The New York herald., 1921-08-21
News and Gossip
of the Theatres
in Summertime
Play by Edward Sheldon to
BE Acted by Basil
Sydney.

AolL SIDNEY Is soon TO produce
~ play by Edward Sheldon which
- was first to be put before the
authors admirers seven years ago. Va
rious causes led to the long delay. The
drama. which Charles Dillingham; ac-
cepted for John Barrymore when the
young actor was under his management.
was then called 1.-THE Lonely Heart"
It's most striking popularity was the
participation Of a character which never
spoke, although 1t was through her in
fluence on the hero that the drama re-
ceived it's most novel scenes. Ever the
spirit of his dead mother was supposed
to direct the life of the young man. At
one time Edith Wynne Matthison was
engaged for this role.
After a few rehearsals Mr. Dillingham;
and Mr.. Sheldon decided to withdraw
the play for certain structural changes.
Eventually 1t followed Mr. Barrymore
into the artistic holdings of A. III. Woods.
Mr.. Woods meant to give it to the public
after THE Song of Songs" Then Peter
Ibbetson'' intervened. Mr.. Sheldon was
deeply interested In the performance OF
this play and the visions there of the
hero's youth were to a degree a part of
But he decided then that his own play
would have again to be postponed until
Du Maurier's work was not so fresh in
the mind of the public Now Basil
Sydney, who Is the husband of Doris
Keane who found such great success in
Romance" Is to produce what was first
called 1.-THE Lonely Heart" acting the
role intended for Mr.. Barrymore.
Looking for Cromwell.
All the way from London comes the
rumor that J. X. Hackett and John
Drinkwater have decided over there
that the American actor who is to pro-
duce MARY Stuart in London shall act
the title role in CROMWELL here. The
play is already in the possession of Mr..
Harris. Written before MARY Stuart"
il follows the episode form of "Abra-
ham Lincoln" Mr.. Harris expects to
give the play toward the middle of the
winter.
Il am sure there has been no ques-
tion of Mr. Hackett," said David Wal
lace. speaking for Mr.. Harris yesterday.
"since he is to be in London all next
winter, presenting among other plays
Mary Stuart Mr.. Harris has already
been in negotiation with several well
known American actors, but / am sure
tnat MT. Hackett was not among IHeIn
The Aliens Again.
There used to be an old time variety
team popular at Tony Pastors Theatre
in West Fourteenth street known as
Lester and Allen. At the same time
there was q well known player of old
men known as Leslie Allen. He was
the father Of Viola Allen. who subse-
uuently became the favorite star of the
American stage. These two Aliens, the
one in Fourteenth street and vaudeville
and the one at the Madison Square The
atre and Twenty-fourth street. were un-
related but contemporaneous.
There is a new Allen now in George
Whites Scandals" and he has in the
three years he has been associated with
this review brought new fame to the
name. Lester Allen Is his stage moniker
| and in IL he combines the Allen of his
uncle and the Lester of his partner in
this popular pair of actors Of the vaude-
vile past.
| Young Allen, who came thus of the
| atrical stock, was predestined for the
theatre. But he began as a circus aero
bat and always kept Fred Stone in mind
when he was acquiring his artistic edu-
cation. lie had a brief experience In
burlesque. where he learned to combine
his acrobatic from the circus with the
dance steps from the wheels. Yet II
was in stock that he really learned the
method which is making him so popu-
lar to-day. He began in the company OF
Emma Bunting and for several years
played with her through the West, where
she was at that time most popular,
There was nothing In the stock repertoire
of modern plays that did not come his
way.
Ip,.t hat In n
about the corners of his mouth and does
more than any other qualities to put the
quaint little man into the class of really
exceptional comedians was acquired In
/ his days of acting in stock. He never
\ had the chance to be d'Artd0ndn in THE
| Three Musketeers." When Dumass play
was revived the role of the dashing hero.
In spite of Mr.. Aliens longings, always
went to somebody else in the company.
Is there any wonder that he has per-
manent sorrow on his soul?
Not in summer, Thanks.
The experience of two bands OF actors
who set out to make a tour of the sum-
mer resorts this year established again
the lack OF interest that Americans take
in theatrical entertainment when they
are on their vacations. Atlantic City
and a few other towns which are cities
in themselves may provide audiences for
certain productions. But when the man
In the street is away on a holiday he is
not in the least concerned about the
theatre.
There used to be prosperous summer
productions OF out-of-door Shakespeare
years ago at some of the resorts
manager told the reporter of the NEW
YORK HERALD yesterday. but that day
seems to have ended forever. Every
year there are more or less futile eff
forts to give performances at Newport.
Then there are attempts to form COM
| panies to tour the watering places just
| as the actors do abroad.
"Only n handful of spectators will
turn out to greet any kind of theatre
performance, whether II be held in the
hotel ballroom or in a theatre. There
seems TO be a tacit decision on the part
| Of all holiday makers TO keep away from
amusements of that kind. They belong
to the winter. The few entertainers that
tried out the plan during this summer
will never try it again."