Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-11-14
New Tragedies,
"Why doesn't Mccullough produce
ONE new plays2"

"Why doesn't Mccullough produce
some new plsys?"
For two reasons" replied Mr.. Price,
the tragedlan business agent. First,
he doesn't need them, second, he has
not found anything that thoroughly
lustifes the rIsk. The number of plays
submitted to him is almost Incredible.
Two of your Detroit dramatists have
thought they could fit bim, hut they
don't seem to have taken the night
measure, although each play was Of
more than ordinary merit. Why, with
IN the past two months Mccullough has
read eight tragedies written expressly
for him, and there were scor s before
them. 'Memnon. by young Carleton,
of Chicago, read so well that Mr.. Nc
Cullough made conditional payment
on it; but the piece Is largely spec
tacular, ana will require thousands of
dollars to mount 1t; so the risk seems
hardly iustifable. OF all the plays
submitted within the past year the one
deserving the most serious consldera-
ton is Timayensis' tragedy, The Wife
of Miletus, founded upon one of the
erotics of Parthenius. The chief male
characters Is Hervor, chief of the Gauls,
and the heroine is silva, wife OF Con-
STAINS. The play Is unquesuonably great
in purely literary sense, and seems to
be intensely dramatic. But the ques-
ton is, will it act well?"
What is the theme?'
''The two leading principles embodied
In the leading roles, are the ideal or
spiritual, and the realistic or natural.
Heryor presents the highest standard
of morality, aided by the spiritual or
religious-the principle of manhood,
honor, fidelity to the law of the splritu-
al. S.va Is tine poetic incorporation OF
the unc.nscjous, instructive, and, there
fore. fatalistic nature of woman.
Rather over the heads of the average
play-goers, isn't it?'
Il confess 1 am afraid so. Daniel
Rochat, produced at the Union Square
by Thorne and Jewett, was beyond the
comprehension of the masses. The
new tragedy, however, seems to be
pregnant with dram itic action, and that
may save it.
"Who is the author7"
"a Greek named Prof. Timayensis,
of Brooklyn. who has been engaged in
literary pursuits In this country for ten
years. He has contributed nearly two
hundred articles to Appleton's Encyclc-
pedia, and his works on Greek htera-
ture have passed through several
editions. He is dull, heavy, gross
looking man, and resembles butcher
more than literary character. Ii MIR.
Mccullough coHld be convinced that
the tragedy would act well think he
would give it tlIal."
Cannot that be determined?"
''By nothing less than actual repre-
sentation. Before Mccullough pro-
duced Wingtield's 'Bondman' he was in
love with 1t, but it proved hat failure.
In less than aweek the receipts dropped
off TO S400. Conrad's old tragedy,
Jack Cade, was substituted at twenty
four hours notice to a S1.2O0 house.
That doesn't look as If the puolIc want
ed new tragedies"
"Then Mccullough is satisfied with
the old repertoire?
Rather say the public is satisfied
with 1t. They prefer him III the stand
ard plays like 'Virginus, and The
Gladiator, but l suppose he has very
laudable and natural desire to contrib
butte something to the advancement of
dramatic literature. and TO produce
something that will 1--we after him, as
Jack Glade and The Gladiator have
lived after Forrest, Noi The public
will go to see Mr.. Mccullough in the
old plays. He plays to the capacity of
every theatre he visits. / think you
will have a practical illustration of the
public's preference next week.