September 21-28, 1916
From the hallowed halls of Princeton University to the bright lights of Broadway, Kate Roosevelt was never far from places and events that were important in 1916.
Booth Theater
Taking a break from entertaining her friend Bessie Alexander at her farm, Merdlemouth, Kate returned to New York to attend a new play at the Booth Theater at 222 West 45thStreet. It was titled, “Pierrot the Prodigal.” A French pantomime, it re-told the age-old tale of the sorrowful son who sheepishly returns to his father’s home after being away for years.
The word Pierrot is French symbol for a stock character, the sad clown, who eternally is cast wearing a white floppy outfit, skull cap and a sad, snowy face. The magazine, Musical America summarized the play as being “delightful.”
Paul LeGrande as Pierrot, 1855
“Played with a small orchestra, the music for Pierrot the Prodigal can scarcely be called a mere accompaniment nor can it be said to supply simply a background for the pantomime. It is as vital a factor in the success of the play as the action itself. The music is buoyant, refreshing and sparkling when need be and melancholy, ominous and tragic according to the fortunes of the wayward Pierrot. Novel, often bazaar effects are employed in the score to imitate the pantomime. Mr. Freidheim Kremer, the solo pianist was particularly careful to time the music to the action and he succeeded remarkably well. The pantomime was artistically acted and staged as anything that has been done in New York City in many a season.
Margot Kelly as the heroine in Pierrot the Prodigal
Margot Kelly, the red-headed actress who played the laundress and the play’s heroine was a stand-in, but gave a star performance. Marjorie Patterson, as the chasened Pierrot was impeccable and Paul Clarget, as the father, carried off the honors in a performance that was unfailingly splendid. Pierrot easily made its way into the hearts of its audience.”
Kate Roosevelt concurred. On September 19, 1916 she wrote, “I went to Booth Theater to see Pierrot the Prodigal. It was a charming pantomime with lovely music. Beautifully set, the great artist of the cast was Paul Clerget, the French actor, who plays the father. His pantomime was simply wonderful. Clarget throws everyone else into the shade. The whole thing was charming, but I could see fear in the hearts of the New York audience.”
Kaiser Wilhelm II
That’s where Kate’s amateur review differed from that of the professional’s. Hers ended on a less upbeat note. The play may have warmed the hearts of the audience, but after the curtain came down and lights went out, a shadow lingered on in the theater and throughout the world and Kate’s words captured the mood.
The New York Times echoed those forewarnings while quoting the Kaiser’s speech to his soldiers fighting on the Somme, “It is your special privilege that you are fighting the English, a nation that has sworn to destroy Germany.”
No matter how wonderful the plays that she attended were, Kate Roosevelt knew that World War One was waiting in the wings.
Sharon Hazard’s Dowager’s Diary appears on Thursday.
Photo One:
Pierrot from Moliere’s Play, A Feat with a Statue
Public Domain
Photo Two;
Booth Theater, 222 West 45th Street, New York City
wiki
Photo Three:
Paul LeGrande as Pierrot, 1855
wiki
Photo Four:
Margot Kelly as the heroine in Pierrot the Prodigal
New York Tribune, October 8, 1916
Photo Five:
Kaiser Wilhelm II
Library of Congress
The post The Dowager’s Diary – Week Eighty-Four appeared first on Woman Around Town.