Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-06-18
LEG DRAMA DONE.
The People Of the West, as Those Of
the East, Tired or 1t, but viii Sup
port Superbly Mounted
Plays Like f'ROmany Rye"
"Thc World" 'Miehael StrOgoG"
and "MankiRd."

] ST LOUIS, June 1.-THE Republican pub
fishes the following interview with Samuel
| Colville, one Of the most prominent amuse-
ment managers in the country and the owner
| of a majority of all the late melodramatic
productions which have been brought over
| from Europe. Although Mr.. Colville's name
and face do not appear upon the bIll-boards
| and dead walls OF the city "a frequently and
resplendently as those OF II averly e a., he IL
| looked upon in thestrical and amusement
circles generally as one of the solid men OF
the profession and a man whose Judgment in
| the matter OF securing attractions IL exceed
/ ingly valuable. For years he has carefully
| and studiously watched the popular pulse
! and the various changes in the wants OF the
| public, and his promptness IN supplying
! those wants have won for him his wealth and
position. He was engaged in amusement
! enterprises in California and AustralIa Tor
several years, and settled in the East about
/ 1861, his main fields OF operation being IN
| New York and Cincinnati before the death
! of the stock system and the birth OF the COM
bination plan. He brought the Lydia Ihomp-
! son company to this country IN 1868, and
/ made the popularity Of burlesque, which has
| since died natural death. His attention Is
now devoted entirely to melodrama and
| spectacle.
MR.. CoLvILI-E
was met last night at the Southern by
| Republican reporter who entered into con-
versation with him regarding the future
| course of amusements IN this country. In
| speaking of the probable great amusement
| successes for the coming season, Mr.. COlville
| said: "The FIRST probably will be the melo-
| dramatic spectacle Taken From Life, which
will be introduced for the first time in this
| country at McVicker's Theater in Chic ago.
1t was written by Henry Petit, and will
| probably take the lead in next seasons sue
I cesses. 1t will also be produced at Wallack's
| Theater, New York, September lst for an I'M
/ limited run. Wallack's season generally
opens in October, but this year IL will be
open earlier than usual. 1dk.n From Life
| will only be given in the larger cities, as the
scenery is too elaborate 10 admit of its
presentation in any but the better class OF
| theaters."
"Will there be sny special changes in the
| conduct of the spectacular playsF"
"0nly this: They will be run with ore
!, co mpany. Ii Is mistake 10 increase the
| number OF companies on plays like The
| World. That plan may do with plays like
| HGzel Kirke and The Professor, which can be
| put into small theaters without detracting
| from the attrsctiveness of the play, but with
| spectacular plays they must have all the
| necessary scenery and accessories OF stage
| mechanism to present them to advantage.
| AnOLner play WHICH viii DC a suCCtHrs per
| maps, is that new one produced at the
| Princes Theater in London last week, RODsGay
| Rue 1t has been secured by X. NJ. Field
for Boston and New England, and for the
! balance of the country by Brooks X Dickson.
1t is OF the spectacular order, but more
romantic than spectacular plays generally.
1t deals with gypsy life, but whether il will
be success in this country or not it is hard
to tell. II is appreciated in England be-
cause they have gypsies there, but whether
ii will do here or not, where we have no
gypsies, is a matter of uncertainty"
"There will be other spectacular attrac-
tioBs, OF course"
"Yes; TIE World will be on the road with
one company, the Lights O. London will be
taken out by Collier, Mankind will be given
az Days, and for a summer attraction The
Black Flag with Nat Goodwin and L. f.
Thorne in the cast. You ask if melodrama
is TO be the popular style of amusement next
season. Let me show you: There will be
presented in New York at one and the same
time Taken from Life at Wallack's, ROmdny
Rye at Booths.
MANKIND AT DALY's, THE BLACK FLAG AT
UNION SQUARE,
The World at the Grand Operahouse and
Youth at Niblo's-all melodramas. This
shows clearly the drift OF the public taste.
The Union Square and Wallack's are noted
for their melodramatic successes, because
nearly all of them have come from these
theaters, and they have the facilities for pro-
ducing this class of plays"
"But, a rule, are not spectacular plays
produced on a grsnder scale here than in
London?"
ayes, because there is more energy and
Gberality displayed in getting them up. L
have been fortunate in having the piece l
control produced first at Wallack's, where
every attention is given to the details and all
bo facta lnnked altar -
"But why is it that we have to go to Eu-
rope for all our spectacular plays? Why can
not they be secured in this country"
"Well, you can answer that question as
well as / can, perhaps. We are young ia the
business We lack constructive ability. 1t is
not lack of energy or enterprise, for We
give these plays all the effect that scenery
can give them, and they are presented with
fine companies.
TAKE wALLACK's AND THE UNION SQUARE.
for instance. Spectacular plays are given
there with everything that good stock
company and elaborate scenery and stage
mechanism can give. These are the only
two tbeaters that have stock companies that
are devoted TO melodrama. Days has a
stock, but no positive policy. His success is
what call the upholstery drama. He
puts up anything that is wanted. He is
able, enterprising manager, but he has no
special groove"
''Wha, do you think of the prospect for
the new dramatic stars"
"Well, il is hard to tell. There are n
number Of them. Marion Elmore, whom l
brought over to this country, is an energetic
and talented little lady, and she ought 10
succeed. So is Pearl Eytinge, who stars for
the first time, but who has fine New York
record, and ought TO win place in the front
rank.
MINNIE MADDERN,
1 think, will be a success if she's managed
right. There are numbers of them, but of
course no one can predict what they will do
with any degree of accuracy. Salvini comes
over again next season and so does Aimee,
who will be under Brooks * Dickson's man
agement. They will also bring over Charles
Wyndham, who has not been here in ten
years"
What is the outlook for comic opera?"
at has about run its course. There is
every prospect, however, ihat Gilbert IL
Sullivan's new opera, The PriRoess F6yy, /
think il il, will meet with success. 1t will
be produced in New York and Philadelphia
in September and DC ober. 1t has the adj
vantage of Gilbert's great ability as a
tibretto writer. That Is one thing that we
lack in this country. We have 10 HJrettO
writers; none who understand the art Of
writing operas. What We want now j. an
opera Of an unpre;enlious character, full OF
melody and with well-written h6reftO, 10
lake the place Oh DuEiesQuGs
THE PEOPLE ARE sUEFErrED wIrII LEGs,
and they don't wan; them in frst-class thea
tiers. Melodrama will be the popular groove
for next season, but that must exhaust Itself
ia time other methods Of amusement have
done. From the following season a iu-
diciousy formed company TO play the stan
dard drama may be the strongest attractions.
Theatricals have taken great strides within
the past few years. The business ia looked
upon in very different light from what it
was some years ago. People DO not have 10
go to a museum now 10 see a theatrical per-
Torrance az they used 10 they 90 direct TO
the thesters. The business has assumed sn
importance that il never before possessed
and is looked uPoh as just as legitimate as
any commercial pursuit"
In speaking Of the enormous expense at
tendsnt upon the production Of spectacular
plays, Mr.. COlville said: "MiciGei .SroyoT
cost me $4,000 before the curtain went up
for its first presentation, and 1 made 90 profit
on it. Tie Wogld cost me $500 10 produc.
and the profit was $4,000. ! paid $1,000
in cash for the manuscript alone Of IGkeH
from Life. There is greet deal a risk TO
run and the profits are not always certain"