The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-02

Gazette. In the course of conversation
with representative of that journal he
declared, or was alleged to have declared.
that Honghton's portrait of the prime
minister in his piece was distinctly tiat-
tering to the real thing. lie added that
having had the privilege of knowing sew
eral of the cabinet ministers he could
testify to the fact that in reality they
were much less stately and dignified than
tnese depicted in Trust the People.
The publication of these views brought
bourcher into the arena at once, INSIST
ing that he had been wrongly interpreted
and that what he did say was that
lioughton had copied his characters from
life by making them so witty and de-
llghtful. This statement elected from the
interviewer a prompt and categorical con-
tradiction, together with an emphatic re-
iteration of the opinions expressed by
Bourchier who. I am bound to say, comes
out second best from his lively encounter.
When next he meets one of his cabinet
minister friends he may find that his
reception is hardly so cordial as of yore.
] had half an hours interesting chat
the other day with Harry Benrimo part
author of 1.-THE Yellow Jacket He has
crossed the Atlantic in order to direct
rehearsals and gathered that he is soine-
thlng of an enthusiast so far at any rate
as THE Yellow Jacket is concerned.
CASTOR Meyer. with whom Benrimo is
associated, has arranged with Charles
trohman that the play shall be done
either at the Duke of Yorl<'s or at the
Globe, whichever happens to fall vacant
first All the probabilities point to the
former. as / scarcely think the present
BILL which includes 1.-The Younger Cen
tsf,ff
Look Is likely to prove very long lived.
Oddly enough Frohman seems to be intent
nowadays upon finding tenants rather
than plays for his West End theatres.
after all he is thus assured a weekly
profit rental. small though it be, and he
incurs no risk of any loss accruing from
heavy production. But after all, one
does not quite regard that sort of thing
as precisely the policy likely to be fa-
vored by a progressive and adventurous
manager.
Beerbohm Tree has practically decided
to abandon his usual Shal1espearean fes-
tival this year. At first he thought of
sandwiching it in between the withdrawal
OF Drake" and the production OF
prophet Percival," now to be renamed
1.-THE White Mans Burden of which l
gave you some account last week But
the measure would. entail a considerable
deal of work without any solid certainty
of adding anything appreciabe to Trees
banking account. On the whole 1t Is per-
haps. as we'll that he should give
Shakespeare rest at His Majesty's, for
the public wants to see him in modern
part suitable to his personality and his
methods. That he certainly has in THE
White Mans Burden. Besides he owns
the American as well as the English
rights In j. B. Fagan's adaptation, and
these former might prove exceedingly
serviceable should Trees project of vis-
iting the Uuited States professionally
next fall take effect.
In no way discouraged by her recent
experiences at the AQueen'ss. Ethel War
wick, who Is Lewis Walters daughter-in-
law. is again on the outlook for a West
End theatre. This time, however, she
wants a comparatively small house in
which to produce three-act comedy of
rather slight texture, by a new author.
Her backer, Lord Willoughby de Broke,
an enthusiastic admirer of her histrionic
talent, retains the strongest belief in
her powers to draw the public. provided,
OF course, she has the right material in
the shape of play. This he thinks she
has now acqured; consequently he is
quite prepared to stand the racket of an
other venture She will find competitor
in James Welch. for granting that the
American farce. Seven Days" which he
is exploiting at Harrogate next week,
realizes his expectations, he will want
a London theatre. So does Rutland Bar
rington. who has been trying out success
fully in the provinces a comedy by j.
Storer Clouston. Ethel Irving. too, will
soon be in the market, seeing that she has
got together a syndicate with $4,000 at
their disposal to run her for five years.
One has known $4,000 to be lost in a
theatrical enterprise in as many months.
Among arrivals this week from your
side was w. Somerset Vaughan and AL
fred Butt. The former seems hugely to
have enjoyed his stay in America, but il
there is one man who generally con-
trives to give himself a good time,
wherever he goes, it is Somerset Maug-
ham. He has brought back with him
the completed manuscript of the new
piece he has been writing for Charles
Hawtrey, although General John Regain
Is going so strongly that any question
of supplying a successor to that merry
farce may be indefinitely postponed. Al
fred Butt may be slow steamer and
have not yet had the opportunity of a
chat with him; hear his trip has been
somewhat of disappointment.
Winifred Emery has been selected by
Pinero for the part of Miss Dyott, origi-
nally played by Mrs John Wood, in the
forthcoming revival of THE Schoolmis-
tress'' at the Vaudeville. 1t is a happy
choice, for Miss Emery is a capital come
dienne and possesses exactly that breadth
of manner essential for the role. Cyril
Maude. her husband, is. by the bye, doing
fairly well with his new piece "The Head
master at the Playhouse. 1t is not
precisely gold mine, but the receipts
snow substantial profits and ii they re-
main pretty much on the same level until
the end of the season he will have moth
ing to grumbe at.
III. v. Ehmond's new farccal comedy
Eliza Comes to Stay" at the Criterion.
Is thin but amusing piece Of work.
The story is not remarkable for novelty,
reminding one in some respects of '"rhe
Marriage of Kitty Nevertheless the
piece was well received. and may serve
to keep the wolf from the doors for some
time to come
Ready Made Bird Nests