National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-01-31
DRAMATIC FEUILLEToN.

we regard Australia or South America come
here only to garner in our easy shekels, take
them with compacent condcscenson, think
anything good enough to give MS in return,
and having gathered up all they can, HE them
home with shuddoring haste to tell of Ameri
can gullibility and vulgsrity. This, say
many foreign actors do, but tho English do II
with apeculiar air ofinsolOnt sclfrighteousness
that beggars description and challenges credu.
lily / am not so unreasonable as TO ask them
to prefer this country to their own nor do
complain OF their carrying on our mnted
eagles. What | object to is the assumption
that anything is good enough for Americans II
II only bears British or foreign trade mark and
the all.you. are good. for.any how.is to.bc blod
air with which they shake the dust from their
feet on leaving these shores. OF this species
of foreigner we had many eliminating In oscar
Wilde, who had absolutely nothing to give in
return for the money he charged for admission
to his vapid lectures" Wilde was the cumi.
nation but not the end OF this distressing af
Fiction, for since his shameless tour we have
had other Englishmen, and women too, here
with little to offer but with unboundcd trust
in American simplicity.
a#s
For tho sins Of this species Of shameless cat
te actors Of real merit have had TO suffer
through the prejudice which sprung up
against the whole tribe Of porcgrinatlng for.
eigners. Tho critics, especially, came to feel II
incumbent on them 10 find all possible fault
with foreign actors and actresses Tothisfecling
In great measure has been due the unfrlendly
comments which Mr.. lryngs representa-
tions continue to draw forth from few bitter
theatrical writer's in different parts of the
country.
Now, 1 think If ever foreign dramatic
troupe deserved well of the American public,
It is this one of Irviug's. They earn all they
make and in the management of the organiza-
ton there is none of that disposition to hog
all they get so frequently shown, even in the
most successful companies. lftheir prices are
high and their receipts large the original out
| lay and the current expenses are in proper
ton. Mr.. Irvings representations of the great
| dramas which he undertakes, If they are not
perfect, are so nearly so us to disarm just criti
csn aud to produce an effect of all-round
comfort in witnessing them which has assur-
eddy never before been attained by any troupe
during the present generation. There is no
use trying to settle the veNed question as TO
whether or not Mr.. Irving is great actor or
artist. That he does not possess the supreme
graces presence, movcment,and voice which
distinguish salvin is plain to all observers,
but he does possess keen intelligence and vast
experience, and the masterful bearing in all
situations which comes of the latter.
-
| The numerous self.consttuted theatrical re-
firing boards which sit steadily in nearly
every dramatic newspaper office in the coun'
try, have been unusually active the present
season. Had they means Of enforcing the
edicts promulgated by them since tho theatre
cal new year, the American stage next season
would be a bowling wilderness OF ham'fat,
histrionlc verdure mediocrity and general
incompetence. Booth, Modjeska Lolita, Mag
gle Mitchell, and the few others who would
save our stage were 1t condemned to share the
fate of sodom and Gomorrah Of old, have been
marked by these people for retirement at the
end OF the season, but happily in every case
It transpiros they have spoken without au-
thority The three first named are making
preparations for unusually brisk campaigns
next year; and have 1t on the best authority
that Miss Mitchell has no thought Of vacating
the place on the stage which for go many
years she has filed and which were she gone
must remain empty for years, If not forever.
Her retirement would be felt as O personal
loss In thousands of families all over the
country, for no other actor or actress on our
stage, with the possible exception of Jefferson,
has become 80 endearcd TO the hearts OF the
people.
-
good tory comes TO mo OF the friendship
existing between Sara Bernhard and Fanny
Davenport-the two "Fedoras" Sara is an
ardent admirer of Fanny and was tho recipi.
Ont OF many courtesies from tho American
actress while in this country. When Sardou
was In hesitancy rs to whom he should give
the American rights to Fedora" Bernhard
wrote to him, "lf you want your American
production to combine all the elements Of al
artistic and financial success, let Miss Daven
port have IT," When Bornhardt met Mis-
Davenport in Paris the French actress spok
in cordial remembrance OF Miss Davenport
tour three years ago. made in honorable rival
ny to Bernhard, and reverted tendcrly to tn
compliment which Miss Davenport paid he
one evening in Detroit They had both jus
closed weeks engagement against each Other
which was remarkable for the fervent ma
tional pride which had been engendered.
band OF enthusiastic Detroiters were sercnad
ing the American actress; they had Just fin
ished yankee Doodle" when Miss Davenport
called from her window, Don't forget you
neighbor CBernhardt), stranger. Please Civ
us now the "Marseillaise." At this request tn
crowd cheered and cried, Good that
} noble |" but the band hesitated, for the Frenc
national air was not in their serenading rC
petoIre. Miss Davenport, however, insiste
saying "Never mind your music go OH 9
= on !" and when the cornet struck the key mote
she stood up In her window and beat timo 70
the serenaders all through that martial hymn
-
Proofs accumulate of the morbid sensitive
ness of our local management, to which
alluded recently. My remarks regarding tn
undeniable tendency of the popular incline
ton towards the cheaper places Of amust
ment were not well received by the chiefs {
the higher houses. Somehow they got tn
idea into their heads that the moral II
= tended to be drawn was that the legitimat
" thcaters would have to come down to NEE
< the prices charged at the variety halls. Moth
u ing OF the kind was IN my head at the tim,
a although now can see such deduction Nigh
a be got from the facts Cited What
D pointed out was that the legitimate manager
by pandering systematically and stupidity
J. the lower tastes of the people, instead Of el
J. deaVoring to refine and elevate them, had
Q thoroughly vitiated their dramatic appetit,
Q that they rather preferred variety performance
u 10 anything else, and sought out the variei
people IN their native haunls, at small ei
/ pense, In preference to paying high prices
Q see them in the legitimate theaters.
! reasonable person can expect to wi
4 ness really neritorious dramatl
D or operate performance for
u dime, nor even for quartz
. any more than they would expect to get sue
y a dinner as Chamberlin or Welcher can furnli
!, at 25.cent hash house do lament the IA
=, that the legitimate stage is TOO frequently o
y cupied by variety performances, think the
Is should bc relegated 10 the museums, and thu
only plays of high order should be presente
y at first class theaIers.
!, In this connection, next week We are
:, have two fine companies from which to selo
Il our amusement OF Mr. lrying's we'll balance
) company and magnificent management
o have already spoken. / am told that Mi
!. Davenport is following the example set by Il
| a 4, ,rls,lI aY l,It,