Arsène Lupin, written by Francis Du Croisset (1877-1937) and performed Charles Frohman's Duke of York Theatre, London, on August 31, 1909

    Scenes from Arsène Lupin, written by the Belgian-born French playwright Francis Du Croisset (1877-1937) and performed Charles Frohman's Duke of York Theatre, London, on August 31, 1909, starring Gerald Du Maurier. Alexandra Carlisle. Rosina Filippi, etc. 

   New York Times :  1909/08/31  LONDON SEES 'ARSENE LUPIN.'; Gerald Du Maurier a Success as ...  Arsène Lupin was produced here to-night at Charles Frohman's Duke of York Theatre, and met with very considerable success despite the efforts of some galleryites to boo the piece.

   Arsène Lupin by Francis de Croisset and Maurice Leblanc. Four-act play first performed on October 28, 1908, at the Athenée in Paris. In 1909 it had successful runs in New York and London, with the London production running for 199 shows. In New York it played for 144 performances before touring.

Sir Gerald Du Maurier as Arsène Lupin, 1909

Scenes from The Best People, written by Frederick Lonsdale (1881-1954), and perrformed at the Wyndham's Theatre, in August 1909.

Scenes from The Best People, written by the British playwright Frederick Lonsdale (1881-1954), and perrformed at the Wyndham's Theatre, in August 1909.

The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, August 28th 1909,  "The Best People," by Frederick Lonsdale, at Wyndham's Theatre.

a- The Hon. Gerald Bayle (Mr. Kenneth Douglas) makes love to Lady Emsworth (Miss Lettice Fairfax) during his wife's absence, and suggests supper for two at midnight in his rooms.

b- Lord Emsworth (Mr. Frederick Kerr) makes love to the Hon. Mrs. Bayle (Miss Eve Moore), and is told to come just after midnight to her rooms. The Hon Mrs. Bayle has discovered her husband's appointment with Lady Emsworth, and orders supper for four, intending to bring the quartette together.

c- The two suppers for two, which have become one supper for four. The Hon. Mrs. Bayle surprises her husband with Lady Emsworth, and the arrival of Lord Emsworth completes the confusion. Both men are guilty, and both ladies appear to be so, although one is merely "stupid," and the other is acting a part.

d- The Hon. Mrs. Bayle comes home and kisses her cold husband, whose head is full of the "stupid" Lady Emsworth.

e- The tables turned. A little later the cold husband, being "found out" and reduced to subjection, ardently kisses his apparently indifferent wife.

Wenn der junge Wein blüht (When the Young Wine Blooms, a comedy in three acts, 1909) by Björnstjerne Björnson (1832 – 1910), and produced probably in 1909.

Some scenes from Wenn der junge Wein blüht (When the Young Wine Blooms, a comedy in three acts, 1909) by the Norwegian writer Björnstjerne Björnson (1832 – 1910), and produced probably in 1909.

Emanuel Reicher

A Month in the Country (Месяц в деревне, a play in five acts), written by Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev (1818-1883), and produced proabably at the Moscow Art Theatre, Moscow, in 1909.

   Scenes from A Month in the Country (Месяц в деревне, a play in five acts), written by the Russian playwright Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev (1818-1883), and produced proabably at the  Moscow Art Theatre, Moscow, in 1909.

   A Month in the Country is a play in five acts by Ivan Turgenev, his only well-known work for the theatre. Originally titled The Student, it was written in France between 1848 and 1850 and first published in 1855 as Two Women. The play was not staged until 1872, when it was given as A Month in the Country at a benefit performance for the Moscow actress Ekaterina Vasilyeva (1829–1877), who was keen to play the leading role of Natalya Petrovna.

Islayev (Nikolai Massalitinov, left) and his mother Anna (Maria Samarova) surprise his wife Natalya (Olga Knipper, centre) and her would-be lover and friend of the family Rakitin (Konstantin Stanislavski), in Act 3 of the MAT production (1909).

Konstantin Stanislavski (left) and Olga Knipper (right) as Rakitin and Natalya in the Moscow Art Theatre's production in 1909

Moe inforamtion about this play

Moral (comedy, 1909) written by Ludwig Thoma and produced at the Kleinen Theater, Berlin, featuring Erich Ziegel, Berta Rocco, and Karl Thumser, in 1909

A scene from Moral (A 3--act-comedy, 1909) written by the German playwright Ludwig Thoma (1867 - 1921) and produced at the Kleinen Theater, Berlin, featuring Erich Ziegel, Berta Rocco, and Karl Thumser, in 1909.

