The New York herald., 1879-08-11
LONDON THEATRES.

THE LONDON TIMES On THE PRESENT AND Fu-
TURE OF THE METROPOLITAN THEATRES
THE NECESSITY FOR DRAMATIC TRAINING.
1t is interesting what is being said and done
in our own theatres says the London Times. while
the impression of the performances of the Comedie
is fresh i'll minds. Two of hest managed
houses-the Court and the Lyceum-have just
brought their seasons to end with speeches from
their managers. Both, glad to observe. record
success. and both, it is peasanter to say have
deserved it. Mr.. Hare refers to the performances
of the Coincide. and while admitting. like true
artist as is the unequalled perfection of their
ensemble, claims not without justification, credit
for the English managers who, like himself, with
out the aid of subvention, prestige tradition,
manage to maintain high standard of merit COM
pleteness and good taste. both in the acting and
mounting of their plays and the general conduct of
their theatres Mr.. Hare's avowed aim is ''a-round'
excellence the presentation Of his pieces the very
quality which gives their chief charm to the per-
formances, not only of the Coincide Franchise, but
of the French theatre generally. He has attained
this successfully the small stage to which his
direction has hitherto been confined that we are
glad to know that his future labors will be carried
on larger and more central theatre. and in part
nership with such excellent and selfrcspecting art
lists rs Mr. and Mrs. Kendall. At the time, Mr.
and Mrs Bancroft will exchange their management
little Prince OF Wales in which they have
ried taste, hnish and completeness far. and
thereby achieved such signal ana sustained success
. for that OF the Haymarket, which ought, il pre-
scripton could determine theatrical precedence to be
the tirst comedy theatre of London but which has
long while sunk sadly below its original level,
having gradually driItcd away from that steady. in
tegenI and lar sighted direction which is us
success i'll the theatrical as In any other
business. Mr.. Irvings success As manager OF the
Lyceum, measured either by money popularity.
has BEEN perhaps the most remarkable OF the three
AM IA "A q
tire and by performances OF more IDEAL at least,
dramatically exciting character 1t differs from the
other in the larger that the personal popu
larty OF the actor manager has hau In bringing about
the prosperity of his season. And when his
popularity added that OF his leading actress, Miss
Ellen Terry need hardly 80 further, perhaps. to
account for such large money returns as Mr. Irving
is proud to point to since last December.
SENSIBLE ADVICE.
One thing we would urge upon Mr.. Irving and
that is the Importance OF improving the quaity of
his company which has lett much to desire
since he undertook the management OF the Lyceum
We must altogether decline to accept the Lyceum
company in any way fairly representative OF the
best acting talent within Mr.. Irving's reach; and
whatever care Mr.. Irving may bestow on the mount
ing and rehearsal OF his pieces will be much OF it
wasted till he finds better actors to fill the parts in
his casts. IL he aims, as he may reasonably aim,
ut making the Lycenm the first London thea
tire for serious or ideal drama, the HAY
market should be for comedy, Improvement IN
the quality his actors is imperatively demanded.
The demand for this, unluckiiy, is Iot likely to be
pressed upon him by his public. With most OF
them. TWO popular actors i'll the leading male aud
female parts especially when one OF these actors
| Ir. Irvnstxare enough. All beyond this must be
supplied mainly Ill deerence to the managers own
respect completeness. We have right to ask
more practical evidence of this from a manager en-
joying Mr.. lrvings popularity rs an actor. There
has been manager III an equally favorable
| position for raising the theatre under his charge
and generally ii indirectly, the serious stage III
| Engard Both Mr.. Macready and Mr.. Phelps made
their manful and memorable efforts in this direc-
ton under Infinitely greater difficulties and dsad-
vantages, aud IN times lar less well disposed than
the present to second managers upward
Efforts. The prospects of the drama, both serious
and comic. have never, within recollection
been hopeful III London as ut present, with Mr..
Hare the kendils and the Bancrotts about to estab
lish themselves i'll the management central West
End theatres; Mr. irving SO firmly rooted in his
popularity at the LyceGm, and outlying
theatre like sadler's Wells. long an abomination
OF desolation, renovated, remodeed and about TO
pass in the autumn under intelligent and respect
able management like Mrs. Batemans. II with this
cluster OF well managed theatres we could assoc-
ated school for actors, something like the nucleus
at least, of conservatoire; II the managers OF
these theatres and their metropolitan brethren
would associate themselves to develop what element
of instruction i'll defamation and SO much
of the actors art Is teachable of the
stage there may be already in the Royal Academy OF
Music, there might be some hope of supplying the
long ielt desderatum of u school for young actors
managers admit the want of this, but do not see
their way to supply it. The difficulty is to find
the teachers for sucn school. IL the PROFESSIONAL
staff were forthcoming the money for its endowment
would not be wanting The need of such school is
coming yearly more Iet now that the country circuits
winch used to train young actors and actresses
London have ceased to exist. 1t may be added that
the lessening OF prejudice against the theatre has
greatly increased the number OF young men and wo-
men of education and breeding who would gladly
try the chances of the stage if there were respect
would have fair chance of being detected. devei-
oped and employed.