Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-07-19
THE THEATRICAL OUTLOOK

The manager Of the Memphis Theater
has as yet made no authoritative an.
nouncement of what he is going to do
fer us in the way Of amusement n xt
season. Perhaps ii is too early for him
TO make up his mind; and perhaps, hsv-
ing made up his mind, and concluded
his contracts, he is keeping what he
knows to himself, with a view to sur
prise us Just before the season opens with
a list that shall embrace all the princi-
pal combinations and all the leading
stars OF the theatrical, and, shall we say,
musical armament. Perhaps 80. We
know that the opening of the season
will be delayed until the middle Of o.
tober, and we hope that, as concession
to the times, prices Of admission will be
cheapened. We learn that the Kurdish
and Fifth-avenus companies will be
among the attractions; but, whether we
are 10 have permanent company, or be
dragged at the tail-end Of a circuit or
slop.shop combination, does not yet sp-
pear. But we hope for the best. Davy
has had experience enough in and OF
Memphis to know and appreciate the
taste Of this public, and to have learned
that 1t will not do to put us of with the
cast-of, WORKOUT and flimsey attrac-
tions that have been base 10 these many
years. We want the best, or none.
We don't want any more "Black
Crook" we have had enough of legs;
we have had more than our share OF
''sister" combinations and the clap-trap
and vulgarity OF the "Variety. Show"
with its clog-dsncing "Johnny" and its
singing "BiIly." The "Mulligan
Guards" and the Dutch and Irish beer
saloon company are alike done and
dead. We want decency in cur drame,
snd comedy Of the old.fashioned sort,
which, while never offending,
gave to all who SAW it food for
laughter for many a day thereafter.
Recalling last seasons experience, these
suggestions will not be unacceptable to
Manager Davy. Whatever money he
made was made by the best combina-
tions. The vulgar companies scarcely
paid expenses; in some cases they lost
As 1t was last year, so ii will be this.
The brutal vulgsrity tolerated so long
upon the stage, SIS result of the license
Of war, must give place to the decent
and educating purpose for which the
stage was intended, and for which the
cultured and intelligent people Of the
country desire to support it. Memphis
has in years gone by supported the
drama when conducted in this spirit
supported it when we did not have half
the population or wealth we can boast
Of now; and rs we have not yet lost any
Of the public spirit that has made us
what we are commercially, and have
each year shown an increasing taste in
stage matters, we feel safe in the asser-
ton that Davy will find 1t TO his pecu-
MARY interest (which, by the way, seems
to be the grand if not sole inspiration
with managers nCw-a-days) to employ
q company Of good actors and actresses
ladies snd gentlemen who are equal to
the ordinary emergencies Of the drama,
and who, in the absence of any leading
attraction could hold the stage with
profit and pleasure to manager and PEG.
pie. The time is fast passing away
when managers are to make fortunes in
a few years and the "stars" in as many
months. Having regard for the aver
age earnings and profits Of gentlemen
and gsntlewOmen engaged In medicine,
law, the pulpit and journalism, the pub
lie is growing impatient of the greed Of
gain on the part of 'stars," expressed in
sixty Per cent. Of the gross or net pro-
ceeds, or half OF the profits. The talent |
which demands this recompense bears |
no equivalent value to it, and nothing |
but the glamour which the stage throws |
about The actor and bis work, the mystic. |
~ with which he is invested as q being |
behind, as it were, the scenes OF life, has
saved him so long from public opinion |
that, as it does ia more important mat
tiers, would adjust the 'iscale OF prices"
to basis more nearly just to authors,
managers, players and the public. The
business management which permits the
employe to carry away all the profit is
rs dangerous to the stability Of that bust
ness as the other extremewas, when the
poor player" was poor indeed, and the
manageable Sheridan, for instance
-ioted ike prince on his hard earnings.
The time Is coming when the balance
must be struck, when the equilibrium
must be restored, and the player, like
he preacher, must be content If he lives
Ike gentleman and Is able to hedge
he decline Of life with q moderate,
modest, but safe income. We know
hat only the favored few can do that
low; the way 70 increase that few to