Act II

Wenn der junge Wein blüht (When the Young Wine Blossoms) written by Bjørnson, Bjørnstjerne and produced at the Kgl. (Royal) Schauspielhaus, Dresden, in 1909

A scene from Wenn der junge Wein blüht (When the Young Wine Blossoms) written by Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson  (1832-1910) and produced at the Kgl. (Royal) Schauspielhaus, Dresden, in 1909, starring Frl. v. Schlettingen, Frel. Lichtenegg, Frau Salbach, Herr Wahlberg, and Frau Basté.

Ketten written by Hermann Reichenbach and produced at the Deutschen Theater, Berlin, in 1909

A scene from Ketten written by the German playwright Hermann Reichenbach (1840? - ) and produced at the Deutschen Theater, Berlin, in 1909, starring Jacques Morway, Guido Herzfeld, Erich Kaiser-Titz (German actor, 1875 - 1928), and Kurt Stark.

Act II

Strandkinder ("Beach Children" a play in four acts) written by Hermann Sudermann (1857 – 1928), and produced at kgl.Schauspielhaus (the Royal Playhouse) in 1909.

   Scenes from Strandkinder ("Beach Children" a play in four acts) written by the German playwright Hermann Sudermann (1857 – 1928), and produced at Königliches Schauspielhaus  (the Royal Playhouse), Berlin, in 1909.

   Strandkinder: Ein Schauspiel in Vier Akten, published in 1909, presents a compelling drama in four acts. This early 20th-century German play explores profound themes and offers a glimpse into the theatrical landscape of its time. 

Anfisa (Анфиса) written by Leonid Nikolaevich Andreyev (1871 - 1919 ), and produced by private stages, the Petersburg New Dramatic Theater and the Moscow troupe of Konstantin Nezlobin, in 1909 and 1910.

   Scenes from Anfisa (Анфиса) written by the russian playwright Leonid Nikolaevich Andreyev (1871 - 1919 ), and produced by private stages, the Petersburg New Dramatic Theater and the Moscow troupe of Konstantin Nezlobin, in 1909 and 1910.

  Anfisa by L. Andreev: early theatrical productions. Pavel Samoilov as Fyodor Kostomarov (New Dramatic Theatre, 1909), Ekaterina Roshchina-Insarova as Anfisa (K. Nezlobin Theatre, 1910)

   

   The key figure of the "new drama" and the new theater of the 20th century is Leonid Andreyev, whose work is associated with radical innovations in directing. However, the "Theater of the Actor" remains in the shadows – the explorations undertaken by artistic individuals within the "territory" of Andreyev's dramaturgy. One such forgotten and, in essence, lost narrative in theater studies is the first productions of the play "Anfisa" (1909). Andreyev's new play particularly interested the acting theater. The first productions were carried out by private stages: the Petersburg New Dramatic Theater and the Moscow troupe of Konstantin Nezlobin. In the first performance (1909), the scenic authorship belonged to the actor Pavel Samoylov, who played the role of Fyodor Kostomarov, while in the second (1910), it was actress Ekaterina Roshchina-Insarova who performed the titular role of Anfisa. 

Komtesse Mizzi oder Der Familientag (Countess Mizzi or the Family Reunion, comedy, 1907) written by Arthur Schnitzler and produced at the Neuen Stadttheater in Leipzig, in 1909

A scene from Komtesse Mizzi oder Der Familientag (Countess Mizzi or the Family Reunion, comedy, 1907) written by the Austrian playwright Arthur Schnitzler (1862 - 1931) and produced at the Neuen Stadttheater in Leipzig, in 1909, starring Anna Nolewska, Milli Elsinger, Heinz Salfner, Arnold Hänseler, Gustav Colmar, Wilhelm Walter.

Further Information about the Writer

Die Möwe (Tschaika, The Seagull, 1895) written by the Russian playwright Anton Chekhov and adapted to the German scene by Heinrich Stümcke at the Hebbeltheater in Berlin, in 1909

A scene from Die Möwe (Tschaika, The Seagull, 1895) written by the Russian playwright Anton Chekhov (1860 -1904) and adapted to the German scene by Heinrich Stümcke (theatre journalist, 1873 - 1923) at the Hebbeltheater in Berlin, in 1909, starring Ida Roland, Anton Edthofer, A. E. Licho, Herm. Wlach, Guido Herzfeld, Elise Vallentin, Rosa Bertens, Maria Mayer, Willy Prager, and Paul Otto.

