The New York herald., 1878-08-25
Manager A. M. Palmer Handles the
Critics Without Gloves.
WHY AMERICAN PLAYS HAVE FAILED.
Mari Anderson. Mottska. Booth and Iafies1n-Ths
New Stock Companies and Dramas.
PROGRESS OF THE DRAMATIC ACADEMY.


,ny through apyrnths OF secluded passages, closed
10 all save the favored few, yesterday when the
HERALD representative called MI. a. NJ. Palmer, tho
manager OF the Union Square Theatre Letters.
manuscripts, bundles OF papers, half finished doeu-
ments and play books wilh which he
rounded In proiuson mutely but emphatcay told
The man of industry. He sat al his cesk deeply alb
sorbed the perusal Of some letters, and scarcely
beard the opening OF the uoor. When, however, he
became aware OF the presence OF his visitor he laid
aside mis- papers, and, throwing himself back IN his
easy chair, invited the writer TO do likewise.
"The HERALD would like, Mr. Palmer, to obtain
your views theatrical prospects during the
ng season." said the writer availlag himself OF
the pro1ered chair. "What, II you please, are the
financial prospects OF the Union squarcS"
''It will give me pleasure to enhghten the HERALD
readers OH matters theatrical" said tho aable
ager getting ready for Ion. interview ''You ask
me about the financial prospects oil the Union Square.
Like the prospects oil every otner theatre the city
they precisely The those OF other busi
ness. quick circulation OF money makes a good
theatrical season. When grsenbacks rustic about
from hand TO hand, as when we played
Led Astray,' for instance, any passable enter
tainment would crowd any decent theatre
Now that shrinkages in values and consequent stag
nation felt by the masses 1t stronger attrac
lions to induce them TO visit the theatre. II the
HgRALD's cheering predictions Tor bette. times Ter
general business are verified there is iear but
that the coming theatrical season will provo fnan-
,ialy satisfactory TO managers who have anything
new to offer the public"
"rhen, Mr. Palmer, you consider that the compare
tive falling OFF In theatrical attendance last season
due to the general business depresson?r
"Last season very pad. We made a
good deal OF money. Tne falling OF, however, was
generally due 10 The passing depression Of the times.
and, pardon me ii say 1t, 10 the newspapers"
ITO the newspapersY How SO. prayY"
"fhe explanation Is simple enough. The aippant,
Indifferent tone of CRITICISM. the absence OF enhu-
sastc recognition OF good work well dsne had their
effect the public. To believe otherwise would be
to believe that the press has no influence AT alL'
s'Do you moan that the press has injured the
thcatre?"
THE CRITICS cRITlcIZED.
81 mean that bcittled the theatre in the eyes
OF tho public 1t has been generous enough OF its
space, even oil its attention; but II has been cx-
tremcly hurtiui TO tho theatre In the kind
OF attention it has bestowed upon It. 1t
stage than TO plays produced IL the pg of
those plays Instead oi looking ut the stage
oil the iorms OF art has treated IL as sort OF toy
1t has sad plenty OF smart things about the actors
and actresses, but very llo about their acting and
gtill less about the plays considered as efforts
tue art which Is acknowledged by souna criticism
10 DO the noblest and most difiicuIt OF nj!
really holp tho Stage it must treat IL seriously
the French press does. This Is one why
just now, the French produce tho hes, dramatic
and We The poorest Wnen such men as Addison,
Steele and, later on, Haztt and Hunt and the re-
in Blaokwood wrote critIcisms, tho Euelisn
drama far anesd of anything tho French could
then do. or perhaps have ever done. The French
stage then was peoplcd by Characters OF wax while
those in the English drama drawn with all tn .
warmth and mellowness of portraits by Elliott En-
tbusiastic appreciation inspired invention How
IL nowY" continued Mr. Palmer waxing warmer
dramatically pensioners on Parls. Why, SIR, in
anu called dramatic thors the strength
OF having stolen ana translated lew plays from the
French Ths, TOO, by writer's In the language OF
Shakespeare and sheridan"
"on, II is disrraceiui," proceeded the manager,
anmlndiu OF the interruption "Why, only tho other
day several such men got together 10 form a
eicty Tor protection against the very authors from
whom some OF them had stolen the wares thsy were
hawking. The ola Grub street hacks would have
busned at such an exhibition OF cheek wooded TO
mental Impotence" !"
