New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-17
In View Of LondOn's Dead
Season They're Willing
to Come Very Cheap.
PEG O. MY HEART"
IN WEST Bath ST.
AT Manhattan Opera House This
Popular Play Began Another
Triumphal Engagement
BY ACTON DAVIES.

The cab.cd report from london that
Sir Herbert Reerbohm Tree, Sir
George Alexander and Mr.. Cyril
O"Grumpy"J Maudc had an offered
their service. 10 act as volunteer,
not TO say impromptu policemen, in
London during the war be q very pretty
little story a. It lies and D. evidently
lies 80 we'll that we would never dream
Of disturbing it we're 30 not for the
fact that on Saturday afternoon GER
tain well known American manager
who Is quite as we'll known 10 London
as he is on has native heath remarked
laughngly as he DISPLAYED a veritablc
sheath Of British cabIegrams:
Here's another popular theory shat
tered The moment England declared
vsr and the sailing Of 50 many Of The
transatlantic steamships was iudcf
ntely postponed a great cry OF relief
went up from the American actors iu
general Well thank heavens. for
once the American actors will have
chance in their own country. Even n
the English are under contract they
won't be able 10 get over 10 fulfil thc,-
engagements. Il is less than a fort
night since the Americans set up this
cry Of thanksgiving. and yet look az
the result Read these cables and sec
for Yourself"
The manager paused for q moment
and exhibited a cable from a star
whose name in England is q householS
word For years and years" con-
tinued the manager. "l've been trying
to induce this star 20 come TO America.
He always refused to even discuss the
proposition. Well. that cable speaks
for itself, doesn't 10? While hereto
fore he has always turned a deaf ear TO
even my most liberal offer, that cable
states pretty clearly, doesn't IL, that
he viii come 10 America on any terms
which 7 may care to offer? And he Is
only one star out Of very nearly
dozen who arc equally anxious to come
to America this year.
"And after all. who can blame them
As long as the war lasts the theatrical
business m England is going to b.
deader than IL has ever been, and that
is saying d good deal, when one re-
members the general financial state Of
stage affairs over there for the last
few seasons. Beerbohm Tree. who IS
rushing on a revival Of mis- patriotic
naval play. Drake, may possibly pop
ularize IL. but for any English man
agcr 70 dream Of putting on novelty
with London in dts present state OF
mind would be simply suicidal There
fore. it's perfectly natural that all the
stars should turn their eyes longlnglf
toward the United States as the one
land which offers them peace, perhaps
combined with plenty.
But" laughingly concluded the tall.
thin manager, as he liz another ciga-
rette. IF its any consolation 10 th"
American actors, you may state from
me that as far as ] am concerned these
English stars will not receive any in
ducements 20 come over here from me.
have troubles enough booked ahead
of me for this season al u is
Although these be war times, for the
first time i'm the memory Of the Oldest
living dramatic authorities the theat-
rical managers Of New York are about
20 achieve the undresmed-of feat OF
presenting no less than five new pro-
auctions to Broadway, and giving each
Of them a first performance all TO IT.
self. The almost invsrable clash Of
first nights during the height OF the
season has come 20 be regarded al
most as a matter OF course 4 great
nuisance. but an incurable one. Yet
here come five new attractions. with
managers who have wisdom enough 20
present each Of them on q different
night. Consequently this week. early
i'm the season as IL u.s. the first uigntcr
will find new plays 20 SIT 100 judgment
on all week from Monday 20 Friday
night.
There's no doubt about what the
Manhattan Opera House clientele
thinks Of Peg o. My Heart A mo-
nent's glimpse into that vast but pal
uitating auditorium on Saturday night
was sufficient TO prove that, no matter
what actress plays the title role IN the
Hartley Manners production. this sym
pathetic little play ls going to prove
lust as great favorite iu the metro
politan popular priced houses as 10
was for the two past seasons a. the
Cort