"IT" (as Mr. GOSSE says at the beginning of his fascinating monograph on
SWINBURNE, a work which we understand has just been crowned by the Band of
Hope) it is now beyond doubt that Mr. H.B. IRVING'S drastic way with
_Hamlet_ is to have a far-reaching effect on all revivals. New authors can
be acted more or less as they write, or as they happen to be stronger or
weaker than their "producers"; but to be revived is henceforward to be
revised, and fairly stringently too.
Mr. IRVING has made a clearance of certain parts of _Hamlet_ which
interfere with the movement of its story. Actuated by old-fashioned motives
and writing for a public that was not yet wholly lacking in discrimination,
SHAKSPEARE did his best to make _Hamlet_ a poetical as well as a dramatic
tragedy. With this end in view he accumulated the mass of rhetoric with
which we are now so familiar. It as been Mr. IRVING's task to prune this
well-meant but somewhat excessive verbiage so that the real dramatic stuff
can at last "get over." But he has done no more. Any rumour to the effect
that he has introduced American songs or dances, or that a "joy plank"
bisects the stalls of the Savoy is untrue and deserves the severest denial.
One of Mr. Punch's livest although middle-aged wires, who has been
interviewing the great managers of the Metropolis--and by great he means
those most likely to become revivalists--says that it is the same tale with
all. For example, Mr. FRED TERRY, interviewed at his home near the Zoo, in
his study furnished with the works of all the greatest writers, from the
Baroness ORCZY to HAVELOCK ELLIS, admitted that it was perfectly true that
he was contemplating a revival of _The Three Musketeers_, with certain
alterations to bring it into line with modern taste in warrior heroes.
"To-day," said Mr. TERRY, "as you may have noticed, soldiers wear khaki.
Very well then, the musketeers shall wear khaki. They shall also be
transformed into Englishmen and be made recognisable and friendly. Thus
_D'Artagnan_ will become an airman, _Aramis_ a padre with fighting
instincts, _Athos_ a general, and _Porthos_ an officer in the A.S.C. A
certain amount of re-writing and adjusting is necessary, but that will
come."
In order to find Mr. GEORGE GROSSMITH, of the old firm of Grossmith and
Laurillard, who is now, as all the world, and especially Germany, knows, a
conning-tower of strength in the Navy, it is necessary to visit the North
Sea; but Mr. Punch's middle-aged men stick at nothing.
"Yes," said Mr. GROSSMITH, "we are doing _The Bells_. Mr. IRVING has kindly
leased it to us. But we are not adhering too slavishly to the plot, nor
does he wish us to; and, in fact, we have turned the part made so famous by
Mr. IRVING'S father into something a shade more droll, to suit Mr. LESLIE
HENSON, than whom, I take the liberty of thinking,"--here the young officer
saluted--"no funnier comedian now walks the boards. We are also changing
the title from _The Bells_ to _The Belles_, as being more in keeping with
Gaiety traditions. But I must ask you to excuse me; I fancy Sir DAVID
BEATTY wants me."
But the most interesting case of revision will be that of _The School for
Scandal_, because, two managements being at work upon it, each with
somewhat peculiar ideas, the public will be presented, at the same time,
with versions so unlike as to amount to two different plays. And this
suggests how valuable is Mr. IRVING'S lead, for it means that one old play
can be multiplied into as many new plays as the thoroughly conscientious
brains through which it passes. The two managers who have cast longing eyes
on SHERIDAN'S comedy are Mr. SEYMOUR HICKS and Mr. OSCAR ASCHE. Mr. SEYMOUR
HICKS is convinced that there is a new lease of life for this play if it is
taken at a quicker pace. He has therefore arranged an acting version which
will occupy about an hour, with laughs. By eliminating the word "sentiment"
alone, which is tediously harped upon, several minutes are saved. Some of
_Sir Peter_ and _Lady Teazle's_ repetition of the word "Never" also goes.
The satirical conversation in Act I. is much abbreviated as being out of
date, and the whole piece is redressed in the present manner. Mr. ASCHE
also is re-dressing it, or rather un-dressing it. In his opinion what the
play lacks is a touch of savagery. It is too sophisticated. He has
therefore kept no more of the plot than is consistent with a change of
scene to Hawaii, the fashionable primitive country of the moment. By this
change, even if a little of the wit and spirit evaporate, a certain force
is gained, a powerful epidermic part for Miss LILY BRAYTON as _Mrs.
Candour_ (the new heroine of the comedy) being not only possible but
natural. Mr. ASCHE himself will play _Charles Surface_, with the accent on
the surface, since he turns out to be a devotee of sun-baths and the simple
life.
In reply to a cablegram to America, Sir HERBERT BEERBOHM TREE sends the
following message:--"Am busy rehearsing _He Stoops to Cinema; or, The
Mistakes of a Knight_."
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[Illustration: UNPLEASANT NIGHTMARE OF HANS, THE EX-CINEMA ATTENDANT, AFTER
LEARNING OF THE AMERICAN DECLARATION OF WAR.]
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