Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-01

have the theater at the time mentioned.
to tan the matter over. and Brady prom
Used to attend. But he neither kept his
rendezvous nor sent any excuse for hav-
ing failed to do so. That is absolutely
all the justification there is for the state
ment transmitted from America.
Oddly enough. E. H. Sothern acted in
exactly the same manner. He, too told
Maude at q friendly gathering he wanted
the playhouse for himself and Julia Mar
lowe a year hence. He, too, made an ap-
pointment to discuss the question on the
following day. and he, too. has not been
seen since. In the circumstances Cyril
Maude is now wondering whether this is
the way in which American managers are
wont to transact or not to transact bust
ness.
Mrs. CORVALLIS Vests new play, His
Borrowed Plumes," to the production of
which at a matinee I made some refer
ence last week, has been promoted to the
evening bill at the Globe, formerly the
Hicks Theater. But by her arrangement
with Charles Frohman she can take 1t
of at the end of seven days, and / am
inclined to think that, unless her fashion
able friends rally round her more vigor-
ously than l fancy they will do, the run
Will not have to be further prolonged
Chatting with well known dramatist
the other day. he remarked how few were
the Dlaywrights drawn from the really
aristocratic circles.
In recent times we have had, OF course
the Duchess of Sutherland and Lord How
ard de Walden-the latter, you may re-
member, is backing Herbert Trench at the
Haymarket-but both must be ranked
among the ambitious amateurs who are
apt to cOnfound notoriety with fame. In
each instance the work failed to gain the
favor Of the public. Then, again. there
is the Hon. Mrs. Alfred Lyttleton, whose
play. Warp and Wool" produced by Mrs
Patrick Campbell. certainly showed some
measure of promise. Sitting with Sir
Herbert Tree in his dressing room the
other night, 1 alluded to the circum-
stance as in it's way rather curious.
Il can tell you of another, he re-
joined. although the author l speak of.
one of the greatest Of English leaders.
while mixing with the highest in the
land. belonged to the middle class.
mean Joseph Chamberlain. Twelve or
thirteen years ago he sent me q play
called The Politicians which he was
most anxious / should produce. The
one deep impression left by 1t on my
mind was that SO clever a man should
would have thought that at least it
would have shown intellectual power
and brilliancy of observation on the
writer's part. 1t only served to con-
vince HE tHdl a IiidIi may O6 hecI
politician. even great thinker. and yet
an Indifferent playwright"
X i
The scheme for establishing a ma
tional theater-a scheme, by the way
which seems to make no very marked
progress-has now been followed by a
project to found a national opera house.
We are assured by certain enthusiasts
that we English are a music-loving ma
tion and that we have any number of
capable young composers who only need
to have their works heard to be ac-
cepted as musical prodigies. Nothing
would crafty me more than to be con-
WINGED that this is the case. But 1
confess l can discover no conclusive
proofs either that our public wants
really good music or that we possess
an unlimited number of youthful COM
posers capable of furnishing it. 1t is
no good pointing to Covent Garden,
where grand opera fiourishes more or
less every spring. That, to a large ex-
tent, is regarded as a social function,
which without It's body of fashionable
subscribers would be bound to come to
grief.
At Drury Lane this season Arthur
Collins has tried the experiment Of run
nlng an excellent company of Italian
artists in grand opera; The other night
ne produced Carmen" with Maria Gay
probably the greatest living exponent
of Bizets work, now that Calve has
amounted to ss25, At Terry's Collins
has also been financing the Children of
Rome operate Company. a little troupe
or brilliant artists. who, If merit goes
for anything. deserved to draw all Lon
don. Queen Alexandra herself honored
a performance and applauded as heart
lily as her humblest subject. And
what do you think we played to each
night?" asked Arthur Collins. From
$50 to $75 a night!' With these figures
staring one in the face how are We to
uphold the theory that the English are
a music-loving race?
Charles Frohman has sailed for New
York in order to superintend his au-
tumn productions there. He tells me
to expect him back in London again
in November. This is two months ear
lier than usual, but he has to give his
personal attention to the necessary ar
rangements for starting his repertory
theater in February at the Duke Of
York's. That is a pretty big adventure.
and we are all curious to see what he
will make OF it. Whether 1t turns out
we'll or i'll. he will at any rate keep his
company and the critics pretty busily
employed. His little band Of authors,
too. will have to put its best foot
forward. Fortunately. with men like
Barrie, Somerset Vaughan. John Gals
worthy. Granville Barker. Bernard Shaw
and Haddon Chambers at his back the
prospect is fairly good.