New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-08-02
THE BANCROFTS.
NOTES ON THEIR CAREER AS MANAGERS
AND THEIR FAREWELL.

the English stage in their quality OF managers
For long period, first at the Prince OF Waie'
Theatre and atterly at the Haymarkct, thcy nave
held an exceptional position due mainly te theil
own efforts. The Bancrofts have been crehited
with many services to the stage. Mono OF them all
greater than the effort they made toward perfection
of ensemble in tho representation of their pieces
Whoever can look back Fifteen years. or even ten'
is able TO measure the extent OF the road that mas
since been travelled. If tho Bancroffs have NOT
gone all the way, and certainly not all tho way
alone, to them belongs the highest merit OF all
that of having pointed out the path
Tho acting of plays was but n ragged bust
ness when they set themselves to mend
it. A good actor or Internationally good for
the most part--and piece with strong situations
were relied on 10 I'll the house and to satisfy the
public Taste was low and ill-educated; knowi-
edge of the drama limited. traditions strong, and
all idea of reform secuted ms only the true Brton
scout what is howell to him. good or bal. Mr..
Robertson appeared and gave the Bancrofts just the
material they wanted to work with. The Robert
sonian comedy. now voted STALE was then not only
now, but novel. and the little Prince Of Wales
Theatre, IN an out-of-the-way street, owed much OF
its fortune to the author, and perhaps the
whole to the fortunate combination OF
modern life as it presented itself to Robertson was
an unconventional representation the stage OF
what is not conventional ana even commonplace In
actual society. Mr. Lowell has lately been telling
us, with touch of paradox, that the commonplace
is essential to permanent success. With common
place public 1t certainly answers.
What the Bancrofts had TO do was TO educate their
public. They created the demand they were to sat-
isfy. Few people knew what degree of pleasure
WAS TO be got from piece carefully mounted,
thoroughly rohearsed, evenly and smoothly
acted throughout. When they mad discoy-
cred this they straightway impaired the
news to their friends, and the fortune
OF the Bancrofts was made. They have been re-
preached with making concessions TO the taste Tor
upholstery which took possession Of the town In
their time. think the nice furnishing of the stage
preceded the passion for art-dccoration In the
British household. Whether il did or not. the debt
the public owes to the Bancrolts remains the
same, and the reproach has not survived the gen
eral acceptance Of the canons they laid down ana
the imitation of the prac tcc they introduced.
They were not afraid to spend money on piece;
nor did they shrink when told that realism hal no
place on the stage No doubt they sometimes overdid
the matter. More than one piece was oyerbuIdcned
with detail alike III furniture aud in the sort Of
life and nnturaness and movement to the scene.
Tho Rivals at the Haymarket isa conspicuous cx-
ample. The i'll brought its own cure. The public
simply voted il dull and stayed away nor yet did
sheTidan's rcnown suffcr There arc now other
theatres whore the maxllnS Of the Bancrofts have
long been commandments; one whore their instruc-
tons have been bothered; for, on the whole, 10
such stage management that Of the Lycenln
under Mr.. Irving has been known in London.
He had genius Of his own and ideas OF his own,
and his debt u IN the order OF time at least much
as OF ideas. lie wrought. moreover, much higher
drama of "A higher order which offered
vastly more difficulties. But whom all Is slid and
done the Bancrofts must be allowed to have left
mark of their own the English stage which
lapse Of time will obliterate.
Snch an audience az that of Monday night az the
FIaymarket has not often been seen within the
walls of any theatre whatever. IL is not necessary
to copy the long list of celebrities which has ap-
pearcd with a sort Of official guarantee. all class
fed and ticketcd Samples will suffice. Two box
fuls Of royalties 10 begin with. The Prince and
Princess OF Walcs and three Princcsscs. Like their
mother the three Princesses were Ia sky blue The
four filled tho front Of the box they
had filed the front of another the night
before when Patti sang Carmen at the
behind bis daughters. Opposite, in the sagc-box
on the left were the Prince and Princess Christian
accompanied by their friends Mr.. and Mrs Jcune
and Lady Dorothy Neville. In the first two
three rows OF the stalls sat tho Earl aud Countess
Of Granville. the Earl and Countess Of Iddcslcigh.
lnd the bearers Of title newer even than Iddcs-
leigh, Lord and Lady Esher. known till last week
a. the Master OF the Rolls aud Lady Brett. Sir
John Miais by the side Of these last. and just
behind him were SIR Frederick Leighton and Mr..
Browning The presence Of the latter was rs good
an Indication a. anything OF the extraordinary
character Of the evening. Mr. Browning had not
been in the Haymarlct Theatre for nearly forty
years. and tho last actor he there Maoready;
md Kean not long before him. Other famous men
md women there were by the score; some were
many rcal ornaments of society, art,
literature. and the rest
Perhaps the highest of the many compliments to
he Bancrofts was the presence Of so many ds-
lnguished members Of their former companies, and
II not lcss distinguished actors, who were their
colleagues for the first time tonight. The first
yet of Money" which led Of. was cast never
,efore Mr.. Charles Wyndbam. Mr. Arthur Cecil,
Mr. David James aud Mr. Coghlan had parts which
we're not below their level. but Mr. John Clayton
appeared as butler with nothing to say, and Mr.
,ugden was groom OF tno chahDcfh Mrs. Jonn
Wood was the maidservant, two-line part, and
vas obcered as she deserved. Mrs. Langtry
aycd Ceorgina vesey, Mrs, Sterling Lady
franklin, and Miss Ellen Terry her old character
lara Douglas. Ascene from London Assurance" |
oIowed with MIR. Hare. Mr. Terriss. Mr.. Kendall.
fr Pincro, and Mrs. Kendall The latter In her |
ldin e. habit looking as If tho years since she last
layod Lady Gay Spanker had passed too happily to |
ave mark Both these fragments were cast ELL
rely from old members OF Mr.. and Mrs. Bancroft's |
ompanies who had volunteered to take part in tho |
yonderful testimonial offered their former
GERS Some of them had come long distances and |
uspcnded engagements In order to DO present. |
lot bad indication Of the spirit Of oom-