New-York tribune., 1910-05-22
A ROYAL PLAYG0ER
King Edwards Loss VIII b.
Severely Felt in Theatre World

Under the title King Edward vIT a,
a P1aygoer'' THE Pail Mall Gazetts'
of May 10 prints the following:
The great loss which befeH the count-y
on Friday night will nowhere be nor.
severely felt than in the world OF TIA
theatre Both as prince and as sove-eiy,
his majesty King Edward VII was ors
OF the most devoted OF playgosrs. Es
saw all the great actors and actresses q
his time, and made the personal ar
quaintance Of most Of them. His wis
knowledge OF human character and affairs
made him very shrewd Judge Of tns
realism Of a modern play; while his er-
perience as an observant t1eatrsgoer and
his fine memory rendered him one Of ths
,soundest living critics OF acting His
tastes we're catholic in the extreme. H.~
could as thoroughly enjoy the Hamlet of
Henry Irving or the Dona Sol OF Sarah
Bernhard as the farciaI hunors Of Fun
on the Bristol" He could appreciats 10
the full the wit Of a lively French com
edy, the seni-poIfticaI hurors O. JOHN
Bulls Other Island'' and the sparkle and
color Of a Cfafety burlesque. And. a.
though. inevitably. he would now and
then ind himself listening to a play that
were ever allowed TO know ft-nsvar ths
audience or the actors He was lot onss
one OF the shrewdest but also one OF ths
kindest Of playgoers-
He forbade all ceremonial and fuss on,
the occasions Of his visits 70 the thears
generally entering his box when the thea
ire had darkened and the curtain had
risen. and nearly always stayed 70 the end
Of the play. He would withdraw durins
one OF the intervals 70 the retiring room
placed at his disposal; the principal even
ing papers always had 10 be there; and hs
serrra1ry sKTmn,sd- one or other OF thess
while he chatted with hss suits and
smoked his cigarette. His influence n the
theatregoing world was enormous, ard
many q play has had its fortunes mads
by a timely visit from this royal patron.
A notable recent instance was ''Ths Pas
sing Of the Third Foor Back" which did
NOT draw very large audiences for the a-s;
three or four performances. Then ths
King returned TO town from the Continent.
spent one night in London, and visited ths
St James's Theatre. The next day al
London discovered that Nr- Jerome's play
was a thing to see. and it became one q
the successes Of the year. The King had
done IL.
In his younger days he was very lois ~
of paving a visit behind the scenes, Vasis
his charm and good humOr delighted ever
body. while his knowledge OF tscnns-A'
stage affairs was also apt 10 surpfse
good many worthy persons. There Is :
description of one OF these visits II II
Bran Stoker's reCOllections Of Henry IT.
ing which is worth quoting now:
''One night-it was October Is CSeVf-li'
Prince of Wales came behind ths scsls9
as he was interested in the working OF 10
pIav CThe Corsican Brothers. II was -
first time his royal highness had been
hind in Irving's management; ana =
seemed very interested IN all he saw A4s
Edward VII has, and has always hal.
wonderful memory. That DighI 20 -
irving how Charles kean had SCI -
scenes, the rights and let's belng cine. -
from the present setting; how hs2l =
rested on log in a particular p-1S''
so forth. some OF our older Slass -
who had been ar the Princess IN 49,
time. bore it out afterward tnat %
correct in each detail"