New-York tribune., 1879-01-02
TIE AODERN DRAMA.
ANOTHER MANAGER,s OPINIONS

LARirY, SUNDAY PERFORMANCES AND THEIR
IMNQEALIrY, AND OF MANAGER MVICKER, OF
CHICAGO-Hg THINKS sHAKEsPEARE's PLAYS
UNPOPULAR BECAUSE IMMORAL COMPARED WITH
MODERN FRENCH DRAMAS.
In an interview with Mr.. NcYicker, the
veteran manager lately published IN THE TRIBCNE, ref
made 10 the fact that the custom oi Sunday
evening thcaiea performances long prevalent IN New
Orleans spreading to other cities. Some curious
were also made by Mr.. McVicker on the un-
popularity Of the shakespearean drama, which.
from his position the Western manager most
prominent IN maintaining tho legitimate drama
aud also from his relations Edwin Booth. tne leading
SLaSespereln actor excited considerable comment.
Coupled with these curious statements we're some good
n4tured animadyersions upon A. NJ. Palmer, OF The
Union square, who has become Identified IN most
minds a. the special producer French plays To en-
able NJ Palmer reply Kind to these and at the same
ne elicit his views upon the subjects OF sunday per
forauces and the alleged unpopuary Of Shakespeare
a reporter OF THE TRIBUNE waited upon that gentleman
yesterday afternoon, and 10y few leading questions
excited the manager TO say number % sharp things
upon several subjects.
BENG asked II lie agreed with Mr.. Meycker in regard
10 the wi tendencies that have lowered tho standard
the drama OF late years. Mr.. Palmer laughed aud
said: II am afraid that Manager Mcyicker's late
troubles have somewhat jaundiced his views OF
progressive and healthful present
moral As the drama Jeremy Collier ashed $50 years
80 know and you, that the drama Of to-day is,
say the least, as moral that OF Shakespeare ana
ten times deceit Mr.. McVlcker admits that the
-nakespc Iroan drama never was popular with the
mas,cs lie thinks because 1t requires thought to un-
dcr.and IL. Think because 1t requires cast iron
stomach accept The fact Is the American Of to-
day IL the most continuously thoughtful, subtle, and
pcrceptiye Of human beings in any age cline. Yet
this thoughtful American. who has annihilated
distance weighed the stars and bored for The centre OF
the EARTH bis back the Shakespearean drama in
theatre Possesses too much thought for
him thou ghts nastly expressed
to his civilized taste. The truth is that while i'm
morality all has the subject OF the stage a.
well as Of the pulpit the Of Its treatment. to
achieve theatrical popularity. must be in accord with
the manners OF the in wnch IL il presented There
perhap, much average drunkenness. theft murder and
adultery to-day there wasn the days Of Shakespeare
and the stage takes just much cognance or each bat
the rough obscenty IN rhyme the nasty pictures IN
these appetite, which ref ced IN Shakespeare Mas
or AMI Ford ,rs IN our dly deeenty yeed from slg1t
wren presented stage. We WILL II Is true, sit IN
our theatres aud watch the sufferngs OF Camille, the
Lurette. and count her strugEies. but We do TINS
because the struggle OF her repentance and not
the dirt OF her wee ls prOtluued On pubic al
tention bv the manner OF the modern dranatlst.
