New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-11-30

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London. Nov. 29.-In anticipation of
the Christmas season the producers are
now busy with pantomimes, but,
strange to say, only two will be pre-
scented in London, one, as usual, at
Drury Lane, where last years sue
cess. The Sleeping Beauty" will be
repeated and the other pantomime,
The Babes in the Wood at the Ly-
ceum.
The poor old. battered "Playboy Of
the Western World had a rOwdy sort
of reception at Liverpool last Thurs
day night Kisses, "boos,' catcalls,
elections and Interruptions made the
scene like what a suffragette raid on a
Cabinet ministers meeting would prob
ably be. one man threw a large black
thorn stick on to the stage in the
centre of a group of frightened actors.
Just like a Tonopah, Virginia City
or a Bull Frog, the tango in London
rose to crescendo pitch all in a moment,
but now its wave of popularity is fall
ing fast A few weeks ago London was
raYing crazy over the South American
slip and wriggle. Ragtime was dead
and the Argentinian craze spread like
wildhre: every one rushed to tango
teachers, the hotels gave tango teas,
/ and the Queens Theatre had one every
afternoon. as we'll as the London opera
House
/ Vaudeville artistes with no brains,
but with nimble feet, got big money,
but now the madness is dying away.
The papers no longer print illustrations
Of how to switch your feet. The
Queens Theatre has stopped its after
noon teas. as has the London Opera
/ House, and the Palace, which has just
opened a season Of teas, is not doing
well in that direction
The tango is still seen at one or two
houses, especially the variety theatres
In the provinces it is an absolutely
dismal failure, often not drawing more
than SIS TO $50 a house.
The American revue, which has beer
playing ten months at the lovely tomb
of Oscar Hammerstein's hopes, left fol
Hamburg last Wednesday night for a
four weeks stay, and will afterward
go to Berlin and Vienna.
The girls made a great hit in Lon
don, putting new vivacity, speed and
energy into the production. Stanley
the lessee Of the London opera House,
expects TO have a new American revue
next year, as well as another American
company in Paris.
Despite the fact that they have APP
peared in 264 performances and played
| to more than half a million people, say
/ the American chorus girls, not single
one who came over intending to marry
duke managed even to capture a
! baron. Last March the girls got to-
| gether while outbound from New York
on the Majestic and made bets as to
which would capture a lord or duke
| first Now that all have failed, they
| have gone to try their luck on the Con-
| tinent.
The best known Englishmen of let
| tiers are still rushing to the stage. Ar
mold Benefits play, "The Great Ad-
venture" at the Kingsway Theatre, is
commonly conceded TO be the best Of
fering in London. George Bernard
Shaw has just had a new play, Great
Catherine" produced at the Vaudeville
Theatre Gilbert X. Chesterton's
Magic" is running well at the Little
Theatre, and is about to be preceded
by a curtain raiser by Thomas Hardy.
Mr.. Chesterton's play is a weird al
legory, bit analogous TO THE Mes
senger from Mars" THE Passing of
the Third Floor Back" and THE Ser
want in the House" A latter day con-
juror. madly in love with young girl
far above his own station, and for that
reason insulted and deeply wounded by
her schoolboy brother. frightens the
boy by employing his arts to make the