The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-10-17

chill and sense OF desolation over the audience
which the most spirited performance is scarcely
able to remove
But will the best style Of dramatic entertain
ments pay9 We certainly think so. provided
everything is really first. class. The reason why
the legitimate drama Ia so often perfor med to
beggarly account of empty benches, while some
miserable concootion of a sensatiou.playwrigh
which depends entirely upon scenery and
mechanical effects, fills the house night after
night, is that the legitimate dramas are eusually
produced In such wretched style that intelli-
gent playgoers are disposed to forego the thea
tres altogether whenever they see one OF
them mangled. One of Shakespeares TRACE
dies Is announc ced, for instance, and we find on
Witnessing 1t that the attraction is not In the
play ITSELF but in the performance OF some
star actor who assumes the leading role. and who
cuts and alters the play to give bis own part
prominence which does not rightfully belong
10 1t, while the other characters are sustained
by people who have neither the accent of
Christians. nor the gait of Christian, pagan, nor
man." There are some persons who would rather
see an entire play reasonably we'll perfJrmed,
with all the characters represented by actors
of fair ability, than to have all the honors car
ried off by the "star," while the natures jour
neymen" mangle the poetry In style that sets
ones teeth on edge. AT the Arch. few weeks
will do to make standard plays popular; for
during the comedy week at that theatre the
houses were crowded every evening, and the
expressions of satisfaction wero universal
Some of the characters In the plays then pre-.
sented we have occasionally seen better acted
but taking the performances In their entirety
they were superior to anything of the kind
that has been seen in this city for many q day.
Broad street is just the place for new theatre
Of the kind proposed, and Miss Lsura Keene is
just the person 10 have the charge OF 1t. We
believe that a good stock company can be
secured, but even with actors OF medium
ability good management can do wonders. If
we are not mistaken, the new theatre will be q
positive benefit to those we already have In
operation, by inciting them to greater efforts
than ever to bring out plays In good style. We
believe that it will supply desideratum, aud
II IL Is conducted in the manner now contem-
plated, Its success, as a pecuniary speculation,
is an assured thing. This matter is
worthy of the attention of all who look upon
really good entertainments as means for culti-
waiting the public taste and as important au XII
liaries for the promotion of good morals; and
we commend it to the consideration of our citi-
zeps, with the hope that every encouragem 9u /
Will be given to those who have the enterprise
In hand. The taste for the drama Is great
now as 1t ever was, but we have a large class of
intelligent and wealthy play goeis in PhiIddel.
phia who only go to the theatre when they are
reasonably certain OF seeiug good thing, n sd
who will not support poor plays poorly acted.
good acting and il will be crowded TO oyeriow
ing nightly.