BRITISH STARS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 82, 5 April 1924, Page 21

BRITISH STARS

ON THE AMERICAN STAGE

Twenty-two years ago a young actor, who had begun his stage career at the Elephant and Castle Theatre, went to the United States with a company taken there by Mrs. Patrick Campbell. His name was George Arliss, a name which in those days meant little to playgoers, and he stayed iv America. Later, says William Pollock in' the "Daily Mail," George Arliss came back to the London stage—in the leading part in "The Green. Goddess," produced at the SI: James's Theatre—in. the-position of one of^the most distinguished actors of the American theatre. In some respects he holds the place that' Richard Mansfieldoccupied. The case of Mr. Arliss is not jan isolated one.' There are in the'Unitl ed, States dozens of English actors. and. ' actresses who have gone thither to find the work an,d make the names that London seemed disinclined to -give them, ; and have succeeded completely. Most famous of all, of course, is Mr. Charles Chaplin, who, from playing in knockabout music-hall sketches in this" country, has become tlie greatest film actor in the 'world. |. ■ ' ' , : .

It is doubtful if you could find " one London theatregoer in a thousand who, remembers Mr. LawrSnce d'Orsay, who played "dude" parts in this country twenty odd years ago. At one time he was understudying Sir (then Mr.) John Hare for four pounds a week, I am told; now he is the foremost exponent of British stage "lords", and" -"dukes" . in America. „■"'■

Mr.' Lawrence Grossmith and Mr. Kenneth- Douglas are two well-known London actors Iwho s=eem to have settled down in America, just as Mr. Joseph Coyne, an American, seems to have" settled down in England; but the names of H. Reeves-Smith and Lionel Atwill mean less to English playgoers. But in New York,'.and elsewhere in the States, their names have come to mean' a very great deal. Mr. Reeves-Smith, who went to .America, after a longi experience' in Britain, some twenty years ago, has been described as "the George .Alexander of the American stage," and Mr. Atwill, who was at one time a member of. Miss Horniman's famous Manchester repertory company; is now one of the "stars", among serious actors in America. So is Mr. Henry Herbert, who for years managed Sir. Frank Benson's - No. 2. company on'tour in England. Mr. Herbert is responsibly said to occupy the most distinguished place on the New York stage at the present .time.'