The New York herald., 1921-06-19


present generation.
II was with "The Belle OF New York"
that the recognition of the superiority
of American musical comedy over the
London article came to be recognized.
Occasional pilgrimages from the Gaiety
Theatre had shown this city the noted
beauties and comedians of that PERIOD
in its history There was already the
fault about their performances which
has been more or less noticeable ever
since. They were lacking In vivacity.
They were to our taste spiritles3. II
was none other than the author OF
"The Belle of New York" who re-
marked that he always wondered how
these English beauties ever got through
a performance, as they all seemed on
the point of falling asleep.
An English impresario saw the play
at the Casino, found it especially rich
In lust tn clements that the English
musical plays had begun to lose and
took the company. to London. This
visit marked the first presentation Of
American musical comedy there by an
American company which had acted
the piece here. There had been bur-
lesques of American origin and trans
atlantic actors of reputation had gone
to London to play in them. But the
newer style of musical play made and
acted first in New York was new to
London.
In the First Production.
There were some notable actors OF
the day in the first production of the
piece at the Casino, on September 2S,
1897. None of them ever became the
international figure that Edna May
did when her beauty SO impressed the
London public that she remained
abroad. and indeed made most Of her
stage career there.
Harry Davenport first of the youth
full Bronsons, was deservedly popular
in his day and came of the noted
theatre family of that name. The
writer remembers to have seen him
last in 'The SQUAD Farm" a brief dis
aster at the Bijou Theatre. His wife,
Phyllis Rankin, also of noted theatre
stock in this country, was the piquant
and irresistible Ftf. She emerged
most recently in Three Wise Fools"
David warfield. who played the po-
lite lunatic, was already destined for
the fame he later achieved. Already
the eagle eye of David Belasco was on
him. Dorothy Ward at the Winter
Garden is vastly better than her pre-
decessor ever could have hoped to be.
Little Marie George stopped in Lon-
don TO act in pantomime and was swal-
lowed up so completely that she was
never again heard of in the American
theatre.
John slavin and William Sloan, as
well as the veteran George Schiller.
who was contemporaneous with George
Fortescue, were also in this cast.
Schiller was in the early productions
of "Evangeline" with Mr.. Fortescue.
who passed out of all worldly worries.
original or otherwise, a few years ago.
Where Is pretty Paula Edwardes, who
was a star in this same theatre after
few years?
Dan Daily, the older Bronson Of this
production, as well as the leading
comedian of many Casino successes OF
that period. was an eccentric comedian
OF irresistible humor. 1t was as much
by his dancing as by his solemn and
rather crochaty manner that he caused
the laughter Of his audiences. Like
all really gifted stage humorists. his
manner ef fur was all together his
own. He in1itat nobody, nor was
there any other funny man that he
suggystee. IIe came Of a noted fam
lily o& cancers and singers. One of his
nephAws Is now a talented composer
in the lighter forms OF music and a
conductor Of genuine musicianship.
Ailments of Musical Comedy.
II is always more or less agreeable
to speculate as to just what is the
matter with one institution or an
other. Musical comedy is assuredly
wrong somehow. Else three out OF