New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-15
LONDON VS.. NEW YORK
Further Bits of Comparison
from Annie Hughes, the
EnuIiSh "ChOruS Lady,"

As vivacious as ever and very eager TO
re-establlsh the entente cordiale with the
American public. which received her so
enthusiastically when she played here in
Mr. Hopkinson" five years ago. Miss
Annie Hughes, the popular English
actress is In this city again. Though UNI
certain what piece she viii place before
the public as her first offering, she has no
doubt that 1t will he given a wholesome
though searching trial
Il came over with the intention of play
ing Miss Tommy Jerome X. Jerome's
comedy. I'm which l have been touring
England for some time said Miss
Hughes, but when Z arrived here !
found that your elections and campaigns
and such things had upset our plans. /
suppose that your politics must withdraw
a good deal OF attention from the thea
tres.
1t was originally intended 10 start
Miss Tommy I'm Chicago in the fall and
later take il on tour, with New York az
an objective point. AS tho matter stands
now, however, the opening has been In
definitely postponed. and | am looking
around for something to appear in until
this political fuss blows over
1T is more than probable that I shall
make my American bow this time in an
other jerome X. Jerome play. the title of
which has not yet been made public In
case that idea does not materialize I have
several delightful one-act comedies in my
trunk by George Paston,' author OF No
body's Daughter Two OF them, in par
ticular. are excruciating. They are called
.Tilda's New Hat and Feed the Brute
tho latter being based on the well known
theme Of how a wife should manage
husband. But you use one-aca plays only
for filters over here, don't yod?'
Miss Hughes was told that the Irish
PLAYERS had made decided hit last sea-
son H., Introducing several bills devoted
10 one-act plays. and that Charles F'roh-
man was planning 10 produce three one
act plays by Shaw. Pinero and Barry IN
an evening.
in that case" she said, "my playlets
ought to be just the thing
over here in New York you like TO see
something new. just as we do in London
Tho newer It is. the better the puphc
likes il. In London just now every one
attention is riveted on problem plays.
suppose that the reason Miss Tommy
made such a success was because there
is something Of the problem in that
toward The end. But the moral ISM
rubbed in. II is lust a clean, wholesome,
natural logical drama
Miss Hughes produced a copy OF a let
ter which Mr. Jerome had written her III
regard TO "Miss Tommy showing that
tie play had been composed with her in
mind II ran:
"You are the embodiment of all that is
sweet and pure in a woman Miss Hughes.
"Mv Miss Tommy is the study of
woman with a big heart and fine nat
ure--she loves, she believes. And when
she discovers that the woman she be-
lievcs in--the woman she thought the man
she herself worshiyped had betrayed-is
false. she throws I'D the world, her honor,
for him, when he is left ruined and de-
serted.
only q woman with a heart Wouiu
make this great sacrifice
81 was listing Mr.. Jerome Just before
sailed" Miss Hughes went on, land he
was convinced that Miss Tommy would
make good i'm America Mr.. Jerome is
much more popular here than he i in
England. lie says he knows his Ameri-
can public. lie sent his love TO America
mis- land as he likes to call it
Speaking Of the exchange plays be-
tween the two countries. Miss Hughes
said that the tide was still in this direc-
tion.
Your American managers still come
10 England for their plays" she said.
Numbers of American plays are pro-
duced in London, but they seldom make
great successes.
ION the other side OF the question,
take plays like 'Bunty Pulls the Strings.
You say that that has been running here
all summer and that five companies will
be playing 1t this winter You will find
Milestones' snother such success as
big, or even bigger l asked an ador-
able old couple who came over with me
on tho steamer what plays they had
seen in London and they said only two
-'Bunty Pulls the Strings and Mile
stones
(which did you like better?' ] asked.
'Oh, "Milcstoaes by far they said. So
that is slight indication that the Eng
lish plays are still holding their own"
How long do you intend to remain in
this country" she was asked.
Just as long as it will keep me-" she
responded quickly. 1T is a delight to
play to an American audience. IT is
very critical audience. but very just. II
# likes you IT has no hesitancy in say
ing So and II always has a warm place
I'm its heart for old friends"
Miss Hughess former experience with
American audiences was confined TO
three months at the Savoy Theatre,
where Miss Ethel Barrymore later Gre
ated the American role of THE Country
Mouse" Of which Miss Hughes was the
English original. Robert Lorraine
wanted her TO play the leading femi-
nine role in Man and Superman" after
her engagement in Mr.. Hopkinson." by
Il. c. Carton, and an attempt was also
made to have her appear in Chicago in
another Carton comedy, Public Opin-
ion" but her English engagements
forced her to return 10 that country.
Among her notable successes there
were Sweet Nancy "A Bit OF Old
Chelsea" in which Mrs. Fiske appeared
in this country. and THE Chorus Lady"
in which she took the part created by
Rose Stahl IN New York. The last OF
Mr. Jeromes plays produced in this
country was THE Passing OF the Third
Irloor Rack I'm which Forbes Robertson