The sun., 1910-01-30
.LONDON'S TITLED DANCER
COMMENTS ON THE DEBUT
or LADY CONSTANCE.
Physical Rather Than P0etIcal Culture
In Her MOtIOns--A New Version
OF ''The Dictator by seymour
Hlcks-Bernhardt In q Music Hall.

hlcks-bernhardt In Music Hah'
! =. LONDON, Jcn. 1s.-The mantle of Miss
Maud Allsn hss fGllen. upon the shoulders
of Lady Constance Stews.rt Richardson,
who made her professional debut ct the
Pelace Music Hall last right in o series
OF Greek drnoes. Very scEnty and geuzy
is the mantle, end English society ss-
senlbied in the boxes and stalls gasped
when this daughter Of thousand eGrls"
exhibited herself thus, not only to their
eyes but also to the eyes Of hundreds
Of pIebeian music hall visitors in the
balconies. gallery and foyer of the
theatre.
Lady Comics" dancing is of course
combination of the methods of Maud
Allan end Isadora Duncan. though she
has Indignantly denied having tnken
lessons from either. She lacks the light
ness and grace OF Maud Allan and the
technique of Miss Duncsn. In feet
physical rather then poetic2l culture
is expressed in her motions. and you
could more easily fsncy, her en- cmezon
arrayed for the hunt than Greek nymph
dancing for sheer Joy OF life.
Curtains of pele blue draped the stage
Of the theetre and formed background
for Lady Constance. whose single garment
was OF the same shade of blue and fell
e. little. below her knees. Her legs md
feet were bare. sfter the approved fashion
in this style OF dsncing.
Her repertoire included q gay Gpring
dance to Grieg music. 2 msrohlike tlium-
plant movement with Tscheikowski ac-
compartment, r. funeral dence to Bee
thoven's -Msrche FcnSbre" end CRY
polka to wrltenfe!d's -Bonne Bouch.-
In the lest she wss most st esse.
Lady Comics reason for entering into
the professional arena is that she wants
to raise money to start school where
boys will be educated according to her
theories. She wants to have them trained
physically as we'll as mentally. with most
time spent on outdoor exercises, sports
and games OF skill and strength. Her
entire salary will be devoted to the
furtherance OF this scheme.
There are OF course suggestions that the
Cromartie family. of which she is a mem
Der, is among the richest in Scotland
and might have raised money to help
her in her purpose, and that the Stewart
Richardson's. who are far from iinpover-
ished. would have aided had they been
asked. so that Lady Constance need not
have trod the boards, in such chilly gar
ments 10 achieve her desire There are
other persons who suggest that after
! having secured q reputation as a huntress
| Of big game In African wilds, as an expert
! horsewOmsH end as champion woman
swimmer of England, this restless
daughter of the house Of Cromartie longs
for new worlds to conquer. and hence her
professional debut.
Neither her husband Sir Edward
Observation-Disclosures nor her sister the
Countess of Cromartie was at the palace
to applaud her efforts.
Seymour Hicks hes produced a musical
version OF The Dictator" which he calls
Captain Kidd Ever since William
Collier brought this clever American
comedy TO England several years ago
Mr. Hicks has been anxious TO handle
the piece ia his own fashion and play the
leading part. and az last he he's managed
II has taken many brains to get "The
Dictator" into its present shape. Mr.
Hicks wrote the libretto from Richard
Harding Davls's original plot. Adrian
Ross and George Arthur wrote the lyrics.
and Leslie Stuart composed the music.
feminine part has been much built up
to suit Miss Ellaline Tcrriss. that of all
American missionary. She has several
good songs and is as usual charming
picture, though somewhat suggestive OF
THE Belle Of New York"
Mr.. Hicks was just himself disguised
as the hero OF the piece. Eiscount tbdng
(dLids Captain Kidd. which means that
he was in state of perpetual motion
and overwhelming exuberance. rushing
hither and thither dancing, gesticulating,
chattering. gagging and fatig,jng his
audience by too much vitality.
Pretty girle,-good chorIlsee and attrac-
tive scenery helped the piece to s,iccess.
The audience greeted the theatrical re-
union Of Mr.. and Mrs. Hicks with tre-
mendous applause. for it is several months
since they have played together, Mr..
Hicks having been doing the music halls
and Mrs. Hicks Miss Terriss) having
been on tour with The Little Duke"
Fred Terry and his vile Miss Julia
Neilsonl. who have Just produced Henry !
of Navarro" for n third London season. !
have given the leading ingenue part 10 |
their sixteen-year-o daughter. She |
calls herself Miss Phillida Terson. a com |
bination OF her parents names, and she !
scored a decided success, the critics not
knowing she was Terry and pronounC- !
ing her a clever debutante.
James WEIGH has returned TO London |
in the ever green When Knights We're 1
Bold" and is drawing large audiences. |
The only person in England who seems to !
tire of this comedy is Mr.. Welch himself. !
and he declares himself anxious to appear |
in a new part as soon as he can do so. |
At present the receipts OF when Knights !
Were Bold preclude any such idea.
The FOllleS gave their -Potted PantO- |
mines" last night and were as screamingly /
funny as ever. Drury Lanes Aladdin" !
His Majesty's -Pinkie and the Fairies
and several other Christmas productions !
these clever artists presented in their I
own fashion
Mr.. Palissier with his usual energy |
played everything from an imitation |
OF Wilkle Bard as the Widov TWaHkey
in Aladdin with that comedians facial |
expression and large form faithfully |
reproduced. to his own ideas of the queen |
of the fairies. a part which at His Majes-
tvs is played by mite OF s. Mr.. Palissier |
does fot let a little thing like weight
interfere with his impersonations and he
decks his s0O-odd pounds out in white
gause and tinsel and makes the funniest
fairy queen ever seen on any stage.
The rest OF the Follies ridioule the airs
and graces Of principal boys" and -prin-
cipal girls" who are figures In English
pantomimes. or initiate harlequins, col
IImbinee and clowns. The whole thing Ia |
a delightful entertainment, with plenty
of good songs and more real wit and gayety
than any pantomime this year can boast
The Coliseum having secured the divine