The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-22
ADJUSTMENTS

- Uo dcnes tho limitations OF tho theatre
h1'ho rhotorician Tho ld-fashioncd fellow
IA more yigor, WIS moro aggressive than the
Diorn fellow. He felt inetinctivey that traR-
nv dow all its PURSUANCE from the past, and 1t
w. ria skill in Stimulating tho spirit and ac-
sons Of another age that made him effective.
I'm ia n better Roman to the eye and ear Of
no populaco than any player that can DO
panied
The multitude forget tho monotony OF his
.olco (which is used with few infections and
,o,v little variation of Pitch in the vibration Of
a Magnitude is very apt to impress the COM
non mind long before II has arrived at any ap-
nreciation OF dcicacy.
Americans who are continually climbing the
,rosa.e pyramids very seldom care to sit down
tofore the ruins Of the Parthonon or waste any
contemplation over tho sculpturcd cathodrals.
largo events. largo theatres, and large margins
,ayo como to bc accepted as the consequent ne
ecssity Of large country.
y,ry amusing is 1t to observe this tendency In
mr art. Bicrsiadt used to argue with his
,rnsh that the ratio Of culture was dependent
on the siz, Of the canvas.
Messrs. Jarrett 4 Palmer held that public
ps,e could always bo improved by increasing
he ballet
rousc believed. with Barnum. that the Ameri-
rns wanted. above all other things, the big
e,.t show on earth" and having fixed tho
boundaries of il in his marble theatre. Messrs.
patcnan. Fisk. Taylcurc, and strakosch ruined
themselves trying TO make theatric art fit tho
place
Mr. Bouecault thinks that II Ia high time our
Nc,trc- adopted the speciality business. like our
,ors. lie would have tho plays cut to the
character Of the house. as they are cut and
ftiod 90 tho talents Of the players He even
marks ont their provinces for us. thus:
wanck. and the Finh Avenue should be devoted
bcon,lv tragedy and high elias. modern drama. such
rvouite admitted into The Theatre francase.
u p.Ufl's. uclslfuma and such plays form the
rr,riu-o tie Forte st Martin, the Ambigu. aud the
iii IN, Park and Union Square the repertoire Of the
olmnAe in Paris, or ne irnee OF Naless ana Saude.
a drawn TSsn esmsdie' ma lr play. he or
ia works that are lost on larger stage This call
BE- ,gu,tc drama. II should not be exhibited with
N IN Grand opera House the equestrian drama and
ballet air, spectacle and spectacular plays such as the
xxi, Vi the Port 81 GSrdm '''' '''''' '''
Doubtless this is a fine scheme. but 1t flies in
he face Of facts.
For instance. The Shaughraun was the
nos, successful play produced at Wallacks in
many years Would It have been admitted into
Tie Theatre FRANCHISE
What mclodrama has succeeded at Booths ?
Was II Belle LAMAR"
What is the delicate drawing room comedy
that ever drew the people to the Union Square
Ike the Two Orphans ?" Was that lurid spec
htle vigneite drama?
Has Mr. Jefferson tnow playing In comedy
neaire where none Of his exquisite details are
kst ever succeeded In assembling such audi.
ncas anywhere as attended his performances
In Booths Theatre?
Nj Florcnces Mighty Dollar" which los
money OF tho Park. packed the Grand Opera
House Uncle Toms Cabin" did the same fol
Booths when tragedy and melodrama faile,
here. And its success was wholly owing 10
monster chorus Of real darkies.
Ibeieye that East Lynne" drew moro none!
e the Grand Opera House than Sardou's mag
nA,nnt spectacular and historical drama
"lairie."
Tho truth is It Is all nonsense to talk Of on
theatres shaping themselves TO lines OF bust
ness. They are all aiming TO do tho biggest
rather than the best thing. II the Unio
squarc could get another Two Orphans to
morrow it would speedily abandon the Wig
ncite lin" and Mr.. wallack would shelvo oil
comedy sine die II Mr. Boucicault would writ
smother Shaughraun."
10 me tho mere notion Of our playhouse
marking out and keeping distinct paths /
theatric art is absurd. They are two much Tx
sheep. or shall say monkeys. and initiate eac
other continually.
Do you remember when Prof Peppers gho'
was brought 10 this country several years NGo
Twas an optical illusion produced by polishe
plate OF glass. But 1t gave a relish Of novelt
70 the patitudnous stage. In less than tw
weeks every theatre in town. vignctte. eque.
TRAN. comedy. and all, had cooked up chca
melodramas as an excuse to introduce hi
plate glass.
SO it was when Mr.. J. X. Emmett was evolve
nom q negro minstrel TO n dramatic artist L
the developing process Of Mr.. Gaylor. Dutc
dialect broke into the fold Of comedy throug
the portal Of Wallack's Thcatre-left invitlngl
aar. don't suppose that Mr.. Walack woul
like 20 be accused Of having sown the Dutc
dragons teeth on Broadway. But in less tina
Six months there were a score Of imitatoi
UEmmet and n double score Of play twistei
hyiug TO make sour krout Of the vernacular.
Mt long ago an actor Of quite inferior abilii
made nm accidental hit in play by simulatin
IChinaman and speaking two or three not ver
polite words. Immediately a reputable coined
ae0re seized the idea. and produced play
which tho Chlnaman and his obiectlonab
sorl- were the very indus Of the whole pc
hrnancc.
Why. II any one Of our play houses should il
holuee q herd Of Indian ponies upon its stag
All succeed thereby in catching the town
nere B, no human consideration that cou
prevent the othor houses from sending OIL
he!rar,uts for fresh animals.
weyor. all this is very far from Jol
Nocul ugh. But in coming back to him v
sono taeA 70 an individuality that. as / said
heNr-t i.aee rather delcs the influences Of Il
tonMmu orancous stage Tragedy in John n
Aly sweeps by. n OF old. in sceptred pail b
retains much Of the objective force and sin
pc''y that move our scnslbilties without III
@rtas our emotions. Almost everything tn
Iohn doe, is done largely. But 1t Is the larg
hs5 % wind harp. not that Of a nany-key'
bryan.
It i- D0t generally known that Mr. McCu
ol2h underwent a season Of Delsarte year
Wong. and materially improved both in SUI
Ness'.n and expression under Mr.. Mackaye
lah.i HUt.on. His OheHo. think it was. III
NstG.- played his Advancement II Was mu
i'nni % and tempered. The actor SCENT
bhayo found out that the pitch Of his voice,
Esa uan lts Intensity should vary with Il
Iass..ns
HHiI q ltthatthis sub,lcr and deeper Otlo