The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-07
THE MANA GERS AND THE pUp11c


power TO the managers Of our theatres whenever
In response to the demands OF the crtcs thew have
attempted to place really good PLAYS upon the staoe
In really good style. We know that the tastes Of the
best managers and actors of the oopntrv coIncde
entirely with the critics and most tbou ghtful ana
intelligent lovers Of dramatic art in this resnect In
catering ior the public however other than high art
consderatons nave to be attended TO- and in view of
the important matters Of rent salaries. and other
expenses, every manager who understands his bust
ness will give such performances as will
prove most beneficial to his treasury we
believe that, at the best theatres with
competent actors good works, If placed upon
the stage in creditable manner viii in the long run
pay as well as any other style Of entertainment The
theatre-gong population, however demands novelty
and it is melancholy but undeniable fact that the
works OF the dramatic writers of the present day
are, with rare exceptions, such no conscientious
critic can praise with any enthusiasm There is too
a great variety of tastes to be consulted and the
theatres must present variety or they will cease to
meet their expenses The managers run their estab-
lishments for the purpose of making money the
same people in other lines OF business and high
art considerations of necessity made secondary
to the dollars and cents. 1t is the business of the
critic to pass judgment on the performances accord
ing to their merits, taking into consideration all the
eXtenuating circumstances but we do not esteem it
the function Of criticism to berate the managers and
actors for giving performances that do not up
to the high art standard unless there is something
them opposed to modesty and decency.
The Press, few days ago, in u notice of Lotta's
new piece, unjustly censured the management of
the Arch Street Theatre and made some comments
upon the style of entertainment that has been given
this week, which the facts of the case will hardly
warrant. The comments Of the Press were as fol-
lows:-
mot very many years ago. San Francisco, Cal, the
Bella Union, saloon of the California standard
had for its chief attraction young girl called L9tta
free manners the kicks the jerks the and
so al has had bsn dome
before en- in this place of renowned for allowing
respectable people & meyer spoke Of An enterprising
then called the States The tricks with which she had
Saloon was P6oped would bring her foTne in be
concert saloons OF the East For awhile she did
Ss ho9
pleased to call the more civized people Of the States
ShS RppGarsd Of the large cities pcuding Pha
created ToTe Suddenly through mysterious in
Se the % ali but
the S the 2 Boves of
gers the pet of the public and the of those
speak the I6ta But
s See T 9s' ne
her her third week. The Chesnut is closed The Eng
doing nothing new The Walnut os aon Ssaa
fnS "fs f faas the pss 't
s bee s @
saloon Of the play ma it is not Worth line s It.
OF the drama wish the door Of every place Of
done Street Tho%tre be seen
de 6 Of sbSE CONCERT a % With 5hs sope s ad mot
blame. The more vulgar, the more outrageous
never acts~the more rapturous the applause,
sgns Knowing %s Always es
successful we ask in all SaHdor there nothing else
her level Let those who will see go and see her where
sys aS'Rs tn the
sake of few dollars the much she has done to give
spsctability the theatre. How
the Arch the theatre of America if such plays
yeSrs' '''' '''''
Our opinion OF Lotta's merits as an actress are
| known, and her new play of Pepina is about as
deficient in any merit whatever any affair OF the
kind well could be. 1t is no particular discredt
| to Lotta, however, that she commenced her career
in California concert saloon; and while it is outside
of the line of the critics duties to investigate the
private characters Of the ladies and gentlemen OF
the dramatic profession we consider it no more than
justice in the present instance to state that the young
lady in question has won the esteem of all who have
| become acquainted with her, and her character
| lady has never been impeached. In her profession
| she has worked hard for success, and although we
would be pleased to see her in better pieces than
Pepina, believe that she deserves success and are
| heartily glad that she has won it
Mrs. Drew has certainly done her duty by the pub
lie during the present season. She has produced
| number OF hrstrate plays in hrs~rate style, and
| the performances altogether have been unusually
| excellent, judged by the highest standard OF merit
| Under these circumstances, the advocates OF the
legitimate drama have certainly nothing to complain
OF, and as the engagement Of Lotta affords pleasure
to a very large number Of persons TO whom T0eUth
Night and Much Ado AbOta Nothing are mysteries,
and as she the best paying star in the country the
character OF the theatre will scarcely suffer unless
there is something particularly outrageous IN her
behavior. The kicks banjo playing and alk-arounds
of Lotta are not particularly elegant but that is the
worst that can be said Of them and we are unable
to see anything so Objectionable in the performances
at the Arch during the past week as to call for the
censures Of the Press which have been quoted above
The managers and actors owe something to the
better class of playgoers; and when a fair attempt
has been made to satisfy the highest critical require
ments they should receive credit accordingly The
season at the Arch drawing TO close has, on
the whole been the most satisfactory OF any for a
number of years. More good pieces and fewer alb
soutely worthless have been produced, and the
Uel-traned stock company have given some acting
| that will be remembered with pleasure by all who
! have any appreciation OF the dramatic art; and II
the season winds up as prosperousy as 1t began,
with full houses, and, fnaLe, a grand break,
| down led by Lotta, nobody VIII nave any Boou
cause to find fault in the matter
HEAVY TRAIN-The demand of George
Francis upon President Grant to put
stop to Cuban flibusterism is backed
nm bv zone million Irish votes " 1t re-
ouires bold and reckless spirit in even the
President of the United States to stand on the
track when such heavily laden Train is coming
down upon him with a great screeching OF
whistles and dense flourish of smoke But
perhaps George has exaggerated the number OF
his passengers He is gifted with an exceed
inol,, vivid ina Uination and has been known ia