But day by day the feeling OF modern de-
ceucy reudeIs disgusting 10 mixed ass mbages OF men
"a Jyan,nn and yong girls the picture OF a HdB,Ici
n,ng in n9useol. coIors the actual dorngs 10 u. in
t,rs bed OF his own mother. Il not our morality
,, hrirss from the picture bur our stomach which IA
nauspated by the manner OF Its presentation. The
Ficnch drama OF to-day, OF whose success MT McNIcker
a. teengiy complains, owes its superiority the
Old Legitimate drama 10 the superior decency OF ITS
manper OF treatn precisely the same themes treated
bT SophOce,, Shakespeare and Moere IL is not
tuat lhe age likes the phO~ophy AMI poetry
Of Shakespeare less but that II hkes de-
Gt1I noUllar on the stage that he i stale Part
ridye IL good eating; but would yon ike 10 eat part
rGe al every meal in every day rhe theatrical
why shakespeare ~ not popular Is
rhat neither have nor ever had suicient number
IN accordance with the requirements OF hs imag
nation and Of the svmpa ny OF the reader of Shakes
Then YOU think thar tie stage has not deerorated
% az iop think that anv art has deter0rated nor do
sea i'm an age when knowledge taste and scholarship are
becoming the common propeI ~ oi the poushman ana
allowed 10 deterOrute The truth T. that the stage Is
increasing beyond the old foges hO grumbe at IL be
cause they unable 10 Keep up win IL 5uch pertt
ron of plot such accessories OF scenrry, dress and
anpoiutents such correctness IN The rendition or an
antbor meaning. such quick, posIty We ef ct au
dience a. nowadays, ahASrpe peare neyei dreamed
& %, nm nm with his times daIns his twes The aphOrisn
l. not new its trlteness only proves rs truth Ih
T.s and they have ways from the ps and pens
OF drarnatts, aetOrs critics aud managers who have
fae nm the several branches Of their profession and
who believe they lind apology for their failure in abuse
OF public taste they lack ae!Ly to sat sly:
arg 0' There are to-iays advertisements of all the
theatres IN city, cannot nDd Englr theatre
"a N+SY"rk Io-nI9nt presenting play written or
c,sd IA an Parls-not one snl.l myself probably not
n,OSne ~ another French Play this season. Mr.
WaLacE Is already reported 10 be plrdged 70
produce sn5ee pose oSDeo a % French ' pays
a. Tue TRIBUNE uiOn0pohze FrencB news. The
martst is Jhrre open TO all manager willing
I'D aDe to pay most the best goods gets them.
Take Last wear Mr. Tomrk IL, of Boston bonEht TN
Ex1lcs OF sardou, Wallace bought diplomacy" Of
fhp 50 me au and the Union Square bought the tel
cratcd Ca-r of DCHncry. TuOse were thc three new
french plays The season that @enie' Ell sueceSses ana
ann M Oss how monopoly was exercised IN tue
nurchase ot them. Dir. McFicser himself might have
boah any OF the three or ibe wuoe ihree bad he
made money enough out Oi Shakespeare and Booth pay
FOR Ehem He dd not. aud so ne ost Ih"fn might a.
nor one Of mos French plays that Mr.. Mcvlcker cou
get at ne rallied to producer at ns own theatre
TO exclusion o the ShNkespeareah sciing OF LtIrJ
Barrett, the Shakcspearean drama IN Dir. McIlcKEFs
tneatre being confined 10 the engagements OF his sou
in-law Edwin Booth. ms mucI IS certain thaI We
nave never produced new French play At me
Union square Theatre that Mr. McNioker didn''
and all he IL Crvwihg about now Is that we re
fused to him have the last one Mother and son. for
reasons at once allsLic ald c0rmefc our feiiii "a
uIay with Nr. dcEicker has been abundnnty juStihed
by tine success we have met Win al iayeIeys 70 shnn
Mr.. Mspesou- opera cOtnp.y IS propap5
Tor reasons similar TO those which induced our prefer
lis II true thar you have regular stock company for
"a Ulion square Theairr III Ncw-forkF
In the lasI Ave years no theatre 10 the world,
exeatt the Tueaire FRANCHISE. has had little
change In it's leading aItists. The mere names
Them ii S"'%H Will Strike your own ear as echoes Of e
stones Of this tneaire-Chsres r. Thorne, John Par
Tarno1 a. sarah Jcweti Mande Harrison. Is
Say Yorker 10 whom any Ot these ames does not
r.ruU the Union square Theatre II you except Mr..
G,Ibrrr and Mss Ene Gerinon at Wallacks Theatre,
rner are no leading thoroughly welded Ia the
uubi;c Hnd " particular theatre a. the
fn.on S1uare Theatre Company Il welded ~
fine Union Square Theatre IN the memory ana
inn O1uattDn OF tis public Of SeNfOrk send out
tTaveing COMPANIES because obliged to keep the
arrest theatrical company of d <tclass sriIsts ever
se1t nv any theatre in Englsh speaking country.
rhi. 1, becatse cannot fail back stars Mr.. val
Iark does Whan pia,s himself, Mr. B0ucicaul,
SDtnern. Nine Is strictly company
tutare as New-York fully understands / iuust nave
a sfHctpnt number Of artists 10 properly sclect aud
cast Tor each of MY pals as II comes along No
one pav can employ all OF tue regu ar conpany Those
let olt OF tue east would remain idle during the
r,In OF play, a prrOd which Vdrles IN our
turatre from seventy To le6 nights Now. provln-
ct managers know my people, and when they