New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-25
THE PLAYS THAT NOW SUCCEED.

ATALK WITH LAWRENCE BARRETT.
IMPROVEMENT IN TIE DRAMATIC TASTE OF THE
AMERICAN PUBLIC-KRgN CRITICISM BY NEW
YORK AUDiENCEs
The recent arrival in this city of Lawrence Bar
rett the actor after successful tour OF tho coutiy
the question whether there ~ an lncreas
ing public taste for tho higher forms or dramatic
art. Mr. Barrett IN addition 10 the play oil nol
ick's Love-" includes III his reDeriory the usnal
round of parts played by tragic actors. Tribune
reporter called upon him shortly after his arrival AT
t1c Filth Avenue Hotel to learn his viewswhen Tue
following conversation took place: -.
do you think. Mr.. Barrett, that the pnDic
throughout the country shows an increasing taste
for tine higher forms OF the drama T.
II financial success is any criterion IT certainly
does The American people have turned out almost
in "a body during the present season to see those
artists who play the ShakesDearean drama. mere
has never been a bete season for high art than
the present. All through the West, where have
recently been. the people are thoroughly interested
IN the legitimate drama. No better proof OF ms
can be found than in the fact that large audiences
90 To SEQ every actor who plays these plays Mr.
Booth and Mss Anderson have made fortunes
through this taste and the business OF the latter
has, | am told. been larger TINS season In - ever
before. There Is eagerness displayed by the peo-
pie 10 find out the good in art. All throngn the
West the peopla are studying Shakespeare. In the
schools there are Shakespcarean classes. Readers
are heard IN every town who devote themselves to
the works of this great poet. Works ot CRITICISM
and commentary upon his plays have good sale.
The disposition of the public seems TO be to make
thorouph scholariy study of him. This taste Tor tine
hIpher forms Of art ls nos confined To the drama
The classic schools of music are becoming more
widely known and appreciated. The elaborate ana
MASSIVE works of Beethoven, Wagner B'riIoz
Brahms Rall, and other great composers are DecOn-
ipp he common property of tine people Inc hlgher
forms of literature eagerly sought for; and even
science the most exaci ing OF intellectual pursuits
is more studied by the public than ever before You
would be surprised at the elevation OF taste III the
West OF course publishers mnst meet tins dtlnand
Hence we have cneap editions OF the great master
nIeccs ID every department You will see the scores
of almost every opera or symphony IN the
hands OF the pc sons who 20 10 hear them Indeed,
I feel that the American people, who have always
been foremost to encourage every advance IN intel
iecual pursuits, are more so to-day than ever be-
fore" .t,o u.,u vor,, on,,l;o
III ia the grandest audience in the world. |
would IA her lie popular In New-foIk than III any
other civ. am more nervous about appearing mere
than anywhere else. have always watched hrst
mint audIence III NewYork with a sort o. awe. IL
IL 50 cold 80 keeny critical 50 thoroughly awe 10
.yerv 1uoyement and intOnatlOn OF an actor. II IL
nat an encouraging audiencr, bur lrkaDly Just
one That rs one reason Why s Vcrdct mas so Inuch
to do viii the success of play IN other parts OF the
| conntry Anything that will pass the Judgment oi
| q Nry. YORK audience will be accepted anywhere
else Look at the late engagements mere OF legit-
| MOI. ACTORS Look Al Bcrnhardt and SaNln no
smrcess of he former waSa tribute TO the intelligence
| nj the people IL she mad been obi ged 10 depend
mon ne notorIcty attached 10 her name, se would
have failed for Tie American people would resent
such notOIiety. On tie first night mere ihere was
little bit f Disappointment 1t was only as she grew
unop the public and displayed her various abilities
! liar she achieved decided success. Savn was
| aIreody known His fame had come before HIM, ana
| many of the NeW-YOrk pubic remembered hiu. But
! zee how they welcomed him. lie Is doing a
| splendid business; aud am glad to know 1t; for
| ne ~ undoubtedly the greatest artist that ever
crossed the water 20 this county,"
What do you think OF Nile Bernhard y L., 49,.
she IA a great actress. She has mastered her art
| oud ~ earning the laIIrels. The American public
is showing It's Judgment by attending her per;
formanccs They illustrate the highest form of art"
| d., gou thing of any other cause that has con-
| trihutqd 10 the present elevated taste "
| Yes; 1 want 10 say wOrG Tor the press. Those
vim write the dramatic. musical, art aud literary
CRITICISMS show eager appreciation OF nigh art
| r. has been 90 for a long tIme put-in the case OF
| The drana-neyer more clearly displayed than just
| nv There is a kindness, general good feeling,
sb wn 10 all that is worthy of respect III the drama,
e the lower forms OF art, and especially those ~
Which il Is degraded, meet with little mercy. 1hls
| ia a good sign. | rejoice 10 SEQ II; and, while
think The present very prOptl0ns time Tor the Dei-
| ter class of dramatic WORK, / foresee still more
| prosperous days for 1t in the future"