New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-01
LONDON REVEALS
Repertory Management - Vet.
Grams and Amateurs.

diences at the Duke OF Yorks. as il ~
at the Court Theatre. where 10 was f-st
produced As an alternate programme.
'Prunella" has been introduced, With
Mr.. Barrie's "TweIve-Pound Look" as an
afterpiece- "Prunella'' was originally
written by Mr.. Laurence Housnan IN
poetic form and adapted TO the stage by
Mr. Granville Barker as a Pierrot piay
the honors Of authorship being dfviC q
between them. II is not as amateur
as bethlehem" the Nativity play o
duced by Mr. Housman eight years a
but it appeals to literary faddists rat
than to ordinary playgoers with flesh a
blood. II is included in Mr.. Frohraan's
series of revfvaIs as an intimation thu
the regular playwriShts, who make n
practice of catering 70 public taste. az
not to be allowed TO have their own wa
all along the line "Prunella'' IL a cen
cession to the smaller circle OF intellec
uaI people. who at the risk of being CO.
sidered affected or queer prefer NOR
themes and poetic form to ordinary 81
jects of drama The faddists were out
force on the opening night and welcor
the Pierrot play with loud acclaim.
Mr.. Barker did not repeat his ps-
formance as Pierrot in white striped cos
tune. with long sleeves He contents7
himself with stage managing the play
and allowed Mr.. Charles Mauds to pIay
the sentimental clown with evanescsnt
memory. There was the double advs
tage of superior handling OF the mum
mers, gardeners and old maids and n
better performance Of the clown Mr..
Barker made of Pierrot too serious a
character: Mr. Maude converted it trio
an fmpersonation Of the transitory joy
Of life. In the place Of the careworn
and bored buffoon was the agile Leader
Of the nummers. the buoyant. impuIsiTe
lover. The earlier PruneIla, Miss Doro-
thy Mimic, reappeared with her childish
prattIe. her unaffected manners and her
innocent charm. There were trained ar
fists for the srotesque gardeners. the
Statue of Love, the prin old maids. the
sinister Scaramei and the rorpping merry
makers. and there was an effective NH
steal accompaniment by Mr.. Moorat II
may be an open question whether the
polished poetic setting is justified by
so slight theme. but it cannot be de-
MED that the mummers in their fantasti.s
costumes are well drilled and that the
Dutch garden IS a lovely picture
Why "Prunella" is described as a dainty
little fantasy as refined as a bit OF Ores
den china is not obvious II recounts the
cynical. cold bIooded betrayal and abaG-
Comment of an innocent girl IN her teens
by an irresponsible and heartless clown.
whose servi,ors are rnummers There
may be a touch OF pathos in the dnaI
act but when the morbid theme Is close
ly analysed il cannot properly be called
a pretty. imaginative tale based upon
French legend Of Pierrot and Pisrre'
Such charm as IL has comes from
Of melod1ous prose
verse recited with or against music and
from the contrasts OF color IN the fan
tastic merrymakers' costumes and the
prim Dutch garden The revival ts a
Of the Vedrerue- Barkc-
Of the Court Theatre. which
has been regarded by superior playgoers
as an intellectual movement for tbs
emancipation of the stage from bonds-s
10 convention 1t is likely 70 be FOLLOWED
by the production Of Mr.. Shaw's ~
and Superuan," Major Barbara" Z
similar works. Meanwhile, one OF
Arthur Pinero's old pIays-not earn
irana. but light comedy-flls the III,
ire and shows signs Of settling down
run
The responsibilities OF repertory m
agement are most perplexing.
Trench had hardly started in his car
u managing the Hayrnarket under
patronage of Lord Howard de Wal
before he disclaimed ambitions as G
matte reformer. Beginning last autt
With a fine but I'll appreciated rev4vs
King Lear" he produced two pi4.
Don" and The Blue Bird which cor
handed great business for the box once
md are still running at the Kiugsw5y
md the Haymarket- There is no que
ion of repertory management in thai
scheme, and Mr.. Frohr1an has been fsN
n sole possession OF the reform moe
nent. which is to prepare the way for r.
Memorial Theatre, with ia
SCuOOl dCtOlS anu $-AC
ematic elevation Of public taste. ShskAs-
peare has been monopolized by Sir Btef
vert Tree and Mr. Benson who nav
made this years festivals at His \ a,
sty's and Stratford memorable frors y
number o. plays produced In roper
tyle. Mr.. Frohman has been forcer -
.evert to the Shaw Barker drama of n
eruinable discussion. with an OccaStTf2
Barrie or Davidson for the sake OF. "a
it,, and With old PLAYS BY Sir ArthaE
oirarc ord otber d-amatists as a .frai
resource.
Meanwhile. business Is going on az 'h7
,ther theatres In the usual way. ~
French has decided TO produce at tee
Jaymarket Priscilla Runs Away.
comedy BY the author OF Elizabeth Ard
Her German Garden whenever aeIdi-
noes are weary OF The Blue Bird" RE
.lso has in reserve an entertaining little
,iece. Loves Shock" by a Spanish
Iramatist Two new plays by Mr.. Hous-
nan are TO have trial performances az
he Court Theatre during May. Mr. sgt
ley CAROLS MIR. Finkelstein" viii %
lfr. Fred Terry's next venture at ire
Jew Theatre and the actors charming
laughter VIII be in the cast "The p1~
orced Wife" will be the title Of the new
.~v,,.txr