Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-18
The Foreign Stage
cial Correspondence Of The Star.

LONDON. October 10. 1908.
Although London doesn't always appre-
ciate American plays. its interest In
American dancers seems to be inexhausti-
bic. Its welcome to Ruth st. Denis
Thursday night was just hearty as
the welcome given to Maud Allan and
to Isadora Duncan. The third to arrive
in London of this American trio. who
have made such commotion abroad be-
fore being well known at home except
by hearsay, has made brave venture in
taking at her own expense for several
weeks one of the most spacious and beau
tiful-and least Observation-Disclosures in
London. 1t is too early yet to say whether
she will manage to carry so heavy load
on her slender young shoulders, but If the
enthusiasm of the first-night audience at
the Scala Thursday and the discriminate
ing praise of the critics are criteriOnS,
she is going to win out in spite of the
fact that her dances are rather more
serious-minded than any We have seen
before.
Ruth st. Denis story has been much
like that of Isadora Duncan. She gave a
few performances In America two years
ago and won more critical attention than
shekelS. Then she tried 1t in London with
the same result. Then she went to Paris
and suddenly found herself famous. Ber-
lin, Vienna and the other continental cap
TODD over her. and now, after winding
up her continental season in Wiesbaden
last June. she Is getting her belated re-
ward in England, and next spring she
will probably try her luck In her native
land.
Miss St Denis Is a slim, 1.-the, thought
full girl who takes her art seriously and
conventional fiouncing for her! Il want
said she to the writer, Ito express in
terms of rhythm and gesture the real
spirit of the orient and especially oriental
religion. The Hindu dances l give now
are only the beginning of what l want
to do in the future in representing east
ern religious IDEAS. for 1t is in the orient
that the dance Is recognized as one of
the highest expressions of religious feeling.
1t is Necessary for me to be. for the time,
a devout Brahmin or | cannot do Justice
10 such of my dances as are of a religious
nature.
although l have never been in india
have studied everything and everybody
could reach that would help me to get
into touch with the Hindu spirit and
am told that l have succeeded. My friends
here told me / had gone mad to take a
big London theater when / could have
made twenty times much money as
part Of vaudeville entertainment, but
can't express the sentiments I want to
express except in the right surroundings,
and If go to New York l want TO appear
there IN the same way. even II 1t Is not SO
profitable.
Miss Allan and Miss Duncan chiefly
convey musical ideas In motion. and try
to convey another kind of idea. but 1t is
significant that in every case to reach
what seems to be the highest expression
of the art Of dancing one must always
represent an abstract idea rather than
represent some particular person.
England heralds the advent of a new
girl playwright-Miss Gertrude Robins.
She has written a successful one-act
comedy, 'Makeshifts.' She conceived
the plot of this play when acting in
When knights Were Bold" at Wynd-
hams Theater. Miss Robins has had d
career sufficiently varied to satisfy even
people in stageland. She began life as
poultry farmer. the MidlandS. from
which she 'incubated' herself-using
poultry farm termS-!nto an artist s
model This latter career did not
suit her and she went to OK
ford where she secured a triumph and
took honors in modern languages. All
this. mind you. while IN her teens. The
process of incubation continuing, she
achieved her FIRST stage success with VIII
son Barrett and Won her way up to lead
Ing lady in what is considered his finest
drama. Lucky Durham" On coming
to London she appeared in legitimate
drama and won considerable distinction
at His Majestys Theater in "A Win
terS Tale"