St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-12-06
DRAMATIC REFORM.

DRAM AIlC REEORM.
To the Editor of the Globe:
If it be true, as the GLOBE asserts, that the
people of St. Paul possess a fine dramatic
taste, will you explain why an actor of Tom
KEENE's merit did not have better houses
during his last weeks engagement at the
Grand? THEATER GOER.
St. Paul, Dec. 4.
The GLOBE was not aware that Mr..
KEENE had any reason to complain of the
attendance during his recent engagement.
Coming Immediately after the Boston Ideals
it would have to be an actor OF most extra
ordinary merit who could awaken keen
relish for dramatic entertainment in COM
munity whose appetite for good opera had
been so fully satiated. But if Mr.. KEENE
has ground for complaint he has no one to
blame but himself. His merit as an actor
is recognized by the American peo-
pie and his effort to elevate the
drama is duly appreciated. The trouble
with KEENE is the same that exists with
other stars. In his desire to give promi-
nence to his own individuality he makes the
mistake of surrounding himself with mis-
erably poor support. Jealousy is a singu-
lar weakness of actors. LAWRENCE BAR
RETT quarreled with his leading support,
because the public sometimes showered
more applause upon JAMES than upon
BARRETT. The public has no patience
with these peculiar weaknesses of dramatic
stars. When they go to see play they
want to see the best, not of one part only,
but of all the parts. HENRY lRVING's
success in this country was largely due to
Miss TERRY's support. LAWRENCE BAR
RETT's popularity was never diminished by
Mr.. JAMES talent. 1t is an objectionable
error which actors make when they suppose
they advance their own fame by acting
their part well, while the other parts of the
play are butchered.
If there is any abatement among the st.
Paul people in the interest in theatrical
amusements there must be a cause for it,
The trouble is not with the opera house,
for a more comfortable theater canIfot be
found in the country. Nor is the trouble
with the management, for that has always
been all that theater goers could ask. In
fact the management has succeeded SO far
this season in presenting a series of attrac-
tons of extraordinary merit, for which it
deserves the gratitude of the public. Nor do
we think that the manager complains of
want of appreciation on the part of the people
of the city. He is satisfied as well as the peO-
pie. But leaving our local affairs entirely out
of sight for the present and entering into a
discussion of theatrical amusementS in gen.
eral, we observe that throughout the cOun-
try there is general complaint among
theater managers that the interest in the
atrical amuSements has been steadily
waning for several years. They say that
in all the principal cities of the country the
audiences that patronize theatrical COM
panies are small, and dramatic affairs are
IN bad shape generally. In some instances
the growth of the museums is cited as the
cause. But it is observed that the same
general apathy and diminution of
interest is found in cities where
the museums have not yet been
established So there must be another
cause for it. Our own opinion is that inter-
est in theatrical amusements will continue
to wane until the demands of public taste
are complied with. The whole difficulty
lies in the character of the amusements that
appeal to the public for patronage. There
is a sound and wholesome appreciation of
dramatic art among the people which is not
pleased with the exhibitions of maudlin
theatricals given by the Bohemian companies
travelling over the country. The American
drama is not in a condition Of decay, but
is only going through transition
PERIOD which theater managers will
sooner or later be brought to realize.
1t is probable that all the theater managers
in the larger cities will have to do just as
Manager BIDwELL of the st. Charles theater
in New Orleans is now doing, gather to-
gether good stock company for the pur-
pose of atfording the people of each city
taste of legitimate drama. Mr.. BID
WELLS company is headed by such actors
as BARTON HILL, JOSEPH WHEELoCK
MARY WAINWRIGHT, and is made up of
actors who know something of their art
and have a definite ambition in fitting them
selves for the part they play. His expert
ment is greeted by immense audiences and
he has. at least partially, solved the dra-
matte problem.