New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-10-11
THEATRICAL FIRST NIGHTS.
ENGLISH AND AMERICAN AUDIEN CES CON-
TRASTED.
CopyrighL 1873;

pieces English first nightcrs n class apart re-
cruited from all classes of the population They
consist of the accredited critics of tho daily ana
weekly press, of dlletantes who are Interested Ill
all artistic novelties of old playgoors who preserve
their early Authorizations Oh the subject OIL the
DANA of the easily moved proetarlat W hitch crowds
the pit and gallery In America there s no plt
and practically no gallery; the fate OF play ~
decided, pro or contra. by the democratic audience
which throngs the paIterre. For this among other
reasons the decision of All American first night Is
usually final. The audience, having HttS OF ho
vested interest in failure, and coming 10
form al independent Judgment closely resembles
an average audience of paying spectators IN
England, on the other hand, it is very dihcult 10
decide. on a first night how an independent
audience will receive q new production. cases arc
on record where an enthusiastic premier has been
followed by disastrous failure AMI other eases
where the failure of n first night has been merely
the misleading prelude to long and prosperous
run Lord Lvttons Junus.' colossal failure
was chccrod to tho echo during its frst representa-
ton. "Thc Private Secretary n phenomenal
success. was heartily and unanimously danne"
when first produced in London.
The modern system of packing the house on first
nights now largely adopted by London managers
renders the Original fiat of the premier still more
misleading When Mr. Wilson Barrett or MI AIoN-
amber Henderson produces play, money ~ grher
ally refused at the doors, and the theatre ~
crowded in every part by n vigorous c'dq"e. lhls
system has been resorted 10 III self-delcnce on
account of the savage methods Of condemnation too
frequently in vogue among dislntcrcste1 hrst-
nightcrs: Int nv own experience is that n London
audience, taken aicdptIpdm from the ordinary
public is not only Just. but generous, to new works
,rhf o-ltt what SDpVPr nave
PRODUCED a number of plays in London, some OK
cccdingy successful others dSmaly the reverse
but have always found tine disposition OF my iirSt
audicn friendly in the extreme, easily warming 10
cuthusa and very slow TO condemn. Nh'r
condemnation does supcrvenc, it Is sharp. decided
and qu tc plticss. There is no mercy for author
manager or artists.
Author batting a pa,time much in vogue on the
other side is quite unknown in America; 1t consists
of an enthusiastic call for the author of diStaSte-
ful piece. followed Immediately on his appearance
10y storm OF Kisses and dcrisiye commentS'
Sometimes the excuse for this cruel amusement lies
less in the play itself than in the authors personal
unpopularty Tor the time being. Qnite recently
Mr. Burnand was loudly called for at the conclusion
# a new burlcsuue: but no sooner had he bcgun to
smile before the curtain than tn" thunIerboIt oi
popular disapprobat fell, so that lie had I" IN IKE
a hasty and iglomuous retreat Mr.. Buruands
recent dc,ivcrau"cS on the subject oil society ana
the stage. published in The fTirWhHy Rer''r ana
commented upon very uufayorably by the English
press were the real cause Of this hostile demon
,tratIon Alternating is also rcSortcl to
occds. oualv 4 favoritc scapcgoat OF London irst-
nIghtrrs lust at present II Mr. g. w. AnSpn' an
admirable comedian, VINO has given offence Oy some
angry remarks al lrrssei To the audience on the
first night OF Rank and Riches dreary faIiure
4 Mr. a
pc lrs now in a new piece hc places the production
IN some jeopardy cutiouS demonstration of dis
approval took place on the occasion of the first rep
rrscntation Of Twelfth Night 'la~t summer at the
I.yccum when Mr.. Irving appeared before the
curtain slb liant sounds pfcdouulted, very uu ia %
the popular actors astouishmcnt. This premier
wa, the asIpn "f suggestive mot hy Nr. oscar
Wilde. " How singular sad somebody after the
performance that Iry.ns snoud br Kissed in hls
own theatre Ncrv.' replied the TSth"t' -" bat
the Kissing .ard me p'cc, This w's perfectly tru'.
I'm 80 far a, Mr. Ir,inEs few words o! protest
against tie uniayorlhle attitude of III" minority
awakened the cuthHs fsn 81 the Irving w"rNhipp'ns
majority. and secured. IN the IA" OF very half
hearted sympathy. highly favorable dnm'lstra-
ton.
There exists in london cIrefullv Organized
baud OF person., called the First-N EAtcrs who are
.clf.o,,titttcl aruitcr, OF dramatic success and
failure. They are chiefly young men ot business
clerks medical Students and hoe Gelas 0a'Re. IhrF
come early 20 the theatre doors. and directly the
doors open SECURE the Gr,t two or three rows OF the
nit where they sit like Rhadamanth applaudng
or conforming as the play proceeds Ny own I'M
press ~. ol.-:-l by nv own experience Is t'a'
,l.,-n gentlemen, though often severe Il" c'hdemna
ton. are practical uubla-c AM - ns to see lHIr
play. Great has been their indignation, on moro
than one OCCASION. when rushing IN TO occupy tH"ir
accustomed seats. to ind the pit already almost
Glled by a cilyuc admitted secretly by the stage
d,or II s among these frst-uigitrrs that ~ found
what Mr. Abbey ou the production OF one OF ms
coined @, at tae Vaudeville Theatre, stgnat.zed as
an opposition On that occasion S'N'rd'
malcont.nts were elected by tho police, and some
thing like a small riot ensucd. As have suggested
have little faith IN a normal existence q" tins >n-
called organized oppo,I,on. but OH some OCCASIONS
no doubt the house isoodcd with very adverse Gle
mcnts When Miss Lolita first appeared IN London
for example she had 10 face an extremely anu
pnthctic audience; the majority were sent Where 10
ensure failure and they seized on every oppor-
tunty 10 express their condemnation. On the o'h'r
hand authors and actors generally ap'ueAt near
ing was present in the PIT Of the Globe theatre
on the first night Of the poet-laurcdtcs lll-iat'd
drama The Promise of Nav and can vonch ior
the fact that nothing could exceed tho respect Pi
at first to n production coming from source 80 dlS
tinpulshed Every point, however shght, was
rapturously appaudcd the leading artistrs' popn-
lar rayortes, each received AN ovation Eut as the
play wore on and the hopclcssncSs OF the wnole
"a; 'no,,nn ,nn,rcnt the temper OF the spectators
Lrran TO change. The greatness OF the auihnr was
forgotten in the quccrncss OF some OF the aangne'
and the absurdity of several oil inc AiIui' loI7;
Hi,art tbo middle of the second act. the giving
LcvoI from that moment forward every OCCASION
for ridicuc was eagerly seized aud tic result aU is'
was romnlctr and srathing condemnation. ~,
lar di0crcut is the case here IN America. low
ever bad or unpopular play may be- : he audience
dnc4 not gny.' Dr hiss. or IN any aUdIoio way ~
,r.ss itS d,sapprovaI. II the piece Is h0reicssIy
teLinus the house quietly emptcS itscli long he"o
The conclusion Even III the event of great sue.