The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-21
From the London Papers. !

From the London Papers.
 RIIRY Lane theatre, the most II famous of London's playhoassS' O is commemmorating its centeh- arv today. A reception of national in-
 or+once Is being held in the auditor ium and the famous green room where tho foremost actors and actresses or century have held their courts. The present Drury Lane theatre IS tba fourth to bear that name. The hrst was opened with Beaumont anu
 ,,,etcher comedy April 8. 1863. Nine years later the building was des'roseu bv fire. Nell Gwynne, Mrs DaVenpor'' Reclxv Marshall and Mohun and Hart were some of the celebrities to appear there.
 The second theatre stood more than century. In it David Garrick achieved fame. and Peg Woffington, Kitty Cive ana Mrs. Siddons made their theatrical laeh,,ts If was razed in 1791 to make
 ,,av for a larger theatre. which burned | in 1909. ! On the night of October 10, 1912, the present theatre was opened. All Eng Hand watched the eevnt.- A dedicatory poem by Lord Byron was read. The aged widow of David Garrick was the guest of honor. Enthusiasm so swept the audience that no play was possiole. Tn the last century most every actor of note has appeared at Drury Lane. rao,,d Kean made his sensational de- hut as Othello there in 1914. Emmeline
 Montague played Juliet in 1SSs. James Anderson, Frederic Robinson and Ade- lla,de Nelson added to their fame 'n Drury Lane.
 Tn later days Sir Arthur Pinero, Gra- | ham Moffat and Bulwer-Lytton had pro- lduced their plays there. When 'Every- woman" was opened in London 1t was at Drury Lane. "Everywoman" was re- vived there. Henry Irving said 1t was his favorite theatre
 Meanwhile, a glance at huhureu years of "Old Drury" causes feeling | of amazement at the variety or its en- ldeavors. The foremost British, cohti- mental and American artists--dramatic and operatic-have played there. us Othellos have ranged from kean anu Salvini to Hugh Jay Didcott ana rom King. Public meetings, masked palls' nromenade concerts have invited the nub,ic Acrobats-notably the Italian
 protbers"-bave flown from the gallery to the stage; circus steeds have whiried round the '.ring.55 The African twins ldisported themselves there De Linski' lthe French wizard, and De Reszke' the ltenor. performed within the charmed area.
 whatever else Drury Lane has done, l,t has kent pantomime alive in London. lpanfomime is a curious plant. A cer- .a,n section of the public profess indif- sarence to 1t and the clown of today stands on a far different footing to Grimaldi of 50 years ago. It is hard
 to believe that a mere harlequin could
 make a national reputation.
 l Let us remember that during the cen
 tury of its existence the theatre has
 preserved an almost unbroken continu- lity of pantomimes. On the Boxing Nlght of 1872 Harlequin Humpo, or Coium-
 Ibine by Candlelight," must have been very modest affair compared with the
 modern production in these days or
 electrical brilliancy.
 There is magic in the name of the
 great theatre such as no other play
 house possesses. In the most distant
 parts of the earth "Drury Lane" stands
 as a synonym for London and its
 life.
 That 1t has survived the perils and
 dangers of an entire century Is aston
 fishing. Many a time It has been threat
 ened As late as 1898 1t was given out
 that the then Duke of Bedford, through
 Important considerations of estate
 policy" would be unable to renew the
 lease. This calamity, happily, was
 Inverted, and "Old DrQry," after resist
 ling a desperate assault by the destroy
 ling element" a few years ago, now looks
 '&a it's latest decorated form brighter