THE ENGLISH STAGE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 116, 8 July 1911, Page 3

THE ENGLISH STAGE.

Mr 11. B. Irving, the vistinguidicd son of u famous father, who has just to’-Iris .A usiraliab tour, had some interesting comments to make to intmviswers when ho touched at Freamai 1 .0. Mr Sing admits tiiat the stage in Kngd is not iii ( 'jiho most .satisfactory Si’dition. It .is feeling tiie camjition' of theihiiusic-halls where the !eitaibinent. made moie attractive ovcrjfypar. The .neperk’a ut of: a repertory .theatre in London v. as H ' dinajtpointmopt'Londoners life lorig i nns, as a: guarantee of success, and the-quichf changes at the repertory theatres.did not appeal to their '■onseryative instincts. dir fiyng dwells, too, o,n the continuous hard work tiiat is cgpected of actors. Larrick did not make more than eighty appearances in tiie year, wdm ii Mr Irving regards as the ideal cnnditiors iot acting, hut. nowadays a, successful

actor must keep going .ill I lie Dim!. Two matinees, besides evening performances, are the rule in a London run But Mr Irving Hunks . the English drama is in a vigorous condition—that it lias never hi-en healthier sinee the days of Shakes!) ■•• re. 'Jhe great trouble is to find good plays, flie demand being muen greater than the supply. Mr Irving supports what others said about promising efforts getting ovory cnside.iwtio i Horn nuini gers aaJ • ouiirms In- ex per • ree of n.anagers v ;th ‘■■ i > k , ss plays A famous statesman ' once submitted, a play to Mr Irving. It was—well,-Mr jawing is unable to do justice to its badness, lie can only say. he cannot understand a ' man’ of .sue i capaiity writing such arrant nonsense. The. refusing of,plays is, lie savs, an art. for a too abrupt ! refus'd may lead to trouble’. _ , Ks method is to express -regret that' the play has no part that would suit him., , Evidently other prominent actors clo -'he same rhaig, for he remarks .that, it is this that has given the, actor-manager a imputation for, polossal vav.ily. He, emphasises the, iinpertauec of .what he cads the f‘hjg,, yjifdipT’ in Loudon Every London: piftor. if note lias a certain following.