The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-11
NEWS AN GOSSIP
OF LONDON STAGE
Boucher May Come to
America With Tree =
BROADHURST KICKS
Forbes RObertsOn's Plans For Grand
Farewell at Drury Lane-He
Will Retire With Million.
Shoes Are Too Big

London. January 10,-(Special) To
Judge by the cabled accounts Beerbohm
Tree seems to have been having the
time of his life in New York. No man
loves better to be interviewed and no
man, II you go the right way about It,
is more productive of good copy. The
great thing about Tree is his huge en-
joyment of life. ] remember asking
him once how he managed to keep a
smiling face towards the world. His
answer was Simply by taking life hui
morously and art seriously Therein
think. lies the secret of his perpetual
contentment, although I am bound to
add that no one can be more easily up
set by pin prick than Tree. 1t is the
small things that annoy him; the big
ones brushes courageously asidea In
one great great respect he has few, IL
any, equals among his brother profess
sonals His sympathy is unfailing, his
generosity unlimited. Moreover, when
he gives he is more than content that
his right hand shall not know what his
left is doing.
Depends On Play
Much will depend upon Trees choice
of plays for his coming American sea-
son. 1t will be remembered he was
rather unfortunate regarding these the
last time he appeared on your side
Henry Will" for instance, would be a
big draw with the public; as presented
by Tree, it is a genuine pageant play
and presents quite a remarkable picture
of the spacious times of good Queen
Bess. Should the piece be given 1t
would not be surprising If Tree were to
induce Arthur Bourchier to accompanv
him in order to play the part of Henry
VIII, one of the best things Bourchier
ever did. His lease of the Garrick by
the bye. terminates at the end of June.
and unless he can arrange for renew
al ne will be free to turn his back to
England for a while. 1t will rejoice
Trees heart to learn on his arrival that
the King and Queen are going to His
Majestys tonight to witness perform
ance of Drake A special box placed
in the middle of the pit is being con-
structed for their use
Having referred to Bourchier,s len
ancy of the, Garrick it may be- worth
mentioning that the original lessee Of
that house are four or five individuals
who have formed themselves into a syn
dicate under the name of the Renters
From what I hear they do not seem
to be too well satisfied with recent re-
suits. and more than one of them
would rdtntT ike d SnN at management
it looks as if there would be some little
competition as to who shall have the
theatre after next June. Oscar Asche
of course, made fortune out OF 1t with
"Kismet." but successes like .sKisinet''
do not come along every day, and Tn
afraid Bourchier has not done much
more than make lRth ends meet.
ROberts0n's Farewell
The news that Forbes Robertson has
chosen Drury Lane for his farewell sea-
son in London was flashed upon us two
days ago. He himself as / happen
to know, is Just a trifie nervous about
the success of the venture, but person.
ally | would cheerfully wager my last
dollar on it's being one of the principal
and most prosperous events of the year
There was. as usual. good deal of me-
gotiating before the matter was finally
fixed up. Tree would have been de-
lighted to have Robertson at his Majes-
ty's: also. he could have gone to the
Haymarket, the Globe. or the Queens
There can be little doubt. however.
that he has decided wisely In opening
in favor of Drury Lane. For one thing
it is the National Theatre. for another 1t
was there that Henry Irving finished
his career in London, further ii Is full
of honorable traditions Robertson rec