GALA NIGHT AT DRURY LANE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1131, 19 May 1911, Page 5

GALA NIGHT AT DRURY LANE.

KING AND KAISER PRESENT. BRILLIANT REVIVAL OF FAMOUS COMEDY. By Tclettrapli-Press Association-Copyriebt (E«c. May 18, 10.30 p.m.) London, Mny 18. The "command" performance of Lord Lytton's five-act comedy "Monrj" took place at Drury Lano Theatre last evening in the presence of the King and Queen, the German Emperor and Empress, and a brilliant society assemblage. The auditorium was specially redecorated for tho occasion.in white cloth with a golden fringe and festoons of crimson flowers, while the boscs were outlined with real red tulips, and the stalls with carnations. Their Majesties, with their Imperial guests, and their suites, occupied a spe-cially-erected box, taking up half tho grand tier, to which access was obtained from the main entrance to the theatre and thence by the "King's Staircase," passing statues of David Garrick, Edmund Keen, and tho memorial to Sir Henry living. The magnificent saloon of tho theatre was reserved entirely for the use of tho Boyal party. The display of jewels by the ladies in the audience made a wonderful spectacle. One of the most notable features of the event was a specially designed act-drop by ono of the most celebrated historical painters of tho day, Mr. Seymour Lucas, E.A. It depicted the King • and the Kaiser etanding with Peace hovering over them. • Sir Squire Bancroft, who has long been associated with the play in its nuroorous revivals, acted as stage-manager. Tho amphitheatro was kept unreserved for the public, and a queue was formed up in the street from noon on Tuesday until the opening of the doors next evening. A CAST OF "STARS." The following is the cast of his Majesty's servants—as Drury Lano Theatre doscribes its players—that were to ( have tho honour of appearing in the "command" performance at iJrury Lane:— Lord Glossinore- Mr. Fred Terry. Sir John Vcsey' Sir John Hare. Sir F. iSlount Mr. Cyril Maude. Captain Smooth .Sir C. Wynuhani. Mr. Graves Sir Herbert Iree. Mr. Stout Mr. A. Bourchier. Alfred Evelyn Mr. G. Alexander. Air. Sharp Mr. L. Irving._ Old member of club Mr. Alfred Bishop. Sir John's servant ...Mr. Lewis \Valler. Toke Mr. E. Maurice. Ist member of club... Mr.- C. Hawtrey. 2nd member of club...Mr. S. Valentine. Frantz '. Mr. W. Grossmith. Tabouret Mr. Norman Forbes. Mac Finch Mr. Charles Rock. Crimson Mr. Dion Boucicault. Patent Mr. Dennis Eadie. Lady Franklin Miss W. Emery. Georgina Miss A. Carlisle. Clara ..Miss I. Vanbrugh. The order in which, tho characters appear is the same' as arranged by Lord Lytton for the original performance. The officers, club members, waiters, and servants, wcro to be impersonated by Messrs. Henry AinloyV ■ Lyn Harding. Marsh Allen. Robert Loraine. Allan Aynesworth. C. M. Lowne. J. H. Barnes. Dawson Milward, George Barrett. Harry Nicholls. Vincent Cliye. Arthur Playfair. Frank Collins. E. Vivian Reynolds. William Devereux. Frederick Ross. Kenneth Douglas. C. Aubrey Smith. ■ Gerald du Maurier. E. Lyall Swete. . H. V. Esmond. Herbert Waring. James Fernandez, Ben Webster. George Graves. . At the request of Mr. Arthur Collins, Sir Squire Bancroft undertook to direct the rehearsals of the comedy. Sir Squire's long association with this play and the numerous revivals that have been given under his direction necessarily rendered his assistance of the greatest value. The arrangement was entirely at thq wish of Sir John Hare, who felt that the dual responsibility of studying a long , part and directing the rehearsals would be too onerous for him to undertake. , The costumes, which it was decided 'should be of the period in which the play was written—namely, 1840—were to be specially designed by Mr. Dion Clayton Calthrop. Special scenery was prepared for the, fivo acts of Lord Lytton's comedy, and tho musical arrangements were to be under the direction of Mr. James Glover.