Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-31
THE FOREIGN STAGE.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.
LONDON. January 90. IL

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
LONDON, January 20, 1909.
English critics have gone out Of their
way to take exceptions to the remarks
Of Jerome X. jerome in Paris on the
state of the drama in Great Britain. The
| famous humorist, speaking seriously, holds
most gloomy view, as must all except
the most biased or insular of observers.
on the present condition Of affairs in
John Bulls island To quote Jerome. who
was but giving voice to the universal
opinion. the English stage confines 1t
self to beaten paths, and Is content with
narrow and out-of date methods. 1t re-
peats always the same sentimental stories
set forth within limited sphere OF out
look. and through the medium OF char
acters which are purely conventional and
without any reality.
Those here who take exception to
Jerome's words lament the fact that he
had not something better to tell his
French audience. But who is to blame
for that, pray?
Although Arthur Bourchier. who is q
good actor, and one OF the most enter
prising of English managers as well, and
who has just returned to London from a
trip on the continent, does not go so far
as to make comparisons, which are al
ways odious to the British mind, espe-
cially when they disparage the home tai
aptly fits with the remarks of Jerome.
II was much impressed when in Aus
tria,' continued Mr.. Bourchier, with the
excellence of the theaters OF Vienna and
Budapest. 1 would place the actresses
of Vienna quite as high as the great
actresses Of France. The men did not
strike me as being quite SO good. In
Austria l was struck with the clever way
English writer's had been adapted as
musical comedies. / mean Mr.. Zangwilp 8
Merely Mary Ann and Mr.. Shaw's Arms
and the Man, neither of them. you would
think piece likely to make a successful
play.
1.-THE lighting of the stage in Ger
many made a great impression on me.
They light their pieces, in many theaters,
absolutely like nature. For instance. If
the scene portrayed is room In an old
castle and the time is supposed to be
sunrise the stage will not be lit all over,
as Is the custom in England. The foot
lights will be cut off and the stage left
in darkness, and then those windows
to face the east will gradually be bright
ened by the rays of the rising sun. Only
those parts of the room which would
actually in real life be affected are
brought beneath the influence of the light.
and those players whose position in the
scene places them without the reach OF
the light speak their lines from the dark
ness. The effect is most wierd. but. 1
consider. extremely artistic. Mr.. Pinero
alone. 1 believe, among English writer's,
has tried to get an effect in the same
way. That was in Iris By the Ger
man method, of course, you lose the
players facial expression. and question
whether it would be considered an adj
vantage by the majority Of English play
Eoers.
Il saw a most effective instance of
stage lighting in Berlin. 1t was at the
performance of a travesty of Tristan
and Iseult.' In one scene the characters
sit around supper board lit only with
candles. All the other lights of the
theaters are cut off, and the effect is
wonderfully realistic One feels that
the thing is an actually. and that there
is real gain to the strength and life
Of the play. Altogether 1 do not think
that the management of the leading con-
tinental houses have much to learn from
England. Their arrangements are per-
lection"
Samson in London shortly. His YER
sion closely resembles that Of Gillette,
which you have seen in the United
States, and which is almost word-for-
word translation Of the original, despite
the criticisms which have been made
upon it.
At last a name has been decided upon
for the new Gaiety production in which
Gertie Millar and George Grossmith ap-
author and the manager to arrive at a
satisfactory decision has been aired
through the press, and thousands Of sug-
geStionS were received from all parts Of
the country. Yorkshire, however, took
the lead in the attempt to help the the
atrical people out of their hole, for the
chief character Of the play. which is to
be acted by Gertie Millar, Is supposed to
be from that county.
Finally. Our Miss Gibbs was de-
cided upon. and the name so little CO.
incided with the many suggestions made
that one naturally Is led 20 believe that
the difficulty Of the management was all
a dream of the press agent. But, then, it
would hardly do to suggest such thing
here Press agents are unknown to the
general public, which swallows the tall
est tales without gulp. Escaping lions
from well known menagerfes. lost, stray
ed or stolen jewels of leading ladies. and
still fill many, many columns Of the un-
suspecting press. Oh, what a land for
a real, intelligent American press agent!
A Merry Widow dinner is to be given
at the Hotel Cecil January 81 by the O..
p. Club, in honor of the principals Of the
Days Theater production. Among those
who. as guests. will be called upon to
speak are Joseph Coyne, Lily Elsie, the
original merry widow. and George Ed
wardes. the manager Of the production.
Max Pemberton. president Of the club,
will officiate. Tickets have been limited
| to 500 in number. and there is a brisk
| demand in theatrical circles.
THE HORSE WILL SURVIVE.