Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-20
ARBITERs OF THE ENGLISH STAGE
Children Rule from Now Until Next
Easter In Many of the Theaters.

Easter in Many of the Thenters.
LONDON, Dec. 19.-(Special Correspond
nce.)-Whatever aspect London may pre-
cent to others, to the children at Christmas
time II is a place of pure delight. At first
glance IL would appear to the uninitiated
that most of the English managers were
possessed Of soft hearts and had quite de-
termined upon giving the little ones the
time Of their lives. Assured successes,
some OF them playing to record receipts,
are to be ruthlcssly torn from the boards
of certain theaters and sent into temporary
retirement to make way for shows that
will tickle the fancy OF the children. Staid,
serious-minded managers like Beerbohm
Tree aud Charles Frohman become children
for the moment and plead almost patheti-
cally for the approval and applause of boys
in short trousers and girls In shorter
dresses.
But upon closer examination one will find
that there is "a sound business basis for
these strange actions. The various pam
tomimes which make their appearance in
England at this time Of the year and ex-
tend up to Easter are gold mines, and it is
sound financial considerations that have
induced Frohman and Tree and their class
TO enter the field with plays primarily
designed for Juvenile consumption.
Thus It is that we hear that Peter PAN
is to make It's reappearance for a season
at the duke of York's beginning December
sGN Pauline Chase will, Of course, be Peter
and Hilda Trevelyan viii play the part of
Wendy. a part she has made an enduring
possession of the heart of every child who
has seen the play. Thus also Tree will pro
duce '"Pinkie and the Fairies at His Maj
esty's with Ellen Terry in the chief role
and lStpna Capnphal Iar0bfsr % NTrg
pat In the cast. And at the ccurt thea.
ter there will be a revival Of Little Lore
Fauntleroy.'' These are but signs that the
youth of England are Unsuitable in the mat
Ger OF entertainment and that they are M
1ongeT entirely satisfied with pantomime
NThey form, too, a good and promising slgr
of higher taste in the young. for, after all
the p-antomimes. almost without exception
are very poor productions made up Of
eonglomerate Of cheap humor and horse
play.
.
Yet that they are immensely popular witt
the children no one can deny. Take tn,
great Drury Lane production. No les
than $50 performers have been engaged II
addition to the cast of principals, all O
whom command enormous salaries. In IA,
hendling of the big stage and the theate
back stage $50 people are needed, and fl
front OF the house 100 more will be busy
The run OF the pantom,me extends fror
Boxing night TO about Easter, and In thos
three months this house-snd Il Is but al
example Of the hundreds throughout tn
C untry-manages to return a handsom
profit on the enormous original outlay an
the weekly salary list. AS an index to IN
profits that are to be obtained II Is onl
necessary 20 mention that a year ago tn
directors OF Drury Lane were contemplat
ing engaging Harry Lauder at a salary q
$4,000 "A week, and the popular Scotc
comedian would have been only one OF IN
y big company.
But while pantomime has It's advantage
Il also has its disadvantages. In order I
make up the casts OF the hundred Of com
panies throughout the country it is neces
sary to draw upon the music halls an
that class OF houses is drained almost DIR
Of talent at this time OF the year. tt
natural consequence is that the manager
u the halls find II impossible to fiji thei
teats and q serious period Of steady los