New-York tribune., 1878-01-04
THE DR. IATIC OUTLOOK.
MANAGERS, ACTORS AND AUDIENCES.

sALARIES-gAIEs OF OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
or TASTE IN THE wEsT-A TALK WITH LAW
RENEE BARRETT.
Three problems are just now engaging the
attention OF theatrical managers throughout the coun
try who believe that their solution involves expensive
changes They the :" Combination companies, the
high salaries OF stock actors and the question Of lower
rates of admission prominent manager OF TINS clty
who has had experience Of years IN local manare
ment and In travelling combination companies, In con-
yersaion lately with TRIBUNE reporter expressed 'thc
following ideas on the su ject
.The combination system believe TO be doomed Not
simply because Of the failure OF score or SO of compa
nes already announced this season. but because tue sy
tenn false one injurious alike TO the local managers
and the legitimate stars. 1 mean by legitimate stars
those actors of unaues merit In their various lines
of business. The stars VINO force themselves on the
managers and public by puffs and posters make no
money for their expenses heavy and their sharing
terms are small You may safely set 1t down that there
has bocn only one combination company which has made
any money this season-Mss Kate Caxtons. Ihe
Daniches Company. from Shocks made money, bnt It Is
not exactly combination company. playing In every lit
tie town hall In the States, but which ills we'll
defined engagements in the Large cities and only
AZ the best theatres. Shocks company Is Sd
large that he can split 1t in two without weak
ening the east OF any play he may produce
But 1t Is the lesser combinations OF ten or fteen persons,
TINT 20 anywhere ana everywhere which injure the
stars and local theatres for such companies can play IN
any hall any city where the theatre manager refuses
20 treat with them They thus iniare him for the time
being, while making little money for themselves. IN
this way the provincial business has been broken up in
twohrds OF the cities West aud South There are only
about twelve or fcen stock companies outside OF New
York City to support like Booth, Barrett aud JET
ferson Managers find less risky 70 treat Win cOmo
nations even though they make lle ,han to hare com
pany the year round The stars thus nud their courses
limited a few cities, and ~ there are 50 many stars
they cannot all l their time closely and prohtaby ~
formerly, when every city OF any preicisiOns main
talncd fair stock company. Managers and stars see
that their mutual Interests lie in the failure OF the com
binat0n yste and they will yet mite Win such man
ayers as Ford Of Baltimore. and McNcker, o CGicago ~
breaking II up. The stars too, viii rccognizr before the
present hard season Is the need OF being less tI
acting In their own terms.
" Lnwer rntes That's experiment tried nowhere
ese than at the Grand Opera House. II results RON
Boucicau double failure IN the early part of the season
with Marriage and his Shaughraun company. Wh"h
ne dlsbanded NJ Cincinnati Lester Wallack mnic pes
sonal success ~ the Grand Opera House and this has en-
couraged Bomcicau Even n IL ,u.ceeds II won't innu-
ence the other theatres any than the tow rates Of
the Bowery heretlfoie have affected ihem because the
Grand Opera House - only another Bowery Theatre IN
consequence of it, isolated lcation AM no one VIII
make anything else. Bgucc1n viii get ihr Ncs'ldc
people 10 20 ihcre the overy g"is the Et,~ide iok
al cheap rates. But the Grand Opera House Luh "h}
$500 M urc cent rates when IL j. crlmmc from PIT so
gallery and the margin Of profit Oh oriuHr ns"s vi"
not be great; aud play can ever rln there Tor any
length Of time because audience l. lucat VIII nave
no transient custonl-and people who drmand plays ~
low rates don't 40 often to abe same piece The com
pany cheap that's true and Borcanlt "a close man
nger bnt the margin o. proht after n l. small fo 80
