Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-02-08
Special Correspondence.

Special Correspondence.
" ONION, Jan. 29.--Forbes Rob-
ertson, who has been out of
luck for many months, is get
ting ready 10 play a trump
card. AS readers possibly may have
heard. new piece has been written
for him by no less a person than Hen
ry James. and today the actor gave
me the first details regarding 1t that
he has allowed to be made public.
The play, which Is a modern comedy,
will be given for the first time at Edin-
burgh on March 20. and If the recep-
ton there is favorable, q London pro-
duction will follow shortly. Later On
Robertson hopes to take his new offer
ing across the Atlantic.
To reach the metropolis, however,
not to mention the United States, this
piece (Which Is not named yeO viii
have to prove much more full
booded work than James's first ,lra-
matte effort. Guy Domville." George
Alexander produced the latter 10
years or more ago, but Ike its authors
recent literary work. it was far too
elusive and analytic to appeal to any
save the sef-styled "elect," and died
an early death. / recalled It's fate 10
Robertson, who declared himself con-
fident that there viii be q different
story to tell If the American novel;
lists new play,
No" he said in reply to my query,
this is not an adaptation of any OF
Mr., James's novels, but an entirely
original work, especially written for
the stage II is in three acts. deals
with English life, and has a vein of
romance running throughout the plot
The scenes are laid in typical OLD
English country house"
MY part" Robertson went on "ls
that of an ambitious young politician,
what we call a Radical and of course,
u candidate for parliamentary honnrs.
AS the play unfolds Itself he Is found
In curiously embarrassing position
from which he is extrlcated by the in
tervention of a young American girl.
She. in fact, Is the heroine, and this
character, which will be played by
my wife, Miss Gertrude Elliott has
been, / consider delightfully."- delin
Gated by the author,
I'VE are both hoping for a big sue
cess" he added. 'ln which case VIC
certainly shall pay an early return
visit TO the United States. Personally
/ think that Mr.. James comedy With
its American heroine, is sure to appeal
to his countrymen."
In electlng to write an original play
for Forbes Robertson rather than
make an adaptation of one of his nov
els, Henry James Is going dead against
the present fashion on this side % the
water. Perhaps never before, In fact,
have SO many dramatizations of works
OF fiction been promised for one the
ntrlca season. Two viii have seen
the light before these lines appear IN
prlnt--the versions Of "Snsannah and
some Others" aud "Stlngaree," which !
nave been made BY their respective |
authors, Madame Albanesi and ~. " |
Hornung, the author Of "Raffles,"
Both VIII be produced next week, and l
will be swiftly followed by w j. |
Locke's stage version of his novel, |
THE Beloved Nagabund," and a play |
~ Max Pembarton called "KrOnstadt' |
md based on his story of the same |
qame. In the latter, which viii be |
produced AZ the Garricx, one ~ the |
i'hief parts lylll be taken BY tho AM |
'rican actress. Mrs Russ Whyta
Lockes decentralization Of the novel ?
which was so popular In the United
states was not expected go soon Of rs
due at His Majesty's within a fort
1ighO but lbs production h made neces-
airy by the complete failure of Cumyns
'uu's Mystery OF Edwin brood" the
final performances of which are am
bounced, Hailed with enthusiasm when
produced by Tree In the provinces this
stage version OF Dickens unfinished
novel has run less than three weeks at
His Maiesiys,
The list Of other drsmatlzations Of
loyels, however. IL by no means ex-
hausted Perhaps the most important
Is that which II. G.. Carton, author OF
Lord aud Lady AJgy," has made OF