"SureIy, Mr. Palmer, you do net charge that state
Of Things 10 the prcssr appealed the writer.
"Yes, SIR, IN great measure do, y was the quick
reply. ~ believe that n the press gave serious
tention to dramatic criticism IL does 10 book
viewing 1t would foster h knowledge aud love OF
dramatic art per sc among our peope. and RAISE up
what We ought TO have-somc real American dramatic
WRITER'S by bisndiug thievery aud recognizing nonort
endeavor BY 30 doing would aid every manager IA
the country by IN some measure freeing hin from
despotism malt dezen skilled pens III Paris.
Adulaiion OF plagiary and pasarists the hand
And sneeriDg reception OF honest endeavor on the
other will never foster original dramatic writng In
America"
"But the press has been continuously calling for
AMERICAN PLAYS AND rLAYwRIcnrs.
$50 10 mas. But how does II receive when a
manager rrsks Time and money IN Its production
Aore than bali the writers sent to criici-o ~
tie theatre With rejected manuscripts in tncr
pockets, and look on the accepted work more the
spirit OF enviOus rivalry than IN that OF impartial
Mr. Bronson Howard aud one by gentleman from San
Francisco. Now, though believe tDem both good,
ana am determined TO produce both. know we'll
enough what reception they will meet IRON
some OF the writers OF thc New York press. II has
been tired many times already. Escn time the new
Am, ricau play was received here with sneering con-
oosccuson, or damned with liant praise, or ccnsurcd
lohily AS inferior to the masterpieces OF sheridan
Sardou Nowhere was any one OF them baiIcd
with that enthusiastic welcome the French accord
new author OF promise, aud which would lead the
public to support the management who had rsked
heavily to produce H."
"Do the American plays you mention, Mr. Palmer,
constitute your repertoire tor tho coming season."
"Heaven iorbiui" exclaimed tue manager eNo,
mol We have ono new play from Sardou and have
contracted for another by D'Ennery We shall open
season with Sardou's IL IL a play IN i've acts,
sIrkingiy Original story aud fu OF clear strong
sbsracters. No manager having such play from Tho
author OF the Two Orphans, would be tool enough
TO con1ue his seasons repertoire TO Two American
Palmer, "wnen he knows they are to be passed upon
In many instances by tue holders OF plays no has been
forced TO reject When the leading dsiles OF Now
gork detail critics men as able as are those whom
iney detail To write their editorials III risk full
son o. Americau plays apd play them with company
as nearly American the theatrical market viii at
ford me- Because | know tnst thcn they would be
Judged not only with harness. but with that induI.
geuce which VISION knows TO be the surcst aid to
progress IN q novico'
''ihon your nrst play OF the coming season will be
from pen OF nardoui What will IL 20 entitled ~
awe Invariably substitute an English Tor the French
titles when come with nrs works the one IN qucs-
tIon Will be named Mother and son. q"
NEW srocK COMPANY.
"Is your company Tor next season composed en-.
tirely vi American artistsY'
.sWth two exceptions think II IT, ard believe II
70 the best COMPANY New Y0ik has seen Tor some
years. While am not tbose who would refuse
10 recognize and welcome artistic abity wherever
came from, neither on the other hand viii l, as
manager ana an American find supreme pleasure ia
ignoripg Americans VINO act WINE level tel
sscope on the London stage seeking whom l may
sImport'"
pictsdr'
.Ncsriy, but not wholly So Among those engaged