The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-08-12
SOTHERN AT HOME AND ABROAD.

TWEEN AMERICAN AND ENGLISH AUDI
ENcEs-1HE FUTURE or THE sTAoE-LowER
PRICES MUST RULE.
Mr.. E. A. sothern returned to England Saturday
the steamship Britannia, Hospitality followed
by the good wishes of the many friends who had
gathered to bid him farewell. The ''goodoy." how.
ever, was only brief one, tor he will come back
New York the course OF month or SIX weeks 70
place In thu Park Theatre. There are few
men in the dramatic profession whose kesnness or
judgment with reference 10 the play-gong public ex
cesds that Of the famous Lord Dundreary FIRST he
has won his promotion by hard work, ana
second, he has accumulated much wealth on
both sides OF the Atlantic and thus necessarily De-
comes an acute observer OF all Incidents In purely
theatrical career which tend 10 illustrate Tho causes
Of stage success failure. He is likewise . frank
sporen man. although. perhaps, almost too impusive
IN the expression OF mere opinion. Mr.. Sohsrn was
in his old familiar the Gramercy Park Hotel.
a place that been made famous by hts many jokes
Among his guests were Mr. John Mccullough, the
trageaian ana Captain Brasche, tho latter officer
Of the British army and coorpagnon de poyage ~
rHE OBJECT OF HIS AMERICAS Wait. ea.
.what brough; you back to America, Mr. sothern,
ana for SO short a time dsysY asked the writer
.sNothing IN the world, my dear boy, but desirs
for rest l was tired. wanted rscreatou--a change
of scene and air. l wanted TO look once more into
the eyes OF my OLD friends in New York, and so-you
know what AMI suddenly determined 70 quit work
and make across the water. Brasche, bore,
devilsh good fellow, said he'd keep me company; inc
Wallets took caro- Of the baggage and here we are
THAT'S the whole story In a nutshell.'
..But hear, Mr.. sotnern, that you met with only
partial success your Crushed Tragedlsn' in Lon
sof" $3.50 fl
THE scRusHED.n is.i .actt
ssrrue gospel had lake It OF the stage in Z
few nights dead aiiure--a sort o. Stubborn child
Ii you the why can't tell you. There's
strange differences between American and English
audiences In England you always nnd prompt ana
frank expression 81 critical judgment ON Inc part OF
AUDIENCE ana 1t Is brave enough 70 expressiI You
Ieel II -ometmes. In America. on the DINER
hAnd the people seem 70 wait for IN: verdict OF the
press-the story ioid next day. ln Engand $40
jud,ciousy usel Tor lew nights will occasionally
make damn play. In America II " thing ~ onoe
written down stays there and Byron
instance is one OF the most popular authors
OF the Nevertheless he has encountered three or
was produced al The Princess OF Wales Theatre. The
house packed the ceiling All the writer's, the
lterat and tho best brains OF London wero present
| prepared TO enjoy great success The piece was
cast the paris were allotted to one OF the best
theatrical companies In England. hut what ioliowedP
| Failure, and the more sickenlng TO The author be-
cause received silent condennatiou-tne LICK oil tne
death watch bug-.he utter absence Of one word OF
reward And yet IN Byron's Judgment 'Wrnkies
was equal 70 any play he ever had written" 100
slow. then, DO you account for the exceptional sue.
cess oil Our Boys winch has run for over Twelve
| hundred nlghtsY" tIi,a i1 4 tl ANN
| ~ wouluns pretena 70 40 !. onIy INV h h
what Byron has said to me- that he himself has been
surprised the extraordinary success OF the play,
and That has own opinion o! Inc work =. ne ou'se'
| was exceedingly INQUEST IL It's neasu. einon..
"But now DO you account ior Tue eAuaoroinsty
mold tina. has been secured upon the London puelcs"
81 can't do It, my dear fellow. You Internal Now
| York interviewers ask 30 many hard Questions.
suppose that II were IN wnness oox snouo say
that u ~ because me Eugiish people sppiecia.e
| strong conrasts-tn this instance between that OF
the aristocrat anu inc mnkman lne.e 10 some.nins
Silk ingy real IN the o. me
| characters that takes hold oil English audience
ana YET would 1ali " proouce Tue sauie encot ~
Amer'ca nnrn,ohiv un ~" ms siemsns ~
when ne caseiA ny inc WAY, ~. ~. .eh wv
curious thing about by.on ne .sVs, W., gu n us
plays 70 crticai Toview oeiore snoy arg put W .no
stage. once ne USED 20 ~ SO. out sAperionce nas
taught Nun INA. ms own .s luz ~, ys re
occasional failure"
''You have ABOARD another iavorte dramatic autner
| Mr. W. b. Giioert! IL l. ~.
| yes; l AIN GLAD you mentioneo MS name ne s
Regarded ~ Que VI .ns pest :" gu. os,gn1i ~,eI "a
little who N.Y. NC piouuoeu poSo eu.'.i'' w Us ~
weeL out II was quickly damned by BON critics ana
puoilc ACKNOWLEDGING Tue iaiu. ny io~rote kIeas
account Tor these things-l can't H4H
AN ENGLISH ENG AuDinScS. o... =.
"but isn,t u possloie or chquo u ensm'es " w.
MOI Always 10 England invarlaoiy inc sense OF
iair play rules Lnere - aisposlon 70 s.ana ~ inc
| tue popular sympathy must Dc reacheu hrst-nearts
must De touchsd and Inc great pubic must ieei whst
you mgnt call the oraIu 'nIoo o. Tue artist Anu us
sueme whatever may oe 'ne otner existing ao.a. gu.
istic innu. ncss aitnciaI or otherwise, the puohc
verdist VIII afer whe DC sure 70 DC the actua re-
suit oil ihs real quality OF piece That's my experi-
| encew an English Auoience. 1914. -.
| "What were your expectations 10 going apr ROAD Win
the Crushed rragedianr
'Il tell you frankly. Judging from IT'S immediate
and prolonged success IN New YORK anu o'ner Amsr-
Can Giles, 'houSht couio m"ho wv W wv .eue
sidc notwithstanding the Tact that had been play ed
| at four Inherent theatressunder the name OF 'rhe
| Prompters BOX, NY nrst Isception on .ns s.ase
was the greatest ever receives ou. appears sna.
| tho auuience had seen Mr.. bvron play my par
| ana they OBVIOUSLY hked MS Cnaracterizut'on
| better than they lKeu my own Iney hau seen
| me 50 many Years associated with parts IKE Dun
dreary, DAVID GarIek, brother sam &C, that .uey
were not prepared iVr Inc sharp CONTRAST leu
IN the new creation Mark you, whenever an Eng
iish pubic get fond oil an actor they SICK 10 MN.
Perhaps could have won their favor ny persistence,
but us matter oil busihess u was necessary 70 make
q change"
There mus Se shGp y1 'ue"'