, 1877-12-02
The Kelogg-Cary Concerts
The Apollo Club First
Concert.
Emma Abbott and English
Opera on the Way
West.
The Verdi Requiem in Chicago
and Vienna---More Gre
gorian War.
ABOUT THE DRAM 4.

ABOUT THE DRAMA.
1STE3v1EwERs AND ACTORS.
Detroit posscsscs at least two OF the most in
rustrolls newspaper intcry1ewtrs that have
,.yrr adorned the craft. 1t is amazing, it is al
most distressing, to sec the pains they take to
r,st themselves uu matters concerning the
drama One would even 60 SO far Us to infer
that there was 4 theatre Of some kind in that
tity, This. however, NAV turn out 10 be merely
L figure of speech. 1t is pretty certain that
ACTORS do pass through Detroit, and whenever
tbey do they arc sure to be interviewed. 1t
was from Detroit that The news 1rst came that
Dion Dourcault was "a lone, lorn crittcr,'' and
that everything was ''goin' contrary
with him. The Detroit newspaper 1neu
probably had heard from Chicago that
Mr.. Boucicaut was dramatist Of some skill,
and Imagining that this laealt Il distinguished
person. they dragged him from the supper
table, crammcd with dis1ressful bread, and let
u;m fool them with some sentimental stores.
Its one of the standing notices, we believe,
iu the newspaper offices Of Detroit-'' Interview
some ac1or.:' Actors are obliged to pass through
Detroit Oh their way to the East or to the West,
and one Of their iunictions is to be interviewed
bv reporters cn the subject Of the drama.
Sometimes it is, - Is tho drama blessing or 4
curse!' in which case they will ascertain the
views Of Oliver Doud Byron, who will tell them
1hat while, intellectually speaking, the modern
drama is fraud, financially it is one OF the big
gest snaps going on the face Of the earth.
The Detroit people have heard from atar Ger
tain whispers about 1.-THE decline OF the draina,'
lust IS Eaoch dric,. in his lonely isle is report
ed to have heard 1.-THE pcaling OF his parish
bels.;: There was favor Of novelty iu the
suggestion, and the first actor that came into
sight was PUMPED on the subject. Chanfrau
found it conycn!eu: to stay night in Detroit,
and the innocent interviewer went away with
+nis notebook full Of advertisements OF Hit and
Nr. Clifton II. Tayleu1e, Chanfrau's wifcfs ad-
yanye agent. In the reported interview, the
readers OF Detroit newspapers will learn,
probably for the first time, how
".kit' went like wildfire'' and.
what the actor would like the public to know
more tLsn ANYTHING concerning its merits, that
it uettcd him s1GO.000, esthetic Boston having
contribute d $4,000. The interviewer, OF
course, is slad to hear it, and proceeds to en-
tighten lis readers 1tpou the deterioration Of
the drama. Then comes the inevitable question,
which has nothing to do with the drama, but
.Icrythiug with the purport OF the Interview
how about that Milwaukee scandal! The seek
u 1itcI lE4oi AJoAA h2@ Al1A144 tAA9
aestly conccals his fell intcnt:
!t!teya moments pause expression Of annoy
aEce and vocation couied the comedian frank,
roodnaurcd face, aud, turning to the reporter, he
Remarked:
Il suppose you have seen that outrageous libel
published in Il Milwaukee, paper concerning Mrs;
Cuaufrau and myscf:
:'1cs' replied the reporter.
Aud 50 on. Cha13frau yanishcs in cloud OF
adiectives, and makes way for the next.
I tho of fbe
present century. who condescends to play---who
is pc1sistently stycd the rising young American
trascdiar, although lie commenced his career
about the same time as Booth did. NO." SAYS
Mr. Barrett to Detroit, s'the drama is not on
the dcclinc.'' This is said ''very decisiyely.'
Then Barrett shakes up a bag and produces
some names which awe the Detroit rcporter-
Shakespeare, Corncille, Hannah More, Congrerc,
Farouahar, Schiller, kotzebue-and proceeds to
tell bow he {Barrett) is progressing in the right
direction. And this leads to a play which Mr..
Barrett is playing-s Which 1 regard" says Mr..
g.. las the first purely American comedy yet
constructed" Here is delicious bit OF inter-
view:
..1s il true that Mr.. nowells wrote this play for
1t is true. had solicited him to write me
r!ay. lie brouGnt nc the manuscript OF this com
eLy nFev;ons to lis publication n the ltanE'e and
ali ~ GOOD as this, will act it, lie blushed like
II scnoobov. and acknowledged that he had created
scu1ccly dared to hone that with his ignorance Of
the minu1ie Of the sta-c, he could produce any
thing worthy Of dramatic representation. It Is a
dramatic tsctcn. John Habbcs1on, author OF
'Hclcn's Nahes.' remained two days IN iud'all-
apol,s last week to see it p'aTcd and was e,rap'
ture1 with ii. Like other literary me;l OF tho East
he had ucen unable TO believe that it could be so
tnccess:ul. :ir. Howeiis j: now transatins a
Sane play fos s ana Al ayasa Iayot Of ss -
shaIspeasran in its lofty sentiment. which he win
complete in .'alluary. and which hope 10 produce
turing tho present season.
lie blushed like a schoo1boy and acknow1- |
edgcd.' Char:niuIt And then tue author OF |
"Hclcn's babies' y was enrap1ured With It, 1hat
ought to settle the question as to the merit OF =!
served, ia,ls not to put in hint about bis in !
1ellec1ual yulturc-a thing probably That the in |
terylewcr had absolutely omitted to discover
Ls i:.lora;i.a: him that he is writing all article
Oh t:aylutie Cusfrnan for the GdtaIy. - nere,' |
says lie reporter in i burst OF awed wonder aud |
enthus!as1n-
Here the dccp tones Of the City Hall bell an
nounced The hour OF midnight. and the interview
ct considerably rose TO depart.
''lou say s4,d Mr. Barrett, his eEes fash
lug anu MS whole face lighting up With enthusiasm,
that you found III me one whose confidence IN
ihe Integrity and continued advancement o. the
DRAMA never ialteEs. No. the drama Is not de-
clin'ns: am sure Ut that. -
We are all sure Of that, although the fact
can be stated tempcrately, without any lighting
up of the whole lace or eyes flashing with en-
tausiaS.n. No, the drama is going TO survive
in spite Of Barrett. Alr. Barrett may fade
away. the Detroit press itself grow dim win
ase, ami nature sink in years, but it Shall HOUR
lsh on immortal legs, unhurt amid the war OF
criticism, the wreck OF reDutau0ns, and Inc
crush oi playwrights,