Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-22
THE LONDON THEATER.
Special Correspondence of The star.
JOND0N March II 1914

LONDON, March H. 1914.
Interesting developments are in prog
ress in the theatrical world Of London.
In the first place there is the affair Of
the Alhambra. More than a year ago
| the Alhambra, which is, of course, one of
| the leading variety houses of London.
and which had been losing money for
many months chiefly because of the com
petition of halls like the Coliseum.
| passed into the hands of new manage
ment, headed by a Frenchman named
Chariot and an Fnglishman, Leveaux,
former son-in-law of Henry Arthur Jones,
| the playwright The playhouse was re-
constructed and Immediately entered
| upon a period of prosperity. In twelve
| months profits of more than $4,000 were
earned and matters seemed to be in the
best of possible conditions Suddenly,
however. there came dramatic change.
| which every one on the outside has been
trying to understand ever since. Leveaux.
who had been joint aging-director
| agement and becomes consulting
director, and the FrenchnaE takes abso-
lutte charge. Has Leveaux been forced
out or has he retired voluntarily?
In the meantime the Empire, sister
house to the Alhambra, Just across Lei
eester Square, is having its troubles. For
| many months all has not been well there.
For years it was the home of ballet and
it began to decline when it allowed Genee
to go to the United States. Unable to re-
place the Danish dancer, 1t turned to the
revue, but being a small house with
small capital it was unable to withstand
the competition of the richer theaters in
the West End. which puts on super revueS,
spending something like $4,000 on a sin
gle production. In addition, the Empire
suffered from internal strife, and, in
| quick succession lost many of its old
favorites. both on the stage and in front
of the house. The limit was reached this
year when, after paying Il substantial
dividend on small capitalization over "a
period of many years, no money was
available out of profits to declare the
usual return to the stockholders and re-
course had to be had to the reserve.
But the end of the Empires troubles
are not yet in sight Walter Dickson,
the managing-director after several de-
mails has at last admitted his coming
tirement. The house will probably be ac
quired in the near future by Moss En-
pires proprietors of the Hippodrome and
of the largest circuit of variety houses
in Great Britain, and that young Albert
de Courvile. the husband of Shirley KEEL
logg, is anxious to try his hand at man
aging the famous house. AS he has I'M
limited capital at his back and seems to
be youth with imagination there is no
reason why he should not make sue
cess of 1t. especially as it has an enor-
nous following, a great reputation and
the best situation in London.
London is suffering from an epidemic
of disrobing sdenes. 1t started with
Who's the Lady, When the play was
first produced the Bishop of kensington
was in the midst of his crusade against
Gaby Deslys and company and their
shocking behavior on the stage. and all
the critics in town, hoping to be on the
side of the angels. panned the undress-
ing scene in Who's the Lady," Much
to their surprise the clerical critics could
discover nothing Objectionable in the
scene and the play has been success.
The local dramatists We're not long in
taking their cue. Cyril Harcourt, whose
"A Place i'll the SUM- although not
financial success. marked him out an
uncommonly clever playwright, intro
duces a bedroom scene in his latest play.
"A Pair of Silk Stockings and Joseph
Heating used a boudor undressing scene
in Peggy and Her Husband which has
just been produced and almost imme-
diately withdrawn at the Royalty The
alter