Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-09-25

London public. He has just the right
manner. his personality is eminently
pleasing, he has the gifts OF simpli-
city and natural charm. I should say
his chances OF making good next
Wednesday evening are OF the best.
1 cannot but feel rather astonished
at the scanty notices which have APP
reared I'm the London papers regard
ing the death OF Clyde Fitch The
circumstance Is. Of course, partially
explained by the fact that his sue
cesses here were altogether dispro-
portionate 10 those which he achiev-
cd in the United states. A correspon-
dent of The Daily Mail seems to
have been impressed I'm a way similar
10 myself In letter addressed TO
that journal he says:
Il have asked upwards Of twenty
people who was clyde Fitch? Fifteen
had never heard OF him. Five thought
he was on the stage and one or two
hazarded, Wasn't he a playwright
Yet they had all seen 'Toddles and
laughed at the brilliant work of one
whose name they had never heard or
seen"
1t is to be remembered. however
that when "Toddles" was produced
at the Duke Of York's, the name OF
the author was carefully withheld.
That Clyde Fitch had adapted the
piece was known 10 those within the
inner circle. II Is worth noting that
in the case OF Madame Y" now being
played at the Globe and OF "Arsene
Lupin" at the Duke Of YOrk's, the
same secrecy regarding the identity
of the adaptor is observed. Of course
Charles Frohman may have his rea-
sons good and substantial reasons, fog
shrouding the facts in mystery. But,
after all, is it quite fair to the
dramatic, who, surely, Is entitled to
whatever credit or discredit may ac-
Crue from his work?
only a sense of disappointment is
created by the performance of William
Gillettes one-act play Among
Thieves" at the Palace Theater OF Vari-
cites. Alfred Butt, the manager, has
certainly given it every chance. For
the principal part he engaged II. " Es-
mond, better known on your side ms
a playwright. but an actor OF great
nervous force and long experience,
while the mounting of the trihe Is
quite irreproachable. What surprised
me most in the novelty was the lack
OF craftsmanship displayed by the
dramatist, whose long acquaintance
with the stage and with stage re-
quirements ought surely 10 have taught
MN tldl 10 Keep MS duultiltt III a
state OF uncertainty almost up to the
last moment is a dangerous thing TO
do. For quite two thirds OF the per
Torrance we. In front, sat puzzled and
perplexed not only as TO the real drift
OF the story, but as 10 who the prin-
cipal character was Then suddenly
tragedy was turned into farce and We
discovered that Mr.. Gillette was play
ing a game Of spool upon US This
II. . f. ea.lr Ia
will and az the Joke, OF which the vic
tim Is supposed 10 be a dying man,
seemed TO the audience rather OF a
brutal kind. / fear Among Thieves"
is not destined TO enjoy long run.
We are still waiting for the season
20 bring as some really big successes.
SO far the record in this respect is dis
tinctly barren: Pinero's "Mid-Chan-
mel. "Arsene Lupin," Madame X"
"A Sense OF Humor." are hardly like
ly. 10 Judge by present appearances,
10 make old bones. THE Whip"
Raleigh & Hamilton's new Drury Lane
drama produced two nights ago by Ar
thur Collins, promises well. but its
career rs necessarily limited 10 three
months Paul Rubens musical play
Dear Little Denmark" has also made
favorable start al the Prince OF
Wales. but / am doubtful as 10 it,
staying qualities. with the promised
production OF False Gods" AZ His Ma
iesty's. Making a Gentleman" at the
Garrick. The Great Divide" Al tho
, Adelphi and Anstey's The Brass Bot
Gle" al the Vaudeville the next few
days. however, may serve 10 cqualize
! the balance.
As I close this letter news comes 10
me OF serious ructions at Dalys where
George Edwardes apparently r. having
lot Of trouble with some Of the prn-
cipals in The Dollar Princes" Lily
Elsie arm told. has thrown up her
part which temporarily a. least has
been handed over To Gabrielle Ray
Edwardes, however, d. doing his very
Lest 10 conciliate the fair Elsie. wh1
won such fame for herself ln The
Merry widow and 10 persuade her
90 resume her place in the cast. Time
win show whether or not his efforts
have proved successful