New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-28
IN THE LONDON THEATRES
Norman MCKinneI PeSSImIStIC
on Modern British PlayWTltlng.
PRAISES AMERICAN WORK
H. B. Irving to Play Chief Role
of lie Grand Seigneur,
Drama of Reign of Terror.
rBv cable 10 The Tribune.

London sept 27.-New plays con-
tinue 10 bloom almost nightly on the
London stage. where hopes seem 10 Pee
found which Will not die in less than
fortnight. There has been a great deal
OF money lost during the last three sea
sons-so much. in fact, that no more
talk is heard of building new theatres.
and plans announced more than year
ago for remodeIing several houses al
ready in existence have never got be
yond the stage Of the first announce
ment. However. The managers still!
continue 10 take chances with the the
aires now running. and next week
there will be- openings or Wednesday,
THURSDAY and Saturday nights.
Norman McKinnel who was recently
in America with Rutherford and Son
is putting on az the Vaudeville Theatre
a play by a new woman writer. Miss
Bridget Maclagan, called Collision.
and. though he is taking this chance.
MIR McKinneI expresses very pessi-
mistic views on modern playwriung.
1T is difficult 10 conceive what alb
solute rubbish i perpetrated IN the
guise Of playwriung. ne says.
Frankly. there are some people who
should never be allowed to take a pen
in hand except 20 put their names 10
checks"
OF the American drama. however. he
takes more cheerful view He says.
During my recent visit 70 America /
was immensely impressed by the man
ner in which the drama there is de-
veloping What struck me most was
that all the best work comes from the
West. California, in fact is rapidly
becoming quite a nest Of writing birds
London so far has had little practical
knowledge Of their efforts. IL is the
detective and crook class OF play which
the American producers appear TO
think we are mainly interested in, but
the vogue for that will soon pass, and
then perhaps there will be a change for
q piece Of the description Of A Poor
A4AlAif I4ll VII D. ~ MN 81 - NA'1'
ing the Atlantic. When work Of that
character does come To the West End
nave a very firm belief it will make a
decisive hit"
Years OF Discretion" like Girls, %
has failed entirely 70 make good with
the London public, and will be with
drawn next week and succeeded by a
new comedy by Robert Vansittart.
written for Miss Ethel Warwick.
Another OF the new plays for next
week is lie Grand Seigneur, a play OF
the Reign OF Terror, which II. B. Irv-
ing will produce at the Savoy. with
himself in the title role. Miss Marie
L0hr has been secured by Mr. Irving as
his leading lady, while among other
members OF a long cast are Leonard
Rayne Basil Hallam CONVEY Wright,
Ben Field A. Z. Benedict and Miss
May Witty.
Tho London opera House built by
Oscar Hammerstein. will again be the
home Of opera this winter. for the
American revue now running viii close
DOWN in the middle OF December and
there will be no other production under
the revue management until April.
Meantime another manager has
leased the house and will give opera
therein for three months. A bar license
has been secured already. T. V. Stan
ley. the present owner OF the house, has
bought theatre in Paris, and probably
Will open it in April with the revue
now at the London Opera House and a
brand new cast Of American principals
a. nd - IL