New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-30
THE ACTORS OF THE FUTURE.
WILL THERE RE MORE STOCK cO,fPANT

Will. THERE Re MORE STOCK COMPANIESn
The death Of John Gilbert has naturally called up
many thoughts about the almost complete disappear.
of style Of acting in which he and his great
comic predecessors exccled With him Las passed
away tho last OF long line OF Sir Peter Teazes. Lord
ogebys, Lord Dubcrlys and many other famous char.
acters which have delighted several generations OF
playgoers 1t IS extremely improbable that New
York audiences VIII for many years at least have an
opportunity OF seeing the school for Scandal and tho
few other cd comedies which he'd tho stage TILL tha
time OF the breaking up Of the walack Company; and
II these should be revived, tho acting cannot We'll
be true to the manner Of the period represented his
manner had come Mr. Gilbert through his own
observation and unbrokcn sequence OF actors WHO
cherished and observed all the traditions that had
accumulated round the parts and who occasionally
venturei on making some slight additions. IL was
this truth in the portrayal 0. the bearing OF our
ancestors that made much OF the value OF the old
comedies7 We saw item move before us In q way
which not only interesting and picturesque In
Itself. but which lIumncd and made clear many
page OF history and brought homo 10 US closer than
ever the lives Of some heroes and hcro.ncs Of great
novels. The old comedies played iI modern styls
by young actors are not amusing and certainly NOS
instructive. We may be said to have practically oa
them farewell, although Mr. DAILY Will probably. so
long as he Is able Mrs Gilbert and Mr. Fisher,
occasionally revive one Of the lighter kind Eut Mr.
Fisher, excellent actor he undoubtedly Is. has NOT
the vlrle force necessary for sir Peter. Sir Anthony
and kindred parts. Nor should It be forgotten that
Joseph Jefferson still plays I" Tho Rivals
Mr. Gilbert was not only our greatest actor Of old
man parts but no the most distinguished represent
ativc Of the stock company system, under which alone
Is II possible make great players. With the dsband-
Ing for time only It Is 10 be hoped Of Mr.. Harrgans
company tho theatres in this city playing "s,ocks'
will DO limited thrre. Palmer's, Days and Froe-
mans. Even these have, however. almost ceased To
possess value training schools. two plays
each OF these manaccrp theatres suffice 10 Ill tho
season In the five years that Mr. Pamer has directed
The Madison Square Theatre. thrcc PLAYS The Private
secretary" 4" Jim the PcnmaD' and Captain Swift
have occupied three seasons Naturally the younger
members OF these compares do not show much sim
OF Improvement IN their art and II would be easy to
point out several who ono time exhibited promise!
bur havc rather rc'rogradrd than advanced. After
playing the same character for moro than fifty nights
Il s almost impossible avoid lapsnS into spiritless
and mechanical manner.
Ono Of the most experienced OF the men eonnected
with the stage and whose position offers him
peculiar advantages for knowing the business done By!
and the intentions OF. travelling and out ot-town
managers, said a few DAYS aro al think there is =
chang in the air but should n take form Il will do s
very gradually. Now. comparatively few people ara
that for year there has been good stock CON-
parry IN ST. Pau. and 'ke business was generally m.
munrraivc. The season lasted fifty weeks and a d.
fcrrnt play donc each week There was a chance
for work and experience that OF aculabe valus
TO Young artists This company viii be kept up next
s"a>bn; in fat specially engaged company IA plsyi
Ing there this summer This 81. Paul business may
prove the thin end OF the wedge, and think there
evidence that Il WILL
Look at Chicago this summer Tho Chicago Opera
House management has again presented spectacleI
written for that house. and said to be put upon the
stage with splcrdOr that has rsr-B been eNc"llei
A McNtcker's
tDgcthcr as good cast he could secure for pro-
ducton Of Tho Tempest At tho Grand Opera
House, Manager Hamlin engaged q strong company
10 play mriodrama Tho SPIDERS web,' written
BY his and Paul Potter. There seems TO be no
adequate why stock company could not be
made to pay as VOL in Chicago and Philadelphia as II
docs IN Boston, az the Museum. The manag"r must,
OF course be ot taste experience and skill No
ordinary country manager, who lets hts theatre 10
combinations and is rally little more than ian!tnr
would b" fitted FOR snch task The principal dfi
Guilty would be- in securing good new plays. bat thu
American dran'l',t wouh have moro chances aud
would soon Improve with opportunity. You can no
rrorO expect \ 10 bec"n" q draniatist w1thoua
actual rrart!cr Of his work the stag" than you can
expect man to become actor who hasn't tho chares
10 act
some Of The best managers are likely tn be driven
into the stock experiment By the far thar there arc
Tot enough good combinations To make seasons re-
muncratvc I'm cities where there IS much compe'ihon.
Now Chicago Is overloaded with theatres, yet nearly
ever season new one (, built The result IS that In
tie CoEpctton secure attractions, managers are lei
TO ulcr such >harIns &. NJ that even II the business
,rouo should rrYc very large. their percentage WI
.u,t cover expenses Last year several combinations
w. ellCu - ~ p'r cent Of The grOeS' "hch III
| 49, lous years w.,d hs,,c been content Win ~.
Thea, SaaIWCh>t IN tween H. - goa auacHeas
I.u>t CJGlc some Of Inferior mc.h. On WEIGH mo
a!."ao knows he must !"se. bat Is c"m"E'd 10
, ~. A. ~ nor 4,
Phna Glihla AID Boston have each five hrsclass
tlclr,,. Now. with a OF forty weeks and
Surprising that each cont iHa,ioa .la$S two weeks.
which 1, mJrc than the average. It follows that 100
Stars and cunbinauo", Will ~ ncrG'd for the season.
~ - a.e n9wh:1e mar 100 ATTRACTIONS t,1t can be
lv great dead nearer n" mark.
" iAS way In Which cite Il les population could
lr,wrcu msuasosS Manag IN PIT burg, tOua.buA
/ f. innau and Indianapolis nigh, arrange to haye
In each city and would be sen only once In two
rnuti>. RaNHg, therefore almost all the novelty Of
s,Ck could bc Gile,l in III, ordinary way with The
bc, Of Inc travelling companies. But on tho We rs
have to ssre their profits Win any ou" TScr, are
many ctks lying within easy distance, Of each ohoc
u, cot for rayc! would 10 small Cio.e round
NSwfoIh 1t could b? readily worhed IN bDoklyn.
""urn r,mpam,S would a'onl tho chance Of our
t:2I?!Hg w cLcicnt 'al-round' sc;or, II some
yca'9 the be sood, young looking .leSftrg man
In tie country. No one who has not constantly. IL
ION 'y>'G Is rafn!nc them orl few day, ago
! ni'l 3" mag c"mlon for combination which
have liked sa'l ihey didn't caro- about The trouble
Of leaning Two parts. They preferred 10 be iu
s$cni becoe sS5rai we nav mc up our r' n SHs
sS a &S haze TO S"''' better '' our eAds'