The Washington herald., 1906-10-10
EDNA MAYN THE
LONDON LIMELIGHT.

Correspondence Of The Washington Herald.
London Oct ZIP 10 Il few days ago,
when she suddenly sprang a sensation
on theatrical folk, the latest and by all
odds the most interesting announcement
regarding Edna May was one that really
had nothing TO do with the stage or the
acting profession at all. It was wholly
concerned with a new, and, report said
bewilderlng, fascinating, and costly article
Of apparel which the former "Belle OF
New York" had just had constructed
from designs conceived by herself is COS
tune dc bain." or. in plain English,
bathing suit"
do not know that Miss Mays friends
are correct IN stating that this con-
fectlon cost nearly hundred dollars. As
it was made by famous firm OF court
drcssmakcTs. however. that is not inn
probable Certain it is that the dainty
trifle made a tremendous hit when worn
for the first time by Miss May at Cromer,
the ultra Questionable British seaside re-
sort. this year Then it was too late in
the season for the now famous garment
20 be copied 20 any extent, but II was
generally prophesied that the summer
of 1907 would prove the American actress
had succeeded In setting a new fashion,
so far as English feminine bathing cos
tunes are concerned
But the interest which attaches to the
actress experiment as a fashI0n-nak
has been overshadowed completely by that
which Miss May has aroused on both
sides Of the Atlantic. by throwing up her
part at the London Vaudeville on ac-
count Of the rash action of that theater's
managers in featuring" another fair
American member OF the cast
When the run Of the Belle Of May
fair" began there. Miss May was ayOw-
edly the bright particular star. while
Camille Clifford, the ex-Gibson girl, Of
Tine Prince Of Pnsen," had the compara-
lively small part Of a newly made British
peeress from across the "herring-pOnd.
AS every one knows, however. not bong
since, Camille left the Vaudeville for
space, and soon afterward promised to
marry the eldest son Of Lord Aberdarc.
SO, considering the amount Of attention
the thing attracted, IL IS not surprising
that wh-n the Gibson giTl' returned TO
the Belle Of Mayfair" the management
Of the Vaudeville advertised her reap
pearance far and wide.
They gave her new song 10 sing. too.
besides putting her name on the bills In
fat black type, and all Of a sudden the
public learned that these various atten-
tions to a lesser member Of the cast OF
The Belle" had put its stars nose
badly out Of joint. Now Miss May has
left the Vaudeville altogether. while
Charles Frohman. standing by his star
has withdrawn from his association with
the Gattis who run the Vaudeville.
The latter, however, seem likely to score
on the whole affair. Their house is being
packed TO sec Camille Clifford. and the
management has just brought of a mas
ter stroke by engaging Phyllis Dare to
play the star part recently relinquished IN
dudgeon by Edna May.
Phyllis Dare is the girl Of sixteen.
whose appearance while not in the best
of taste, maybe). is perhaps more calcu-
lated to pack a London theater than that
Of any other English player, FOR her name
was connected with one OF the most sen
sational libel suits brought in England
in the last twenty-five years The case
in question was that recently brought
by Seymour Hicks against detameT
who called himself Dare. and who posed
as a brother of the two sisters. Zena and
Phyllis II will be needless. likewise, to
particularize as to the helrtless allega-
tions made against the pretty child who
lately appeared at the Vaudeville as the
heroine of THE Catch Of the Season. -
The allegations were proved to have not
shadow Of foundation Phyllis, during
the-time that her name was being dragged
in the mud, was at school in Belgium.
finishing the education which was inter-
rupted BY her brief career before the Lon
don footlights
From school. however the Vaudeville
management has tempted Phyllis, and in
about weeks time she IS TO take over
the part in The Belle Of Mayfair" lately
filled by Edna May Meanwhile. what
Of Edna May, who has surrendered a
salary. she says. of $1,000 q week for
the sake Of spiting some one else's pretty
face? Miss May is to be starred again
by Mr.. Frohman IN another musical play,
Nellie Neale," and presumably will con-
tinue her successful career in the metrOp-
Oils.