Act I

Scenes from The Noble Spaniard (A Victorian Farce, in Three Acts), adapted from the French of [Ernest] Grenet-Dancourt by W. Somerset Maugham (1874 - 1965), and produced by Charles Hawtrey at the New Royalty Theatre, London, from 20th March to 8th May 1909.

   Scenes from The Noble Spaniard (A Victorian Farce, in Three Acts), adapted from the French of [Ernest] Grenet-Dancourt by the British playwright W. Somerset Maugham (1874 - 1965), and produced by Charles Hawtrey at the New Royalty Theatre, London, from 20th March to 8th May 1909.

   Premiere, with George Paston’s FEED THE BRUTE as a brief curtain-raiser. This production closed early when Charles Hawtrey became ill.

The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, April 3rd 1909,  "The Noble Standard," at the New Royalty Theatre."

          a- Miss Kate Cutler as Marion Nairne, a young Widow.

          b- Mr. Charles Hawtrey as the Duke of Hermanos.

          c- Mr. Charles Hawtrey challenges the Count de Moret (Mr. Leon M. Lion)

               to Mortal Combat.

          d- Miss Fanny Brough as Lady Proudfoot.

          e- Mr. E. Lyall Swete as Mr. Justice Proudfoot.

          f-  Miss Kate Cutler as Marion, Mr. Athol Stewart as Captain Chalford, and

               Miss Anne Cleaver as Lucy.

Further information of this play

Madame X (in a prologue and three acts.), 1910 play, translated to English and adapted by John Raphael from the French, and pereformed at the Globe Theatre, London, in 1909.

   A scene from Madame X (in a prologue and three acts.), 1910 play, translated to English and adapted by John Raphael from the French, and pereformed  at the Globe Theatre, London, in 1909.

   Madame X (original title La Femme X) is a 1908 play by French playwright Alexandre Bisson (1848–1912). It was novelized in English and adapted for the American stage; it was also adapted for the screen sixteen times over sixty-five years, including versions in Tagalog, Greek, Arabic and Spanish as well as English.

   New York Times : LONDON, Sept. 1.—Alexander Bisson's thrilling drama “Madame X” was presented by Charles Frohman at the Globe Theatre to-night and bids fair to be as great a success in London as it was...
It is not his regular annual business trip, but one undertaken chiefly for a vacation and to witness his production of “Madame X.,” which had a short run at the Globe Theatre.

The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, October 2nd 1909, "Madame X.," at the Globe Theatre.

Miss Lena Ashwell as Jaqueline Fleuriot, the repentant wife who, being rejected by her husband, has fallen to the lowest depths, and is now at a cheap Bordeaux hotel in the society of the scoundrel and blackmailer Laroque (Mr. C. M. Hallard), numbing her conscience with drink.

Several scenes from Mr. Preedy and the Countess (A Drama in three Acts), written by R. C. Carton (1853 – 1928), and produced at the Criterion Theatre, London, in 1909.

Several scenes from Mr. Preedy and the Countess (A Drama in Three Acts), written by the English actor and playwright R. C. Carton (1853 – 1928), and produced at the Criterion Theatre, London, in 1909.

The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, May 8th 1909, "Mr. Preedy and the Countess," by R.C. Carton, at the Criterion Theatre. 

           a- Mr. Preedy's manservant (Mr. Frederick Volpe), interrupts a proposal of

                Marriage by his Master (Mr. Weedon Grossmith) to Emma Sidgrave 

               (Miss Shelley Calton), to his Master's great Annoyance.

           b- Mr. Preedy's manservant (Mr. Volpe) and his future Father-in-Law 

                (Mr. Lytton Grey) are discovered by Mr. Preedy endeavouring to burst

                open the door of his bedroom, in which the Countess, who had been

                foisted on the harmless bachelor over night, is still sleeping.

            c- The gentle Mr. Preedy, at last aroused to retaliation, insists that his

                senior partner (Mr. Fred Lewis) shall stay and face the Countess he is

                deserting. 

            d- Miss Shelley Calton as Mr. Preedy's fiancee, Emma Sidgrave.

            e- Mr. Preedy entertaining the Countess (Miss Compton), who has been 

                unceremoniously left at his rooms late at night. The Countess's 

                presence causes the meek little host to be branded as a profligate 

                and to suffer countless other worries.