The Washington times., 1906-06-24

A CTRESS. managers and play
N wrights are crossing and re
crossing the big water at such a
rate these days that IL is almost impos-
sible to keep tab on them. Some OF
them are going over to work, and some
TO play. some are coming home 10 play
and some TO work. Some are going over
with dreams of London success, some
are coming back with the nightmare of
a London failure. Managers are taking
American plays over there. and mana
gers are bringing English plays over
here. And while there's really verv lit
tie doing in theatrical way. there Is a
whole lot preparing for the opening OF
the winter season. now only few weeks
of
His House In Order" the Pinero play
In which John Drew will star here next
season. seems to be about the only
bright spot in the English theatrical
armament just at present An English
correspondent of one of the weeklies ap-
plies TO II the rather noncommittaI ad-
1ective remarkable" But II has GER
tainly been successful over there. In
deed. ii is said to be the only English
play which is drawing capacity houses.
And for over four months II has been
packing the St James Theater in every
part OF the house for every performance
So that the many Americans recently
arrived in London find it is the one play
for which they are unable TO book seats
for any night TO come for some weeks IN
advance. For instance. a little party OF
New Workers. who were obliged to leave
town next day. tried in vain for every
night during the several weeks they
were in London, TO procure two seats of
any sort in any part of the house. More
over. Augustus Thomas. who has re-
Gently arrived from the other side, was
very much Impressed with IL. and pre-
diets that Drew will make a very big
success with II.
Augustus Thomas return Is really
something Of an event. For the last
three years he has been living in Paris
where his children have been at school.
and though he came over here whenever
one Of his plays was TO be launched, the
register Of the Lambs Club always read
Augustus Thomas. Paris. France"
Now he has come home: fifty per
cent OF the baggage on the steamer that
brougia him over was consigned 10 his
New Rochelle home, and hereafter he
will sign the register Augustus Thomas.
Forty-fiVe Minutes from Broadwav''-or
words 10 that effect. He will have two
plays ready for the fall-One Of them
quite out OF his usual line. a sort OF
dramatic ''what-is-it'-neither comedy.
nor problem play. nor yet melodrama.
He has. moreover. outlined two plays
which he is under contract TO write next
winter. one for Lawrance dOrsay, and
one for Dustin Farnum.
1t is noted in the weeks news that Mr.
and Mrs. Dan Frohmen CMargaret Hing
ton) and the remainder Of that splendid
company which has been playing the Ill
fated but well deserving drama, The
Lion and the Mouse at the Duke of
Y ork' s"-the words are those of an Eng
lish critic-are home again from a for
eign shore, with a disagreeable expert |
ence Of the poor taste of Londontown.
Edmund BTeese, Richard Bennett.
Walter Allen, and Marguerite St John. ,
who were OF that splendid company"
are back in the New York cast. and the
things they are saying about London
they wouldn't look well in
print
Margaret Ellington isn't saying any
thing; she's getting ready to support |
John Drew in His House in Order" but
she has not given up the London propo- |
sition-not by long shot. She Is going |
over next season in new comedy which !
Michael Morton is to write for her |
Plucky2 Yes, indeed. But when one
gets right down to IT. Dan Frohman, as !
a husband, is far more valuable asset |
Tor an ambitious young actress than all 1
he pluck Of the entire profession. II is l
)ne of the cases where lUck-the luck Of 1
a husband-manager with plenty Of
money and unlimited faith in ones tai
accomplish more in a year thar
mere pluck could In a decade.
Grace George found that out. Grace
George is clever actress and a mighty
pretty woman, but II is doubtful 81 she
would ever have been starred so per-
and in such sumptuous produc-
ions had she not married william A
Brady, who believed In her and was
bound she should have her chance.
She has certainly had it-and she has
sometimes had the luminous good sense
% turn II down. For instance. she had
he chance to star In Sardou's latest
play, La Piste," for when II was first
produced in Paris Mr.. Brady had n
translated and turned IL over TO Miss
George, who was supposed to be fitted
or the main feminine role She read ~
ma turned II back to her husband and
with the remark that ~ the
'lay was made so that American audi-
'nces would take 1t all the drama would
lave TO be taken out Of it, and IL n was
played without being changed somebody
would be arrested
1t is frankly admitted that the Lon
Ion season has been a poor one. NOT
1nly have American plays failed over
here, bat the home product has met a
Ike fate. George Edwardes owns TO
having lost $4,000 on The Little
cherub." Somebody has said that comic
operas are not written, but rewritten.
And certainly THE Little Cherub" has
ulflled its destiny in that line. BUT
wen when thoroughly rehashed and re-
famed The Girl on the Stage" il failed
o draw And yet Frohman is bringing
over to star Hattie Williams in. Some
'cople won't learn that second hand
experience is often as good as new. and
ar less costly.