Evening star., 1909-05-30
The Foreign Stage
.ial Correspondence OF The Star.

LONDON, May 20. 1900.
HIEF Of the recent events in the dis
tinctly unfavorable reception by the
critics Of Love Watches with Bill
lie Burke in the leading part. The abuse
lavished upon THE Devil" was bad
enough in all conscience, but not more
marked than the severity displayed both
to the new piece at the Haymarket and
to unfortunate Billie Burke. There can
be no question that from the English
viewpoint, at any rate, her art has suf-
fered appreciably by her stay in the
United States. Acting. of course. must
always be more or less a matter OF
sentiment and of taste: what is one
mans meat is another mans poison:
what pleaseS me may very well disgust
deplore the change in Billie Burkes
methods. am perfectly prepared to
find my own views derided by others.
very much fear the piece will not retain
its place in the Haymarket program
until the close Of the season.
The morning after production I had
long chat with Charles Frohman. who
obviously had extracted but little satls-
faction from his perusal Of the notices.
He is too good sportsman. however.
not to take failure philosophically. All
the same he was clearly determined
to stick to his guns with the ttnacity of
a hero. Billie Burke he said, gave
in my judgment perfect performance
an artist offers anything surprisingly
novel it takes time for her to be appre-
ciated. The path of pioneers Is always
beset with danger. and that is precisely
why 1 choose to walk in 1t. Last night
Billie Burke did exactly what l wanted
and expected her to do. Five years
hence London will recognize her method
to he the true comedy method. You
cfn a6, nf "a
tide. and. believe me. II is flowing in our
direction. Billie Burke is absolutely
right, and before very long you will all
acknowledge it,
Another of your leading managers has
just arrived in London. Lester Duff
namely. I gather that he is over here for
purposes OF business as much as OF pleas
ure. He has a big scheme in hand for
a series OF Shakespearean revivals in the
United States next fall and he is now
doing the London theaters with the OBJ
ject of picking up any little stray bits of
|, histrionic talent that may be floating
about. Talking OF Shakespearean produc-
tions. F. r. Benson telegraphed me the
other day from Stratford on Avon that he
had closed, with an offer to cross the At
lantic early next year In order to under
take the direction of a Shakespearean
festival In the principal cities of America
on lines similar to those adopted at Strait
ford. Benson. however, cannot remain
long. as lie has made himself responsible
for the Stratford festival of 1910.
j.
Charles Frohman has arranged with
George Edwardes for a dramatic season
at the Adelphi. beginning about the mid
die of September. The first attraction is
to be THE Great Divide" with Henry
Miller in his original role. He is to have
Wynne Matthiscn as his leading woman:
she. of course. sustaining the part for
merly played by Margaret Anglin, who,
by the bye. is now in London. but who
sails for New York Wednesday next, ac-
conpanied by Alice Kauser. The Adelphi
company will consist mainly OF English
artists, but few Americans will be
| brought over to fiji the character parts
| The Great Divide" is 10 be followed by
Ram Kennedy's The Servant in the
House." about which We have heard
good deal and which We are naturally
| anxious to see. In this Henry Miller will
| not appear. but he has promised to take
the stage direction of both pieces under
his control. Should success attend the