The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-23


which Tree himself controls; or, possibly
he may reserve these for his own use
when he goes to America next fall.
The first night notices dealt 'rurandot''
at the St James a staggering blow from
which 1t has never recovered. Seemingly,
also, 1t left Sir George Alexander without
any great heart TO continue losing fight.
Another week, consequently, viii see the
last OF DR.. Yollmoeller's Chinese comedy
which thus Will have enjoyed a career
OF exactly four weeks. In order to obtain
breathing space for rehearsals Of his next
play Alexander is putting up Oscar
Nildes importance of Being Earnest,
for a fortnight or thereabouts. II Is to
be followed by a piece by A. E. w. Ma
son, the story of which is said to deal
with the somewhat familiar theme of
husband, wife and lover. Alexander. de-
priyed of his expected holiday, will then
make his reappearance at the st. James,
the part of the white, a woman of IS,
having been allotted to Miss Irene Van
brugh.
I mentioned some time ago that Hilda
Trevelyan and Edmund Gwenn's next pro-
dUction at the Vaudeville would take the
shape of a new play by Wilfred r. Cole
beeii discovered that the last act wants
strengthening, and as the authors see
their way to doing this the manuscript
has been sent back to them for amend
ment. In the circumstances a revival of
Pnero's old farce THE Schoolmistress,
has been decided on with Hilda Trevelyan
in Rose Norreys's original part ard
Gwenn and Dion Boucicault In those for
merly sustained by, respectively, John
Clayton and Arthur Cecil. The piece is
to be dressed exactly as it was at its
first performance, in other words, in the
costumes of nearly thirty years ago
Even now | yividly remember how, as a
ycungster, | occupied a place in the
front row of the pit and how, like every
one present, I laughed till | was hoarse
at the amazing drolleries of Clayton,
Arthur Cecil and Mrs. John, Wood. OF
the three the last named is the only one
who remains with us. She will be so
next autumn. A friend who visited her
at her bungalow at Birehington-on-Sea
the other day tells me that although not
able to get about very much she is still
wonderfully strong and hearty.
Even more interesting is the announce
lnent that Sardou's old play Diplomacy
| is to be revived by Gerald du Maurier
and Frank Curzon at Wyndham in the
course of the next few weeks. l was
chatting over the matter with j. ID. Bev-
eridge the other night and he told me
that he was present at the production
OF the piece at the old Prince of Wales
theatre-previously known as the Dust
hole--of Tottenham court road. 1t was
there that the Bancrofts laid the founda-
tion of their fortune by the presentation
of Tom Robertsons comedies, such as
Society" School and Caste" Bev-
eridge remarked that in all his life he
never experienced such a tremendous
thrill as that received from the perform
nous success, a success repeated to a
considerable extent in the revivals OF
1881 and 1898. The piece had admittedly
the advantage of an exceptionally brill
liant east, but something also must be
said for the strength Of the story. Sar-
dou was a wonderful weaver of plots,
and in this respect has rarely done bet
ter than in Dora as the original play
was named when done in Paris.
Bancroft has had the piece brought up
u date, the work being done partly by
his son George, partly by himself and his
clever wife, Lady Bancroft. l am not
suro that this is an altogether wise step
Or that it would not have been better
to present it in its original period and
original costumes. In this form we would
have more easily condoned certain theat-
rical tricks in which Diplomacy" like
most of Sardou's works, abounds. Ban
croft, however, has determined otherwise,
and as he is the owner of the piece he
can do with it as he will The idea Is.
further, that it shall be played by
company of comparatively young people.
Du Maurier has chosen for himself the
part of Henry Beauclerc, while Owen
Mares win appear as his young brother,
Julian Gladys Cooper will leave Mile
stones in order to take UP Mrs Kendals
old part of Dora, Norman Forbes is to be
Baron Stein, Lady Tree the Marquise lie
Rio-Zares and Ellis Jeffreys the Countess
Zicka Marie Lohr. meanwhile, tempo
rarily leaves Gerald du Maurier to retire
into private life, for what | cannot do
better than describe as family reasons.
Castor Meyer has returned from New
York bringing with him the manuscript
of 'The Yellow Jacket" which he has
arranged with Charles Frohman to pro-
duce during the present season at one OF
the latters West End theatres Robert
Lorraine is also in the show as part pro-
prietor with Meyer. Tree was rather
sweet upon THE Yellow Jacket but like
CASTOR Meyer came to the conclusion
that it was hardly big enough to fill the
huge stage at His Majestys
Seymour Hicks and his wife, Elaine
Terriss, are not after all to be seen pro-
fessionally on your side. Everything was
duly arranged for their appearance III
vaudeville in New York early in March.
But Hicks has suddenly developed big
scheme, the realization of which will
bring him back to the ranks of London
actor-managers. Consequently he has
changed all his plans. Nevertheless he
hopes to cross the Atlantic before many
days are over, mainly for the purpose of
having a business chat with Charles
F'rohman.