Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-18
The Foreign Stage.


Special from q SIAN correspondents
LONDON, August 3. 1907
Most American playgoers. one tmagines,
have heard Albert Chevalier sing his coster
songs. My Old Dutch" and the rest, and
now they are to have a chance Of seeing
him In melodrama This opportunity Is
coming to Londoners first Chevalier having
lust agreed to create one of the leading
roles In The Sins Of Society," the big
spectacular play which will be given at
Drury Lane Theater in September. but 1t
is part of the plan that the author OF
knocked EN- In the Old Kent Road" shall
play the same part in America. when at
the end of the London run. the entire pro-
duction Is shipped across the Atlantic.
Arrangements for the latter event are, L
am told. complete, though 1t IS DIT 100
early yet to publish the details. Mean
while it may be news to most people at
home. as 1t Is to the younger generation of
playgoers here. that in electing to ex-
change the concert platform for the regu-
lar stage Chevalier is only returning to his
original vocation. 1t Is fact however.
that long before Mrs. Emery 'Awkins'
and the rest of his coster ditties made MIN
known on both sides of the water, Che
Waller had won prominent place among
British actors. One of his best remem-
bered performances was given In Dr
Bill" when he appeared with the kendais;
and 1t was not until bad luck kept MIN
resting Tor several HoulitS lIidt iic iSii
in with the advice of friends who had
heard his coster ditties. and decided to try
them In public. 'Pocketing his pride. as
he expressed it. he went on as turn at
the Pavilion Music Hall, and success was
instantaneous. Since that time he seldom
has been seen on the regular stage in Lon
don and never in the United States.
According to all accounts, however. Che
jS,la
gifts as an actor to the best advantage in
The Sins of Society,"" for in writing 1t
those two Drury Lane stalwarts, Cecil
Raleigh and Henry Hamilton, said to
have gone themselves several better. For
the last two seasons Hall Caine has pro-
vided the autumn attraction at the Lane.
but now the authors of The Great Ruby,
white Heather and the rest have come
back into their own, and the result is as
usual. a play very much of the period
In spite of their title. the authors are
not fitting at all the sins OF society," out
only one That one Is the bridge MANIA"
and we are to see how the gaming pro-
pensities of the beautiful heroine bring her
almost (but not quite, of course) to ruin
Also. as Americans who know Drury Lane
melodrama will not need to be told there
are big scenes without end One of these
represents the Pontifex Bridge Club. May
fair where the heroine sustains some of
her biggest losses: another garden party
at Windsor. with a ripping view OF the
Thames and it's Households, and. the big
gest" Of all. the race course at Long
champs. with the members OF the great
world" and the half world" too. on dress
parade. AS this is about the greatest show
of frocks and frills to be found in Europe
the representation Of 1t on the stage should
be worth seeing.
Besides Chevalier, two of the cleverest
women on the London sta ge will appear In
the Drury Lane production Of The Sins of
Society," and probably in the American
production too. These are Constance Col
Her. who will play the gambling heroine.
and Fanny Brough, who appeared with
Hawtrey In 1.-The Man From Blankneys."
and who, like Chevalier. will have a part In
which the grave and gay are blended. But
the Lane management wants Chevaliers
part in the story to come as a surprise. so
details regarding it will be withheld 1t
may be said. however. that he will be
given a chance to sing, and probably will
Introduce new song or two He tells me
that he likes his part immensely and Is
looking forward with special pleasure to
acting in the United States.
4
Americans who like Gilbert and Sullivan,
and who find themselves in London Au-
gust a. no doubt will betake themselves to
the Savoy Theater. where the last perform
ance of the famous operas in their old
home will then be given. AS is fitting. 1t
will be made very special occasion; a
double performance. in fact which will be-
gin at pm, and end-well. some time
after midnight in all probability. True,
there will be an hours interval for re-
freshments. after which the spectators. who
will previously have heard the first act of
The Yeoman of the Guard" and the sec
ond act Of 1.-The Gondoliers," will be re-
called with the last half of Patience" and
the first Of 'Iolanthe." No part Of The
Mikado" you observe. despite the removal
Nf hn hon pIrt q Xaf
Sir w. s. Gilbert. certainly will be on hand.
and certainly will make speech. At
the end the national anthem will be sung
by the whole company. and so the curtain
will fall for the last time on Savoy opera
at the Savoy. When 1t rises again it will
be on one of the productions Of Messrs.
Vedrenne and Barker. famous as the popu-
larizers of Bernard Shaw in London. and
the latter of whom may accept next year
the big salary which has been offered him
from America. HAYDEN CHURCH.