New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-07-27
THE COMING DRAMATIC SEASON.
PREPARATIONS AT THE THEATRES.

PREPARATIONS AT THE THEATRES.
IMPROVEMENTS IN MANY CITY EsTABIsnMENrs-
NEW PLAYS TO DE BROUGHT oUT-wHAr SOME
ACTORS AND ACTRESSES INTEND TO DO.
There is a general complaint among actors
and outoown managers Of the lack OF preparation Tor
the coming dramatic season. few combinations being yet
fully formed and few routes OF stars filled out In the
city the seasons work Is better defined.
At the Union Square Theatre the stage Is being put In
order for the production OF "0llyia" by Miss Fanny
Davenport and her company. The opening night VIII
fell on August 10, and the season VIII con-
tnue six weeks, longer II the play meets with the
success anticipated In the latter event the regular sea
son Will be postponed aud the regular Union square
company will open for short period in Of the large
cities The new scenery for Olivia" almost com
pleted will mounted the managers say, with all the
richness and completeness Of play In the regular sea-
son. Union Square company Is now supporting clara
Morris in Miss Mutton and Conscience" In Chicago
II has decided which OF three or four new plays
under consideration will usher in the regular season
which is expected to begin about October l. Shook
Palmer have new comedy by YicOren Sardou, and an
other by Alexandra Dumas.
The season at Waack's VIII open early In September,
with the old company considerably strengthened. in
new play by Boucicaut Charles Coghlan will take the
leading part in place OF Mr.. Montague
Manager Henderson, of the Standard Theatre has ~
ambition 10 make Of his establishment place Of enter
tainment OF the class OF Waack and the Union Square
He has great faith in the place in which 1t Is situated
particularly the opening Of the elevated railway
and believes that stcass intellectual and chaste pro-
ductlons there will attract the fashionable audiences
nightly seen at other establishments named o has
been selecting for time, special company OF what
are known character actors" for the production of
play 10 which there several parts studied from life,
and all strong various peculianties il Is an original
play written for Mr.. Henderson and certain artists
already engaged by him. The title Is An Open Verdict"
The authors name Mr.. Henderson declines TO give for
interest" said Mr.. Henderson n TRIBUNE reporter.
In fact the intensity Of the interest Is the strong fea-
OF the plot revealed only IN the last speech OF the hna
act There guessing from the Developments OF any
act the incidents OF the next and each act leaves
the listener mysteda very great art IN dramatic con-
srucion. II is full Of humor also, and OF delightful
contrasts OF incident scene and more especially OF char
acter. There Is bad part IN u each personage OF
the play being very marked, and, am snred studied
ters told, retained by the author, aud am IN
doubt still about tne propnety Of changing these
tive he advises change, as some OF the situations
might be thought lbellous; but the author insists
objects very strenuously 10 any change, MY
responsibility Is what am considering and while DO
not wish curta the author the purpose Of Tho play,
shall permit no defamation OF any actual person Tue
purpose OF tins play IL 10 expose the unjust operations
OF some OF the existing laws OF the county, legitimate
purpose. think Of literature Ia any form It's better
written acting play, with better language inner
have ever seen before by any American dramatis."
The first two acts-there only one scene TO eleh act
are laid In the South the others In this CITY, MI Hen
dersOn will open the Standard with " An open verdict
early IN september, and Then play the piece ana com
specially prepared under the direction Of d. W. waller
formerly stage Inanager OF Bo3ls dh,atIe S1o VII ~
Among Others engaged for the new play are Mrs Emma
Waller IN heavy aud strong part Miss Rose osborne;
makes ner first appearance In the last IN part
requiring great delcacy In it, presentation, Mos May
Davenport, sister Of Miss Fanny Davenport, Charles
L. A Weaver
who has the strong comedy part OF the play, A. u.
IeyIck, b. r. Rlnggold and others. Negotiations
pending with popular and faYorite Ne"iofk actor for
the leading male character.
The Fifth Avenue Theatre which Will be managed by
Stephen Fiske and Daniel H. Harns will probably open
late in August II Is said that arrangements either
concluded or under consideration with Edwin Booth
John Mccullough. joseph Jefferson. Madame Modeska
Mary Anderson, Ada Cayendish and Madgo Robertson
Mr. Harkns has received great many letters relative
10 his project of opening dramatic schoOl III cohhec
L. A. sOhern will return IN the Adrlatic on Sunday
but will sail again for England August by the
Russia. He will open at the Park Theatre December
%. with " Dundreary's Private Theatrcals,' comedy
which he has been turning In his mind for eight or
nine years, and which concludes with Dundreary
amateur Hantet 1his play Is now ~ the hands OF H. o.
Ouring the season he will produce "Kinchn," roInOd-
eled by y. 5. Gilbert from Buekstones Flowers of the
Forest Mr.. SOthern aud Mr Clarke have purchn5ed an
original three-act burlcsque comedy by W. D. GiDert
It Is not settled that Augustin Daily will have the
Broadway Theatre though ho has made overtures for it.
George Wood, Claude Fulton and two Western man,
ayers are mentioned possible lessees Of this theatre
which II owned by a company with MI Banvard at the
head Extensive alterations In the theatre cOnem-
plated The plans Include pOrtcO and balcony IN 'front.'
TO efeetualy eiace the old Woods Museum appearance
now box-Olce the raising OF the floor OF the ye5tibue
80 three four steps will bring the visitor on the
parquet floor IN which the side sairways tading
TO tho balcony Of vestbue will be rdsed aud form
tho approach to the dress circle. The parquet floor
will be lowered paTquet circle Introduced, and the
parauet Will be furnished with seats the chairs
being covered with real velvet plush. Double, open,
proscennm-boxes will take the place OF tins present
gle boxes which unsgntlY and Obstruc the view Of
lie stage The footghts Will be lowered and the sta ge
wldened and drop-curtan Is under discussion.
On Tuesday the lease for the Lyceum Theatre was
signed by Shook Palmer, and Miss Kate Claxton who
is to manage 1t, Is selecting her company.
No less than seventy combination companies being
formed ii is said for travelling in the East, South and
West Thrty-eight combination companies were organ
ized year ago. majority OF them going to pieces inside
made their Western engagements on the strength Of
play which they propose 10 carry ana take cheap
company along TO present tho play.
Salaries for the rank aud file of the dramatic pro-
fesson are twenty per cent than year ago, but
really capable actors aud actresses command the old
salaries and In some Instances an increase.
The Ada Cavendlsh Company IA announced to make its
first appearance the Fifth Avenue Theatre. where
Miss CavendIsh viii personate Miss Goiu in the play OF
that name by Wilhe Collins and perhaps, appear also
play Jane Shore through the country.
Miss Rose Eynngo will travel with company dur
ing season. and brings home three new plays In
which she will appear. The arst is adaptation
the French and IA called Z" A Woman OF tho People"
Madame Beatrice has played ths In England during the
last years with much success but IL has never
been tried on the London stage Another OF her plays
is by Charles Reade, and Is without "A tiue
Agnes Rob rtson Mrs Bouoicaulp will have n tray
cling company and, win play principally drama by
which Wllkie Collins is finishing for her.
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