The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-09-07
stage Art and stage Rivalry.

Stage Art and Stage Rivalry.
Our autumn dramatic season opens with
burst of success 1t is singular fact that
we should have theatres packed from pit to
dome in these warm nights to hear the old,
old story of Hamlet, Richelieu and Richard
III. Mr.. Davenport is playing an engage
ment at the Grand Opera House, Mr.. Sulli-
van at Booths Theatre. A part of the sue
cess is owing to the fact that the managers in
Mr.. Davenport's interest were foolish enough
to present him, not as a tragedian, but as an
american" They challenged support to
his performance because his opponent was
an Irishman. The result is that although
Mr.. Davenport plays for cheaper rates than
Mr.. Sullivan, in house that is quite as at
tractive as Booths Theatre, he has not sue
ceeded, while his rival has drawn as largo
houses as are known in the history of the
New York stage. Mr. Davenport, during his
first week, was also absurd enough to
play the same parts as Mr.. Sullivan,
and thus challenge direct comparison. He
has thought better of this, and now offers us
a series of new performances Mr.. Sullivan
will play Hamlet, Richeieu and Richard III.
Mr.. Davenport will play, Hamlet, Macbeth,
Richard ILL.,, Othello, Shylock and Bill
Skies. In other words, the American TRACE
dian comes before us upon his own merits,
and as such he will be considered
But neither of these performances repre-
sents to our mind the best style of art. Mr..
Sullivan's success is a burst largely attribu-
table to the folly of rival house and to the
ingenuity of its managers, who, as showmen,
are men of resources, and would make sue
cess for fve-legged COW or three-eared
calf. People do not see either in the per-
formances of Davenport or Sullivan that
high style of dramatic art which we have
been led to expect from our managers. Mr..
Davenport is a makeshift. He is badly sup
ported ; the scenery is tumbled on the stage
at the fancy of the stage carpenter. Mr..
Sullivan has also weak support. With the
exception of Mr.. Cathcart and Mr.. Warde,
there are no actors in the cast worthy of serious
consideration. The scenery is the remains
of the old stage furniture of Mr.. Booth in
the days of his glory. The managers have
shown us what they can do in scenery and
support with "Henry "" SO far as Mr.. Sui
ivan is concerned they run the season
simply and only upon his name. Now the
fact is that actors who act as well as Mr.. Sui
livan and Mr.. Davenport should have an
opportunity not only Of showing their
genius as artists, but of showing what can
be done to make the stage worthy Of true
art. We believe that if any manager in New
York will cast Shakespeare or the standard
dramas with q good company such COM
pany as is promised for Julius Caesar" and
so run their plays during the whole season
as operas are run by standard companies,
they will make great success. The
triumph of Wallack as manager
is that he performed his comedies in
a mastery manner. Walacks name
is tower of strength and worldwide in it's
influence and respect Why should not the
same be done for the standard TRACE
dies? 1t has not been done thus far with
Mr.. Sullivan and Mr.. Davenport. How it
will be when Mr.. Booth comes we cannot
say. The excitement which has attended
Mr.. Sullivan is altogether artificial. 1t is not
at all q tribute to his genius, and will last
only few days-long enough to swing
through his New York engagement and give
him impulse in the other cities 1t is not,
however, the beginning of that dramatic
season which was hoped from our leading
theatres 1t is only an advertising expe-
dent, successful for a time, but in the end
injurious to the true cause of art