Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-14
LILY TURNS FROM
ACTING TO PONIES
LADY De Battle WILL STICK
STRICTLY TO HORSES
RyIey Play from French of Berton a
Successfully Darling" a TunefuI
Musical Comedy, but "Mr.
Sheridan" Expurgated
Special Cable to The Herald.


LONDON, April 13.-"Acting and
racing are my two favorite occupa-
tions," announced Lady de Battle
Oily Langtry) on arriving from
America. THE one is my art and the
other my pastime. 1 have had a most
enjoyable and satisfactory tour of
America, and am now entitled to lit
tie rest. 1 will spend the next few
months with my horses.
Lady de Battle says she has arranged
with David Belasco to produce her new
play, for though she is enamored of
vaudeville she has no intention of de-
serting the legitimate stage.
The present theatrical sensation in
London is Madeline Lucette Ryley' s
clever adaptation of Paul Berton's La
Belle Marseillaise." The piece has been
renamed THE Great Conspiracy" Its
chief drawback is that Napoleon is the
hero, and John Hare, who assumes the
role, is not Napoleonic at all, but a
downright and unimpressive English
man.
Irene Vanbrugh, who has one scene
reminiscent of THE Gay Lord Quex,"
in which she melodramatically defends
her honor, was delightful, and con-
tributed greatly to the success of the
play. There is a great dramatic situa-
tion and a bomb explosion, together
with telling dialogue that should spell
popularity for Charles Frohman's latest
venture.
Arthur Bourchier this week at the
Garrick theater produced Gladys I'm
gers comedy, "Mr. Sheridan" 1t is
pleasant, smoothly written and entirAy
conventional the great wit, dramatist
q nd ral lrah haf a c a no ,lNXF.
pamby sentimentalst and portrayed
with the broadest Irish brogue by
Bourchier. In the words of Walkley,
the critic of the Times, it is a "Sheri-
dan for the family" The piece tells the
story of how the beautiful Esther Ogle,
destined for Sheridan's priggish son
Tom, is captivated against her will by
Sheridan himself He, having heard
her disparaging remarks about him, de-
termined to conquer her, and it is all
very charmingly, if entirely obviously
worked out.
'Mr. Darling" another adaptation
(and very free one) from the French
OF Berton, is Charles Frohman's pro-
duction at the beautiful Hicks theater
and has opened most auspiciously. The
excellent music is by r.. Haines. The
plot which runs through the erratic
piece is of tle order of the Palais Royal
farce and feebly developed. The tune
full numbers the comic business by Nc
Ardle as the millionaire baronet and
newspaper proprietor, with the acting
of the beautiful Marie Studholme and
the bevy of exquisite chorus girls, how
ever, make the usual musical comedy
| success.
! The opening Of the SotherngMarlowe
company at the Waldorf theater on
April is is exciting the liveliest interest
Of playgoers, since, If they succeed
other engagements will be played by
independent attractions under the man
agement of Belasco and Fiske. Indeed
Mrs. Fiske, Warfeld and Blanche Bates
are among the probable attractions al
the Waldorf next season.
Mr.. Sothern and Miss Marlowe will
put on The Sunken Bell" for theiI
initial appearance, he impersonating
Heinrich and she Rautendelein Haupt-
mann has promised to come from Ber-
lin for the occasion, and Signor Ca
brielle d'Annunzio will arrive In time
TO be present at the premiere Of THE
Daughter of Jorio," which was not done
In New York because his engagements
prevented his crossing the ocean for
the performance.