The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-17
TYF4E. LAMBS TO GAM1BOL AND A NEW LAY

oughly exposed. what Is the fate OF the
stage manager7 lie does not escape.
why did Mr.. Drew on Monday nigh.
walk from the park OF the Raron Sc 80
GIdciere through the open door OF the
conservatory in evening dress and
SILVER with the cold to such degree
that he had to have a shawl about his
shoulders when he went out, although
none OF the other guests seemed to OBJ
serve that 1t was 30 cold? Was that
part Of the play-we cannot remember
for the life OF us the last act in the
previous performances owing to a con-
stitutional weakness OF memory as to
Fast acts--or was 1t modern stage man
segment?
Il is not new to hear the declaration
of the American manager that he feels
the time has really come for the in
vasion OF London by the American play
wrights and actors. American actors
were prosperous in England long before
the present generation OF theatre man
ogers were graduated from the field OF
their former endeavors, whichever this
particular form OF industry happened to
be. Then there has never been d time
when there was not an American man
ager who felt that he had heard the call
Charles Frohman responded to It prob
ably more fully than any other Ameri-
can impresario. lie even INDUCED In
the luxury Of a repertory theatre, than
which there could be no more complete
subsection to present European stand
ards. Mr.. Frohman was always daring,
and he has become shrewd. So his
London interests have become much less
, extensive than they were. But there
seems to be All American manager born
every minute who rs willing TO nutter
about tho London candle.
The trick should be easier to-day than
Il was n decade ago, when Charles
Frohman made his onslaught There Ia
more material of "A Charact stic nature
to offer London. In spite OF the varied
testimony on the subject, the few plays
that seem TO have prospered In London
were strongly national in feeling. Such
products as Mrs. WIGS OF the Cabbage
Patch" which In said TO have enjoyed
unusual prosperity there. corresponded
10 the conception of the American char
acter entertained by the average London
iheatregoer Americans IN the opinion
~ the London theatregoers are Just
such eccentric figures. So when they
tale jargon such as that revealed In
Potash 4 porlmutter" they are full
filing another conception as to the
American character. We are supposed
TO lie - blend of all races a species OF
too lukewarm melting pot that does not
melt half SO rapidly or so thoroughly as
1t did, and 1t peases the perception OF
the London public to see US Just as II
has dec .dcd We are. So for plays Of this
kind there has always been market
The American manager who can take
them will find his task easier, and as the
number Of them Is greater than II used
to he. so will Il be simpler for the I'M
presario to Justify his belief that there
is n hankering in the British breast for
native dramas. Then the supply Of
American melodramas is greater than
II was within the Law" followed
Tho Third Degree" and there is in the
process of formation a school OF char
enthusiastically native melodramas which
will appeal to English taste. II is quite
impossible that Peg o. My Heart
should make any impression there, since
IT is on just such British products that
the theatre has subsisted there for
years From the United States, home Of
such interesting peculiar and strongly
: natural people, II Is plays of that kind
q that the foreign public wants to see.