THE THEATRE.
" PHI-PHI " AT THE LONDON PAVILION.
I DARESAY a good many of the patrons of Phi-Phi were attracted by the postered words "Scenery and costumes designed by M. Edmund Muse." The phrase proved a sad snare. Most of the costumes and all the scenes are perfectly common- place. There is a cast of nearly forty ; they change their dresses five or six times, but when (in three or four instances only) M. Dulac has contrived to design an agreeable dress, it is so badly put on as to lose its effect.
The action of the play is in the Greece of 400 B.C., and has for its centre the studio of the sculptor Phidias (Phi-Phi). This part is taken by Mr. Clifton Webb, an American comedian of considerable reputation. It is pathetic to watch Mr. Webb struggling conscientiously through the " fun " of such a per- formance. It is a dreary play carelessly produced. It has a considerable allowance of the more threadbare type of risque joke, but these did not hurt so much as its terribly negative character combined with its atmosphere of forced hilarity. The chorus is not particularly beautiful ; does not dance particularly well. The music is platitudinous without being "catchy." The jokes are seldom funny. The solo dancing is not rhythmic, alluring, nor agile. The clothes and stage setting have been ill designed and lamentably carried out, and the dresses are tastelessly worn. I confess to a growing liking for the lighter, frivolous aspect of Cs theatre, but after such a performance I feel that I never desire to see anything but Ibsen again. I must warn the reader that my feeling appeared to be unique in a
Previous page
