The Pageant Of Drury Lane Theatre

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

Mr Parker has done his work extremely well. The scenes illustrating the history of Drury Lane are well devised and well written, when they are original, and the verses given to the classical chorus have skill and dignity. Scene 1 brings on Apollo and the muses. They herald the restoration of Charles II. Afterwards they act as a chorus between the scenes. In scene II Charles signs the patent for the theatre scene III is from Beaumont and fletcher's 'Humorous Lieutenant' as originally played (this play of course needs no licence, but anyhow we can trust Mr Parker to select an inoffensive scene) scene IV from Macbeth, followed by a 'picture' of Garrick - the famous one. Scene V is the green room in Dr Johnson's time, on the first night of 'Irene'. All the well-known people talk appropriately. 'Pictures' of Mrs Siddons, Kemble and Kean follow. Scene VI is a rehearsal of the 'School for Scandal', Sheridan arriving late and so on. Scene VII is the first cutting of the Baddeley cake, followed by a pantomime interlude: this last is not composed yet, but there will be no dialogue. Then we have scenes from 'The Bohemian Girl', from modern Drury Lane plays and from 'Becket' to bring in Irving, and the whole concludes with a massed pageant and a compliment to Mr Arthur Collins. I note an omission: there is no scene of Byron and his famous committee. But one cannot have everything. It should be a great occasion. Recommended for licence. G. S. Street.