Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-16

~ ROBABbf II VIII DC some titho oe
fore the recent prophecy of an
American manager IL realized. and
London becomes a mere suburb
of the United States 30 far as the
stage is concerned. but there Is no aoao'
that at present the scene OF theatficai IN
terest has been definitely transferred from
the metropolis to the other side OF the Az
lantic.
To begin with, London has Just learned
that It will have to hear from New York
what the forthcoming new plays or Messrs.
Alfred Sutro and Henry Arthur Jones are
like, and Is a little piqued in consequence
Nor is this surprising. for playgoers here
fancy that 1.-The Price of Money" which
Sutro has Just written for w. H. Crane
may prove second Walls of Jericho"
and naturally would like to see 1t first;
while as for The Hypocrstes." the Jones
play with which Charles Frohman has de-
cided to reopen his Hudson Theater, Lon
don has been awaiting this piece with espe-
cial interest. It Is hoped that the author
lost with THE Heroic Stubbs'-which fall
ed SO disastrously when done at Terryf
last winter-and this is quite likely to hap
pen, for Jones has way OF hitting and
missing alternately.
Meanwhile 1t may be stated on the play
wright's own authority that his new piece
for America is drama and to be classined
with Mrs. Danes Defence" and The
widely different from eithen OF those plays.
The scene Is laid in the small southern
English town of Weybury. while the char
acters number fourteen and form little
coterie of English county society. AS al
ready announced. Jones is sailing for the
United States next month to superintend
the production there.
Alfred sutro has less need to worry over
the reception of his new piece, for although
he has not yet duplicated the success OF
his Walls of Jericho his Perfect Lover"
which Americans are also to see next sea-
son. ran for over hundred nights at the
London Imperial, and his Fascinating Mr..
Vanderveldt' has passed its seventy-fifth
performance at the Garrick. where 1t pro-
vides Arthur Bourchier and Violet Van
brugh with some of the best chances they
have had lately.
Speaking of Bourchier reminds one that
this prominent London actor-manager is
also looking to the United States whence is
coming the manuscript of what will prob
ably be his next Offering. In other words,
both Bourchier and Sir Gilbert Parker are
waiting with interest to what sort of
an adaptation Eugene Presby, who drama
tized 'Raffles." has made of the latters
novel, THE Right OF Way" which Kryle
Bellew will play In the United States and
which Parker is most anxious for Bourchier
to have in London.
THE character Of Charley Steele appeals
to me immensely" said Bourchier to the
writer yesterday, land If Mr.. Presby has
done his work well. as l have no doubt he
has. l am practically sure to reopen the
Garrick with The Right of Way in the
autumn. And even should Bourchier not
produce this piece, 1t is still more than
likely that he will begin business with an
American play, for he is under contract
to produce Miss Gladys Unger's Sheridan"
which was accepted over two years ago
within short time. This piece by the
young American authoress is of course, a
costume play. 1t takes us to the period of
the dramatist's second marriage. and the
scenes are laid at Wanstead and Gretna
Green.
To America, also, are looking the many
folk who are interested In the future pro-
gram of the London Waldorf" which has
just been vacated by Cyril Maude in con-
sequence of the unexpected sudden col
lapse Of the Anglicized Shore Acres" BY
the time these lines are printed, the Schu-
berts. who control the Waldorf may have
decided on fall attraction, but at present
no end of rumors are afioat regarding the
opening piece. One thing seems certain.
however. that 1t will be American, and con-
ficting reports announce productions of
'Fantana" and The Isle OF Champagne,
while there also seems a chance that either
George M. Conan or Henry E. Dixie will
be seen at the playhouse in Kingsway.
Either would be sure of an enthusiastic well
come from theatergoers.
Meantime with both Paul Kester's play.
Dorothy o. the Hail." and Presby's Raj
fles" drawing big houses In the metropolis.
Londoners have just heard that the author
of Leah KIeschna'' and 1.-The Belle of
New York" has arranged with Charles
Frohman to write the book of a new must
cal play This will be called Nelly Neil"
and will have music by Ivan CarylI COM
poser of THE Girl from Kays," and per-
haps the dafntiest and most prolific of Eng
fish writers of musical comedy Where
Nelly Nell will be produced has not yet
been settled. but apropos of this new musi-
cal comedy venture of Mr.. Frohman's. 1t
may be said that THE Belle of MAYFAIR"
which he produced at the Vaudeville while
ago. with Edna May the star, is one of
the biggest successes in town. This must
be a case of whipping into shape" for
most folk who saw THE Belle" on its first
night gave 1t three weeks run but II
hardly signifies, so long as a success has
been scored.