The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-12-16


beet sense. All the managers efforts should DO
directed to keeping II full OF fathers. mothers
and children. II he can plant his playhouse
on the family, all right. It's surer prop in this
country than the hotel"
Excuse me. but do not see the force OF that
This ia a country OF hotels. and It il the hotel
guest that goes to tho theatre. The manager
always considers himself fortunate II there is a
hotel over him or next door to him.
True enough; but what does the hotel guest
go TO the theatre for? Isn't it TO kill an evening;
to the latest thing In dresses TO meet an ac-
quaintancc. He's n lounger ut night and there
isn't anywhere else TO 80. IL tho drama shapes
itself to the demands OF his taste, it will be al
ways trying to do the spicy thing without
any reference to the good thing. It's altogether
the other way with the other class. Look hcrei
Let US suppose 100 represents the community
from which the theatre draws its support.
Twenty-Five will represent the proportion OF
people that never go TO the theatre In any ease.
unless ii Ia turned into n church. The other
seventy five represents the large class that does
not object to going. Ten will be the proportion
of theatre habtues-the people who make II bus
mess OF going regularly We have 65 now AZ
the proportion Of those who would 90 II they
could. and who only go ut rare intervals. be-
cause II Ia family treat when they do. and
IHUll1 lTPdt OF int hlllu fpNlS ilp Hlu'n nlphf1.
Tho cheap shows. Ms we call them. have sprung
up out OF this very dilemma. 1t is great mis-
take to suppose that the Theatre Comique. or
Tony Pastors. or the Olympic do not provide
worthy entertainments. Their amusemcnts
may not invite analysis or reviews. and they
may not be emotional dramas but they supply
the element OF variety that the runs have made
impossible elsewhere. and they furnish the hui
NOR. the vivacity and the individual cleverness
which the farce once gave TO the regular theatre.
Above all. they have cut into the drcssiness OF
the regular houses. You can go TO one Of
them without putting on evening dress. and mo-
body will notice YOU That may not be any
point with you. but 1t ia with the sixty Ave-"
Now. about the character OF the playsl"
well mean thatthe philosophc. the psyche
logic. the society plays are not appreciated by
the mass. hold that the people go To the thea
tire first Of all for the romance Of the play. II
isn't wit that catches them. nor color. nor moral.
1t is intense action. They go TO the theatre TO
feel not to think. II you mean TO draw them
you have got to touch them. ! hear people say
that what our public wants Ia pure dvertise-
ment 1t must be made TO laugh. Well. that's
true enough. But far rs my experience
goes. II would rather cry than laugh. play
without humor is like a lands ape without
water But play that is all humor Is a tire
some sort OF recollection that evaporatcs rs soon
| as you get out In the sunshine"
If | understand YOU a family theatre would
| be the thing. with good melodrama. changed
| every night
Then you don't understand me. You
couldn't make moro serious mistake than to
parade the family business. II YOU were TO
| run family cars. everybody. oven the shop boys
| would avoid them for fear Of the suspicion that
| he was cconomizing for his children. or that
| his wife didn't allow him any pocket money
| AZ there is theoretically no political distinction
| in this country. the people gct square with the
| trainers Of the Constitution 10y insisting on
practical social distinctions. As for melo-
drama, very good. Mclodrama succeeds better
than ANYTHING lse. The man who will write a
local American mclodrama as good as The
Two Orphans or Tho Shaughraun or as
good n Rosodalc.' can make s2j0.pOO. But
he will have to sacrifice sOmething."
"WhatY'
ANY transcendental notions about art that
| he may have. II 1t draws the multitude ten to
one it will repcl the judges. and then he will be
told that he has prostitutcd his genius. lfhc has
strength Of mind he will clink his dollars and
say. There ant the slight It doubt of it, Then
posteriy will make a pedestal for him and set
him up in the Pantheon with Bou-icault and
kotzebue."
this point wiped m unavailng tenr away
and thanked my friend for h.- information. re-
mark ing ~ lett him that there was undouht-
eddy good Zeal Of philosophy in what he had
said.
NO" said he. Philosophy he hanged. II,
horse sense MN CKISkLk.