Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-21

20 Mrs D'OyIey Carte "a to the inadvis-
ability of reviving The Mikado she has
come to the decision not TO produce that
opera" The source of these precious rep
RESERVATIONS has not been disclosed. but
IL can only have been the stage censor
George Bedford, who In turn represents
the lord chamberlain. the ofhcial whose
word Is law so far as productions on the
British stage are concerned. NO authorized
explanation has been forthcoming. Dut IL -
generally assumed that the reason for TINS
TaTus1l 10 let Iondoners hear THE Mikado'
Is political In its nature.
As Americans do not need to be told,
England and Japan are allies al present,
and presumably the powers that be Imagine
that offense might be given to the oriental
nation were The Mikado' allowed to as
port himself again on the stage OF the
Savoy. as he did for some four hundred
nights In the glorious past OF that theater.
This decision has been reached. too. despite
the fact that The dikado' represented
In the world-sung opera Is not the present
ruler Of Japan, but only one or MS remote
ancestors and that the opera Itself mas
been played constantly in the British prov
inces during the three years that tne hhslo
Japanese alliance has lasted Without any
international incident having resulted
Probably the difference to the mind OF
oficlaIdom. lies in the fact that the savoy
where after many years Of waiting. the
famous operas which were originally prayed
there are now being revived-is a west
End house. Possibly the Japanese am
bassndor might have CHANGED to VISIT one
or the performances Horrors. No doubt,
however. the real reason for TINS act on
the part OF the lord chamberlain Is Ine
approaching visit to London OF Prince u.
shimi who is coming to return that VI
Prince Arthur of Connaught to Japan put
in the opinion OF the London publlc-Whlch
badly wants to see The MlKado again
the possibility Of this distinguished ems ems.
sary's taking umbrage at the innocent
merrimcnt Of MT. Gilbert Is not grea.
enough to warrant the abandonment OF
the promised revival.
Thus far the project OF Mrs. D'Oyley
C-srte-wbo is OF course the widow OF the
famous manager of the Savoy in the great
daya-has been the biggest of successes.
IL was something OF a question. 1t may
be remembered, whether this would prove
the case-many folk believing that the
famous operas would be found to have
suffered with age. but in spite of the rival
attraction OF modern musical comedy the
Savoy has been crammed nightly ever since
the reyivais began. The first one. by the
way. was The Yeomen of the Guard
which Gilbert declares to be MS personal
favorlte. then came The GOndolierS. and
at present Patience Is the attraction.
How attractive the famous operas are prov
ing may. in fact, he gathered from state
ment which has just been made by Mrs.
D'OylCy Carte in connection with the black
listing of The Mikado." 1t appears that
both the dresses and the scenery for this
revival were in an advanced state OF prep
aration. and reckoning their cost and con-
sidefing the special popularity OF The
Mikado." the prOprietress of the Savoy
believes herself s25,@0 out of pocket owing
To the lord chamboclain's decree.
Meanwhile what does the veteran author
OF The Mikado" think of this latest In
eptitlde on the part OF Mr.. BEDFORD? AT
present YOU will observe he has nothing to
say. but 1t will not be surprisng-in case
the feeling on this subject among playgoers
does not result in reversal of this degree
~ Mr.. Gilbert has something very definite
and very biting Ito say regarding the
prohibition of his opera. 1t would astonish
no one in fact. II the official representative
OF the lord chamberlain came In for the
severcSt dressing down he has received
since George Bernard Shaw poured out the
walls of his wrath against this archaic
official in consequence OF his refusal to
license ''WidOwers' Houses. Needless to
say Mr.. Gilbert will be considerably out OF
pocket should The Mikado" not be pro-
duced at the Savoy. but II IS possible
though not prObable-that the somewhat
irascibie Nbrettist may refrain from COM
menting on the action Of the lord cham
berlains office owing to the fact that he is
himself in an official position. He Is. of
course a magistrate and sits regularly
in the Edgware Road police court,
Certain ii IS. however. that Gilbert would
not lack for material did he decide to free
his mind on the subject Of Mr.. Bedford and
all his works. Perhaps the censor will be
abolished some day-as he has been abol-
ished in Frauce-but until then he will
presumably go on prohibiting such works
as Norma Wanna" and John the Baptist"
(Which Sothern will not be allowed TO give
here. while allowing a freedom to music
hall performances such as would be toll
Grated in no American city. If Gilbert ever
makes another little list" of persons who
never would be missed from the scheme Of
existence he IS likely to give the British
stage censor leading position therein.