The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-09
SOME GOSSIP OF THE
THEA TRICAL WORLD
xaGQ&2
BY PAU L COOK

For this the car service is sometimes
to blame.
One of the most disappointing
plays seen in Birmingham this season
was "Freckles." Perhaps the poor
performances given here may be par
TALLY explained by the fact that A.
G. Delamater had six "Freckles' COM
panies playing simultaneously IN vari,,
Gus parts of the country. The original
company, which was responsible Tor
the initial success of the play, OF
course, remained In the east, while all
sorts and conditions of less capable
performers were sent out on the ROAD
to get all the money that could be had
while the chances of quick profits
were good. 1t is to be hoped that
sort of "get-rich-quick" management
did not greatly boost the fortunes OF
the person who tried it, but it is more
likely that such tactics, as usual,
brought ample returns. In Birming--
ham "Freckles" was cold and dismal
frost"
Perhaps no celebrity of the stage
who has visited Birmingham this sea-
son, or is booked to appear here later,
is more interesting to theatre patrons
than Harry Lauder, who stepped from
obscurity to fame and from compara-
tive poverty to riches in very short
time. No other public entertainer
owes more to personality than
Harry Lauder. It is his way far
more than what he does that accounts
for his astonishing popularity. His
coming to this city for the first time
will offer an opportunity to study at
close quarters one of the most talked
| about comedians of the day.
/ The two hundredth performance of
"Fanny's First Play" was recently
given at the Comedy theatre in New
York and the chances are that the
Shaw play will remain there until
the end of the current season. New.
York seems to take very kindly to
| the piece, but perhaps some of its.
/ success is due to the fact that it is
| acted by a well balanced and care
fully trained company Of English
/ players who can be depended on to-
come nearer to putting over" the
kind of comedies Shaw writes than
any American company could.
The theatrical season, SO far as Bir-
mingham is concerned, is rapidly
drawing to close. 1t has been rather
disappointing for the most part; yet
local patrons of playhouses have but
| shared in the general depression which
has prevailed practically in all parts
kof the country. Cancellation and cur
tailed bookings have been the order of
the day and as a result the cheaper
forms of amusement have enjoyed
great prosperity. People who are de-
voted to the theatre have patronized
all kinds of weird" offerings, simply
because there was nothing else to do.
Next season promises to be much
more enjoyable. The splendid new
! Lyric will be open then and in addi-
tion to the general Improvement that
IS hoped for in all branches Of the
theatrical business, we are expecting
to have better vaudeville and more OF
it than Birmingham has ever had be-
fore. With five large theatres in full
blast and great number of lesser
houses, some of them quite preten-
tious, there is no reason why people in
search OF amusement should fail to
find 1t.
An interesting announcement for
next season is to the effect that Rob
ert B. Mantell will appear in new
play supported by a famous woman
star. This fine and virile actor is
justly considered one of the foremost
persons OF the modern stage and he
may De depended on to acquit him.
self with artistic success, no matter
what role he essays. There Is .
breadth and dignity to Mantell per-
lformance that impresses the imagina-