The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-31
NEWS OF THE WEEK IN
THE THEATRICAL WORLD

New York, July 3o.-(Special. )-Theat-
rical producers tell us that the golden
age of musical comedy will be with us
again next season. No one will deny
that it will be a welcome change. AL
most every one enjoys good musical
comedies The trouble has been in the
past few years that musical comedies
were degraded into screaming farces with
mirth songs, tuneless music and fan
tastic displays of hosiery. That was all
there was to it.
1t would be too much hope that new
musical productions will come anywhere
near equalling the Gilbert and Sullivan
brand but we most sincerely hope it
will be above the Ziegfeld variety.
When we come to consider the question
in its last analysis, as the congressman
say, we are struck by the fact that there
are few authors to write the librettos.
It has been suggested that theatrical
producers offer a prize of heroic pro-
portions to induce amateurs to produce
material for first-class musical come
dies
Charles Frohman may be the savior.
Says he:
IT have brought more than a score of
manuscripts back from England with
me and good portion of these are IL
brettos for musical comedies. They are
entirely new and I think they class as
high, II not higher. than the musical
comedy successes of the past eight or
ten years." which is saying a whole lot'
Mr.. Frohman.
Franz Lehar and Victor Herbert can
furnish really tuneful music. The only
trouble has lain in the lack of accom-
plished writer's.
Margaret Ellington will inaugurate her
return to the stage at Tacoma, Wash,
on August &c, with the production OF
play derived from the French, entitled
Until Eternity adapted by Edward
Elsner. Miss Ellington states that the
source of her new play comes from the
French drama, "Jusqu'a PEternite,"
which formed the basis of Miss Null
ton," easily recalled as the biggest emo
tional play of its time and the greatest
success in the career of Clara Morris.
Among the leading members of the
company in support of Miss Ellington
are Miss Nina Morris, Miss Lila Vane,
Miss Inez Shannon, Miss Florence Tim
poni Miss Zyllah Shannon, Walter Ed
wards, Edward Elsner John d. Barry
and Melville Rosenow. The company
left New York the middle of July and
will rehearse at Miss Ellington coun-
coma. the entire organization being her
guests until the beginning of her tour in
that city on August 26. Miss Ellington
will be seen in New York during the
winter season at the Maxine Elliott the
atre.
Maude Adams is in England. She
sailed away to be gone until the be-
ginning of her next theatrical season in
October. The purpose of Miss Adams
trip abroad is a search for a complete
rest after season of 80 weeks In what
Every Woman Knows" the longest tour
she has ever played. The actress final
destination will be Dublin, Ireland. where
she has taken a cottage near Trinity
college.
Miss Adams trip to Dublin will be
briefly interrupted by a short stay In
London, where she is to meet Mr.. J. M.
Barrie and confer with him upon de-
sign for new Barrie comedy.
spoke of musical comedies-and now
Of music itself. According to A. f.
Adams, managing director of the Quinlan
International Musical Agency in this
country the coming musical season prom
ises to be one of the most active ever
known. Mr. Adams returned from Eu-
rope recently. While on the other side
he closed contracts for many repre-
sentative artists In the world of music,
calling for their appearance in England,
Ireland, France, Germany and Australia,
through the various Quinlan agencies in
their respective countries. Mr.. Adams
also signed contracts for the appearance