The evening world., 1921-07-12
DrDE DUDLEY writes from Lon


d don
New York theatrical produc- ,
ers and managers who feel that they
are in hard luck over the slump N
the entertainment business should .
make trip 10 London and have "A
look at conditions here. More than Il
dozen OF the theatres are dark, while ,
the attractions at a dozen more ar
limpips badly, and there will be other /
closings in the near future. sun
others are reopening with new shows
the success Of which is, Of course
dubious All this, transpiring IN tn,
summer, has the theatrical people de-
cidedly pcssimisttc, since the summer
N the big season here.
when one supposed 10 know is
asked the reason or reasons for tn
dropping off Of business in the the
atres, he usually mentions the coal
strike first. This big industrial con-
hict not only threw thousands OF men
out OF work but caused the curtail-
ment Of the railroad schedules, thus
cutting down playgoing contingents
from the outlying dist stricts. Next he
will mention the country wide uncm-
ployment, then conditions in Ireland
and lastly, the trend toward nor
malcy in everything. However. it is
the general impression that things
are al their lowest cbb and that re-
action will set in before long.
''T'he most extraordinary success
achieved by Americans here has
been earned by the Duncan Sisters.
Mr.. Dillingham; loaned them TO Mr..
. DE Courvile to strengthen the new
Gaiety Theatre revue, pins and
Needles and they have scored So
heavily that all London is talking
about them. Not long ago the Prince
OF Wales requested them to attend aI
dinner at which he was tho guest of
honor and the girls pleased him 80
much with their harmonizing that he
insisted each number bc given twice.
Now Mr.. Dillingham; needs them
at home, and MIR. Dc Courvillc isl
heartsick. Frankly, their leaving Will
knock the biggest prop out from
under Pins and Needles.
AS an indication Of how easy II
In to get theatres in London. n num-Y
Der OF players have banded together
under the namc of The Co-Optimis,s
and are presenting an entertainment
at the Royalty. They rent %hc thea.
tre and share equally in any profits.
The Co-Optimists are Phyllis Monk
man, Laddic Cliff. Melville Gideon.
Stanley Holloway, Bcry chester.
Davy Burnaby. Gilbert Chlds and
Elsa 'McFarlane. The piece is called
"A Midsummer Nights scream
Peggy O'Neil is stin carrying on,
as they put 1t here, in Paddy. the
Next Best Thing at the Savoy. She
10 now in her second year and has
nearly $50 performances to her credit.
They seem to think this production
will remain right where it is for six
months more at least. II II does,
i will he principally because Peggy
and her personality have mado il
much better entertainment than II
was in New York.
Mary Miles Minter has gone TO
Paris after winning much admiration
in London for her beauty-A win
some inGenue who will be seen in
America soon is Evelyn Lave Of
Mary.'-The retirement Of George NJ.
Cohan caused much discussion along
the Strand Several managers would
like to induce Mr.. Cohan to come here
as a star.-Mar rgie Norworth. Amer
loan actress and singer. is visiting
London and Paris accompanied by
Sadie Barton and Mabel Carew. Miss
Norworth displays n different Fifth
Avenue gown nightly.--Josc Collins
has made a genuine hit in 'Sybl' at
Daly's Theatre. The role fits her
nicely and she handles it very well
In addition. London likes her no mat
ter what she does.-The Dolly Sisters
are stiN scoring in Charles II. Coch-
rams The League of Notions This
piece, however has lost many OF its
American chorus girls and that is a
real blow.--WhAe in Liverpool re-
Gently ] saw on a billboard the an
nouncement that Are You a Mason
would soon be at one of the theatres
Britishers like To laugh and plays
that make them laugh live forever"