Punch, or the London Charivari | Page 4

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