely before il has been
played many times, it is doubtful
whether Edna May will use it when
she makes her next visit TO the land
OF her birth
In theatrical circles in Paris the
topic Of the moment is the twin
plays" as they are called-in other
words, The Dear Child" by Roman
COolus, and "Bourgeon," by Georges
Feydeau. Advertised one above the
other on every dead wall, and on the
Norris column, which are so distinct
I've feature of the Paris boulevards,
they are, by all odds, the biggest two
successes Of the present season, but
curiOusly enough, the two plays have
a much closer affinity than that
This is the way of It Last sum-
mer their respective authors, Feydeau
and COolus, decided TO take an outing
together, and for that purpose went to
Plombieres, one Of the most fashion
able Of the many French spas" in
the last days Of July. They inhabited
- the same hotel in the Rue Stanislas.
and there they wrote the two pieces
which are now drawing all the town.
CoOlus occupied Lne second floor and
Feydeau the first, the windows of the
one being just over those of the other,
Just as are the bills on the Morris
columns. 1t is not stated, however,
whether the authors were provided
with feet obtained from the same
rabbit
There is no denying the fact that
interpolated American songs have
been by far the brigtest feature-if
not the actual salvation-of a good
many London musical plays Of late,
notably Sammy" in The Earl and
the Girl" "Bedelia" in "The Orchid"
. "A Wise OLD Owl" in THE Catch of
the Season" One did not expect
: British composers to admit this, how
ever, but Paul Rubens does so frankly
in a new ditty which he has just in
..troduced into his musical comedy ''Mr.
Popple.." and which is sung by Violet
Lloyd. The chorus runs as follows:
Man, Man IN America,
Do send me over a songs
For no English play runs for more
than a day
If you don't send one along.
Han, Man in America,
Any old rubbish I'll try.
III get a new dress, If 1 make a sue
cess.
And I'll capture the town by-and-by."
That is outspoken, at any rate, but
Il may be observed that Mr.. Rubens.
who gave US Three Little Maids" and
Lady Aladcap." is one of the few com
posers Of musical comedy who are
quite, able TO make hits with their own
Songs, and who have no need to crib
American ones. 1t is Seymour Hicks
who is the arch-offender in this re-
spect, and most Of the Yankee tunes
which he interpolates into his musical
plays are appropriated without any
. credit 70 their authors whatever.
Ronald Macdonald. son of the late
DIT George Macdonald, and author of
''The Sword of the King" has dram
letized his latest novel, "The Sea-
Maid" and has arranged with Oscar
Asche for the English production