New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-07
FOREIGN NOTES
London and Paris Hit by Fever
of RevivaIism.

With the memory Of half a dozen re-
vivas fresh in the minds Of New York
playgoers, It may not be wholly without,
interest to call attention to the fact that
the rage for drama of past decades has
struck the London capital and is rapidly
soaring to its height Four OF the leading
London theatres are at present offering
pieces which long since ran the gamut OF
popularity and had reached the dusty
bookshelf where the successes Of past
years lie, waiting for some browsing man.
ager to recall their former appeal and
bring them forth for the enjoyment Of a
reminiscent public.
Critics aver that the main reason for
this phenomenon is that the playwright;
Of the day are unable to supply the pub
lies demand for the better class Of drama
Whether It be the playwrights who are al
fault, or the public. or. as some have been
cruel enough to suggest, the poor, hard
working managers, the fact remains that
many productions on both sides the water
have gone to the storehouse during the
past season and that the said public has
hailed the temperance Of old favoritei
with delight.
All those who make a pretence Of fol-
lowing the local productions with any
thing Ike regularity are familiar with the
plaudits which have greeted the enter
prise Of the Shuberts in putting on the best
known OF the deliciously dainty Gilbert
and Sullivan operas. "Pinafore,' The
Mikado," Patience" The Pirates OF
Penzance," have all met with enthusiastic
receptions The indigenous opera, Robin
Hood" received no less Of an ovation.
The revivals earlier in the season OF
Caste" Jim the Penman" and The
Lights o. London" were as we'll received
though they came at time when the pub
lie was supposed TO display its greatest
avidity for up-to-the-minute' productions.
London has always been ahead Of this
newer metropolis in its regard for the
things Of former years, but even there II
Is not altogether usual to devote four OF
the foremost playhouses in the city 10 the
worship OF ancient gods at this particular
season Perhaps the English playwrights
are falling to the low estate OF their Amer
lean brethren. Perhaps even those who a
few decades ago produced masterpieces
that were hailed as classics through the
length and breadth OF the English speak
ing world have become besotted with the
commercialism OF the modern stage and
, have lost the divine inspiration OF theiE
youth. However that may be, also. the
earlier productions OF two OF them are
given preference over what they can turn
out to-day.
These two are none other than the Cas-
tor and Pollux OF the modern English
theatre, Arthur Wing Pinero and Henry
! Arthur Jones. Charles Frohman added
the fourth revival 10 the list when he put
on Sir Arthurs The Amazons" at the
| Duke OF York's Theatre on June Il. Mrs.
Danes Defence" usually considered Mr.
Jones's greatest play. had already been
running at Sir Charles Wyndham's New
Theatre FOR several weeks.
The press notices OF both Of these pro-
auctions have been unanimously enthusiast
tic, and II is TO be supposed that the public
has followed the critics in their apprec!a-
ton OF the good judgment OF the managers.
In speaking OF the latest revival The
Referee" OF recent date, says:
las usual. Charles Frohman has done
the thing very handsomely in reviving The
Amaze OF Sir Arthur Pinero al the
Duke OF York's and fer the daughters
three OF the eccentric Marchioness OF Cas-
tlejordan he has engaged three young &C
treSses who have one AMI all large follow
ing Miss Pauline Chase, TO be sure, is less
experienced in the ways OF comedy than
the others. and is perhaps little over
weighted in the part OF the Lady Wilhel-
nina and outclassed by Miss Phyllis Neil
son-Terry, who plays the Lady Noeline. and
by Miss Marie L6hr. whose very spirited
performance OF the Lady Thomasin Is a
striking success"
The other two prominent REVEALS are
ben Hur," produced by Arthur Collins at
the Drury Lane Theatre. and "Ollver
Twist" at His Majesty's Theatre, under
the direction OF Sir Herbert Tree. Both oil
these productions were seen on this side
OF the water during the spring. and Ben
Hur" Is scheduled to return 10 this coun-
try in the near future. In the Dickens
dramatization Sir Herbert himself appears
in tho role of Fagin and is highly
praised in the reviews for his utterly heart
less portrayal OF the old rascal. TIE part
taken by Marie Doro in the New York pro-
duction Is played by a youthful performer
OF the opposite sex In London, Master Al
fred Willmore.
Nor is the revivalist spirit confined to
London entirely. Paris. for once, has
broken out with the fever. The romantic
drama Antony" was staged not long age
at the Coincide FRANCHISE, and Roman
Coolus's dainty comedy La Petite Peste'
was put on at the Renaissance. At the
Vaudeville lie Dindon." by Georges Frey
dau, played to as great applause as when II
was first produced at the Palals Royal in
1896.