The Washington herald., 1911-09-03
NOTES OF THE STAGE

A letter written by Willard Holcomb,
author Of the dramatic version Of "Lor-
no Doone," to Marc Klaw explains an
interesting controversy which be has
started. Here It Is: I'LL
II have made a bet with James K.
Hackett, and wish you to stand record.
In brief, am backing the old-fashioned
romantic drama, as typiied by Lorna
Doone against the modern realistic play.
as admirably demonstrated in Louis
Evans Shipman's dramatizatIon Of David
Graham Phillips A Grain OF Dust
Therefore, as I helped these two gen.
tlemen to launch The Crisis and they
want me TO mascot their new play, and,
furthermore, since I consider James K.
Hackett the ideal John Ridd. accord
ingiy 1 am going ahead OF him, as far
as Chicago. in CO 1sideration OF his prom
ise to create the role OF Ridd in my
dramatization Of the Blackmore classic.
as soon as the same can be mutually
arranged.
Since I have a complete production,
and Mr.. Hackett's company suits the
cast almost to a T, 1 hope this may
be pulled on at a special matinee dur
ing his Chicago run, and thereafter all
the John Ridds I engage will know how
to play It. Every brunette ingenue lead
ing lady knows how to play Lorna, and
from the applications received. is evil
IDENTIFY anxious to do So"
Lew Fields and Frederic Mckay had .
meeting last week. and after some friend
ly sparring, Mr.. Mckay put up a round
sum Of money and bought out Lew
Fields interest in THE Yankee Girl'' and
The Wall Street Girl" Mr.. Fields gave
up his interests reluctantly, while Mr.
Mckay chuckled with glee that he had
acquired the sole rights to his wife's
various operas. Miss Ring Will 20 on
tour over the route originally booked.
and the bill boards will hereafter an
nounce Blanche Ring in THE Wall
Street Girl"
Miss Ring. who has been spending her
vacation at her home at Mamaroneck,
n. Y. since the close OF her long tour
in The Yankee Girl" has begun to re-
hearse The Wall Street Girl" written
expressly for her by Margaret Mayo and
Edgar Selwyn, with music by Karl
Hoschna, composer OF Three Twins"
and Madame Sherry" In her new piece
she will play the title role-a young
woman OF a breezy. self-reliant nature,
er and whose adventures eventually take
her out West
The question which Is agitating many
is whether z. H. Sothern and Julia Mar
lowe will appear hereafter as Mr.. and
Mrs. E. H. sothern on the line OF those
distinguished English players, Mr.. and
Mrs. Kendall. This brings to memory q
noted case in which Julia Marlowe figured
many years ago. After she had elevated
her former husband. Robert Tabor, to
stellardom, she dropped her stage name
and the pair were advertised as Mr.. and
Mrs. Tabor.
Their engagement In Philadelphia was
not q financial success, 30 Frank Howe
brought q lawsuit to recover what he had
lost on the ground that Julia Marlowe
was valuable trademark, while as Mrs.
Tabor she was practically unknown. The
matter was subsequently compromised.
Now, II It - to be Mr.. and Mrs. E H.
Sothern in place OF E. H. Sothern and
Julia Marlowe, will there be any con-
fusion in the minds OF theatergoers? 1t
will require a test to answer the question
Klaw & Er4angsr. in addition TO their
work In New York and throughout the
United States. will be dominant factors In
the theatrical situation IN London this
coming season. as The Pink Lady will
be produced at the Globe Theater in the
British metropolis In January. Re
becca OF Sunnybrook Farm will be
gwen unOSE In6 sponsorship OF Sir
Charles Wyndham about Easter time,
and the same week most likely Ben
Hur'' will be seen in a great revival at
the Drury Lane Theater.
It will be remembered that "Ben-Hur''
was presented IN London nine years ago,
during the reign of King Edward, and
was playing to to an average business
Of s4.OOO, or $4,000, week, when the
King was stricken with appendicitis, a
fact which stopped all amusements in
the metropolis and interrupted the brill
liant run of the American play.
Taylor Holmes, who is to be in the
cast Of The Million" this season, played
In vaudeville in Washington last week.
One of the papers there calls him the
late star Of The Commuters and prints
his name in big black type. Several OF
his New York friends say there's a Joke
in that the late" part and the mourn
ing type.-New York Telegraph.