The San Francisco call., 1906-11-08
NOVEMBER s, 1906
English Comedy Playwright Who
Is Unconsciously Funny.

to describe it as anything else IMAM
musical comedy would be to make a
distinction without the shadow OF
difference
But the point in which Americans
may possibly be interested 70 some ez-
tent is that the professional makers Of
English musical comedies are now ac-
tuaIIv buster than at any time before,
and that quite a lot of rather bright
and interesting pieces are going to be
the result To begin with. evidently
London-and that, Of course. means
America, too--is in for series OF mu-
sical pieces whose names viii suggest
localities. for the new musical show by
Paul Rubens. who wrote Three Little
Maids is called Miss Hook Of Hol-
land and Seymour Hicks, always I'M
itative, has named his new oner1ng
Miss Bank Of England" And though.
so far. no one has announced Miss
Bay of Biscay" or a Mr. Straits or
Dover" no doubt pieces thus named
will make their appearance as soon as
some librettist thinks Of them
AS far as Miss Hook OF Holland" Is
concerned, however. London Is waiting
for 1t quite eagerly, for few OF the
younger composers can beat Rubens
for tunefu1 melodies The stage set
ting Of the new piece is likely to be
novel too, for, before setting to work
the composer-who Is his own Hbret-
tist and 1yrist as weIl-made
lengthy motor tour through some OF
the most distant parts Of Holland and
brought back with him many sketches
and photographs OF the picturesquS
buildings and inhabitants. @ p. Hunt
ley, who made so big q success In
America, is. by the way, making his
reappearance IN London in Miss
Hook" the first act Of which Is to be
laid in a cheese market near the zuy-
der Zee. and the second IN Dutch
liquor establishment on festival day.
Then there IS "The Three Kisses
the new musical piece which Is being
written for Curzon by the numerous
authors OF "The White Chrysanthe-
num-" and 'The Jolly Widow" the
viennese piece which Edwardes Is go
ing to put on at the Gaiety, TO name
only one or two OF the coming musical
comedy offerings which are most cer-
tain to be transplanted to the other
side OF the water IL they make hits In
the metropolis. Perhaps, however, the
musical piece which Is now being
looked forward to with most interest Is
that which c. NJ S. Mcclellan. author
of The Belle OF New York" is writing
with Ivan Caryn. and in which Edna
May will make her return to the Lon
don stage ION or about" Christmas
time.
There IS still another and even more
AHIcAC5S4A6 UoNC4OPAuo4I IN the A80C
opera situation, however, and that Is
the sudden tendency to lay hands on
classic themes to further the ends OF
melody makers For. following the
announcement that we are to see Tom
Jones" as an opera comes that that
The Vicar Of Wakefield" Is being set
to music, and by no less a person than
Madame Liza Lehman Yes, the com
poser Of "A Daisy Chain is writing
the score for a stage version OF The
Vicar" by Laurence Houseman, and this
will be produced under the name OF
"Olivia"-an ambitious production. too.
in which David Bispham. now return
Ing from America, will have the part OF
the Vicar and Isabel Jay that OF
olivia. The opera. which will be
seen in London soon. is in three acts
and follows closely the Wills version Of
Goldsmith's story. which was one OF
Irving's greatest successes at the Ly-
ceum Theater-