'The Merry Widow'

M. and I went to see The Merry Widow. I felt I had to see it, in  order to be calé about such things when it comes to writing about London.

   Music much less charming or superficially and temporarily attractive than I had expected. Troupe of about 40. Elaborate costumes, scenery and appointments. Sylvia May, Kate May and the other principals all chosen for their looks. Not one could avoid the most elementary false emphasis. Thus Sylvia May looking at a man asleep on a sofa: ‘But he may wake up’ (when there was no question of another man asleep) instead of ‘He might wake up.’ This sort of thing all the time. Also such things as ‘recognize’. Three chief males much better. All about drinking and whoring and money. All popular operetta airs. Simply nothing else in the play at all, save references to patriotism. Names of tarts on the lips of characters all the time. Dances lascivious, especially one.

   I couldn’t stand more than two acts. Too appallingly bored.

                                                               Journals of Arnold Bennett, Wednesday February 23rd 1910