many managers. The Nibio management was on dit'
fcreut yan. II thou.ands Of tickets for the
benefit ot the attached: thsts All there wa of t1at
a.. Ycs a few actors and actrcsscs-not moro than
score-arc paid al al proportion e. their drawing
value y would bc invld0as To name Them; ihry are
nearly all IN walac's and Pamer- conplnies Palmer
makes 10 secret of his opinion that the rates are TOO
lugh and without any sort of doubt. n be and Wallac&
come 10 the same conclusion, aud decide 20 reduce Nc
demand for these artists al their present salaries VIII
cea.r Therr are other managers IN the ciiyina oi
course nnne In 10, cruut-y-Nho viii pay iHem Whnf
they receive now which, by tie way. IL more than they
could possibly make hy starring. The salary lists ai
these ,hear, Will he reduced long before the admission
rates are lowered"
WHAT WEsTIRN THEATREGOERS FAVOR
IN the natural course ~ events % the m"rr suc
nl star actors returning t0 the city WIN moro oF
less favorable accoun 81 the drama ln tle W'ai Ia"
renee Barrett who has been credited with good succ"ss
1. temporarily "a the CIV Othc, engagements VIII lake
him away from Yew.York fer sorn, 10 come. Edwin
pooth after very successful season tegns hts New
York engagement on MOudy. MillEim j. Florence
p,s.ed through the cty Monday ~ hl an "niccment
,. Mi, Ri.s" Much has been said disappointed
ac.ors concerning thc gloomy outlook Tor ht tHel,a'
hn.ncs. 10 the We.t bat "n thai point "rinol slightly
dgrr. 4 g,utlenau We'll informed on h'Atrch matters,
and not radically un optinist. intel @'id'
see much cucolralcucnt in tho present state ~ 1
ou.Y miurrt by tn hard tunes much the same ~ IN
s. ~. lam ali lp Of fhc dri nt her, NOT ullrrcd
alike People have ropre sd curiosity T. Sc every
th,n that comes along They have be"u obliged - max"
choice " entertainment endt speak, "c or the good
taste tf
E,st that they have shghted The fryo.ous and Snsi-
tioal drama auI have rather hh'rai supported tue
standard Ifumn Tbls ,raSan dramatic companies nave
rru-pcrod according to their Intrinsic mrnis ana ln
proportion as they apptai"d 10 CO.. 'tN!,Nt alu
educated ta.te Tnc he.f proof o tbs = the taGte
~ the LYDIA Thompson, the saaushIanh
and other sensational irnnpeS. Hhd th' sh'rr.s
mat bns attended the legitimate drama Edwin Booihs
two wrck, -ra-ou n ~ Louis surpassed Tor enthnsasn
and profits. any Two weeks season he ever hAd ~ SeN
York. lie with q great wcicome every where. Law
Barrett appearing N his STANDARD chsrac,rrs, a,
"Richcleu has never had lnfe sn'eesin ses"n % ~
the West. only the Inferior and senslti1h' com com,
nrulcs that have failed. Good companies WIN society
PLAYS and comedies have met with onD r9tiia s've'
prplr East scarcely realize the progress which the West
bas made three years IN matters oi arr abl seh.I
culture believe that the elemcuis that make On art
centre tendency "a gr"np theusN ives hnnn1 al
inud 10 t Louis and North and south. the people show
an ntgnsc desire 70 hrcomc acquainted Win hshrr ait
them. rhey quick to see and appreciate" and are
enthusiastic"
LAWRENCE BARRETT on PUBLIC TASTE.
MI Barrett. IA speaking on this came general topic
IN "a TRBUNE reporter, SAID among many othef things
of Ike import:
think that the prblc taste 6, changing for the bet
Ter aud that The standard dma - growing IA favor win
The Nrv-Nort public rhi. settling lerod and inst
the time when good repgcsentttl tn atrc would pro-
mote dramatic by furnishing "A hlgh standard and it
outlet for American talent both IN Hcting aud writ
ing or course it would be contrary to the spirit of
our political. institutions to sustain National th.a-
ire by Government aid. a. it b. done In Europe. We
must look to pHhlc.spriied men "a establish aud
foster such project n'lirNc that the
right men woald take hold oi such scheme aud carry
ou vita high aims, II c0ul boz made artistic aud
a,.p.,,t su,,a.s They rou1l undertake about what