Ethel Irving as Lady Frederick Berolles |
'On the whole, one must confess to rather a disappointment over Lady Frederick, the new comedy by Mr. W.S. Maugham, author of A Man of Honour, in which Miss Muriel Mydford played the married barmaid with such remarkable force a little while ago [in a revival, Avenue Theatre, London, 18 February 1904]. the reason is easy to tell. A Man of Honour was a play of genuine life. It had something to say. Its faults were honest. Lady Frederick is just a conventional, tricky comedy, not quite clever enough at its own game.
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Marie Lloyd enthusiastically received |
'There was a big audience at the Orpheum yesterday afternoon, and in it were a number of theatrical people who were extremely anxious to learn how Brooklyn would greet Marie Lloyd, the English singer, who came preceded by a reputation of singing rather risque songs. They found out very quickly, for Miss Lloyd made a hit at the Orpheum that isn't often equalled in one afternoon, and the approval that she won had no reserve clause in it. Miss Lloyd's songs are a trifle broad, perhaps, but that is the most extreme thing that can be said of them, and the one who sings them is so overflowing with wholesomeness that criticism is disarmed by her very personality. On the stage Miss Lloyd behaves just as though she thought life the most delightful thing ever, and off the stage she is just the same - flowing over with enthusiasm, filled with a live interest in everything with which she comes in contact, her heart in her art and her whole being anxious to please, and delighted when she does please.
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Viola Tree returns briefly to |
'Miss Viola Tree who appeared [as Viola] in three performances of Twelfth Night at the Royal Victoria Hall [the Old Vic, London] last week. Miss Viola Tree in private life is Mrs. Alan Parsons, and although domesticity has practically robbed the drama of one of its favourites, we are glad to see that her name part has enticed this actress from her seclusion into a brief reunion with her old admirers.'
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© John Culme, 2009