Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1908-02-01
THEATRICAL
CHATTER

magazine articles. OF her dramatized
novels, Under Two Flage" and
moths" have had the greatest popu-
larity. From her books and later,
plays made from them, she received
comparatively small returns, though
the novels were sold in the hundreds
OF thousands. Last July the British
government granted her literary pen
sion of $3.50 year, but it is believed
she refused to accept 1t She had lived
in Italy for the last thirty-three
years.
A London cable says: Granville Bar
kers Waste" the play which gained
some notoriety through the censors
ban, has just undergone the perform
ance necessary to insure copyright.
The venue was the Savoy theater, and
the cast was the most curious that
has ever appeared on the London
stage. In compliance with the law,
the production was advertised, but so
obscurely as to escape the notice OF
lDc Ii h,NVA '"A~S
with the custom that obtains at copy
righting performances, guinea was
charged for admission. One person
paid this amount, and solitary in the
echoing auditorium he witnessed the
performance given by number OF
interesting amateurs wearing their
everyday clothes and not helped by
stage scenery or other theatrical illu-
sion. George Bernard Shaw, the play
wright, impersonated the Earl OF
Horshan, DIR Murray formerly pro-
fessor of Greek at the Glasgow uni
versity, appeared as Lord Charles Can
telupe. The novelists, H. G. Wells
and Housman Galsworthy, and the
dramatic critic, William Archer, filled
the other male roles. while the wives
of Messrs Shaw, Wells and Barker
were among the leading women.
III:
Edwin Foy Fitzgerald, more popu-
larly known as Eddie Foy, who has
lately been prominently in the pub
lie prints because of his change Of
name, and has announced hls inten-
ton to play twelve nights of Ham
let" will be in this city at an early
date, with the musical comedy The
Orchid" which made all New York
scream last summer, and has since
been convulsing the country which
Foy is covering on his road tour. Foy
and 1.-THE Orchid" are under the
Shubert management and the attrac-
ton is one of the most important
unsteady which the Shuberts have
announced In years. The story of the
piece concerns search for valuable
lost orchid and there is just enough
plot to carry through without inter
fering with string of the best songs,
specialties and dance numbers In the
recent his tory of musical comedy.
AS an extra feature, the .Shuberts
have secured La Petite Adelaide,
who Is declared to be the greatest toe
dancer in the world. Among the
songs which have proven to be cxcep-
tional hits is one which stands out con-
spicuously among the rest, entitled,
ubGb W SuulIh VII anu
another big Foy hit is the character
song, Mulberry Street" Foy's ambi-
ton to play Hamlet" was the result
of a wager made in Chicago with n
friend that he could compel the public
to take him seriously in this part Foy
has been studying Hamlet particu-
larly, and the Shakesperean plays gen.
orally, for twenty-three years, and is
really an authority on the plays of the
EliZabethean era. He has always been
ambitions to try his hand at Ham
let" but has lacked managerial en-
enlargement, which is very decidedly
a desideratum in all things planned
on the scale of theatrical enterprise.
In other words. they wouldn't take
him. This wager in Chicago, however,
settled Foy's determination into bull
dog obstinacy, and now he is deter
mined to play Hamlet" or die, as
the case may be. Immediately at the
close of his winter contract In May.
Foy's other difficulty, the changing
of his name, was indirectly caused by
his Shakespearean ambitions. II was
his idea that the too familiar name
Of Eddie Foy would suggest comedy
instead of tragedy. and TO that extent
initiate against financial success-and
Foy is a mighty good business man.
While it will be impossible for him to
use his new name on the musical
comedy tour. on account Of existing
contracts In the shorter and better
known name. the name will be used
in the Hamlet engagement.