New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-10
A. M. PALMER's PLANS.
SCARCITY OF GOOD AMERICAN PLAYS.
WHAT WILL BE DONE AT PALMER's AND THE
MADISON SQUARE.

WHAT WILL BE DONE AT PALMER's AND THE
MADISON SQUARE.
Mr. Palner's private Office al the Madison squsfo
Theatre is gradually becoming extensive picture
gallery, and the well-known tasto OF the manager,
which has been often displayed In stage-seungs,
Is equally evident IN his personal surroundings. His
secretary is nearly always seated in Of the
room, working at the record OF Mr. Palmers direction
Of the Union and Madison Square Theatres. This mas
ALREADY filled ten enormous volumes, and VIII form
valuable addition to tho history Of the American
stage during the last twenty years. Eventually the
volume win become the property Of some corporate
body probably either the Players Club the Actors
Fund.
When reporter saw Mr.. Palmer yesterday he had
just finished making arrangements with STAGE
manager for new production. I going" he
said, " to give special matinee of a new play by
William Gillette some time next month. am not at
liberty to tell the name yet. but the piece will be
presented by my own company, and cast as strongly
as possible. 1t will, / think, prove particularly
Interesting occasion. AS for other matinee novel
ties, do not way clearly 1t IS possible that
play entitled Honor Bright which has boon before
announced, may DO given but not by my company
" Then presume there is less promising native
material than usual this season.
" am sorry to say that IL there are any and good
American plays they have not come my way lately
No doubt some of the older dramatIsts or vould-bs
UIdu@iStS udNo DcCOno discouraged, out tno only
hope for them Is perseverance and the Improvements
that comes with practice and study Of good models
The great trouble with the majority Of tho plays sub
mitted Is that they lack definite purpose. There
is no backbone Of interest. When the authors sit
down to write, their pens seem TO run away with
them. Then too, not surprised that authors
seem to be uncertain when public taste u.s. If not in
q generally lowered, at least In remarkably I'M
certain condition. go TO the theatres and am
prised at what I see accepted entertainments.
Even as reflex Of the manners Of today, many Of
tho so-called society plays astonishing suppose
hfty years hence people read some Of these plays
what VIII they think OF the behavior Of their grand
fathers and grandmothers In fashionable drawing
roomsf Imagine that the craze for farce comedy
is at tho bottom OF the extravaganza, impossfbity
and vulgany TO be seen in much OF comedy which
aims to DO OF higher order. Authors think that
the public Is so used to- the knock down and drag OUT
that anything quietly humorous quantity char
acterdsto will not take. Nor 1 surprised at the
extreme caution of managers Of stock companies 10
producing new native plays. The judgment of the
managers Is probably good 1t ever was, so far
as the literary and structural merits Of play
so. Judgment is an absolute quantity and it
is good or bad. But 1 said before, We seem to
be in period Of uncertainty and change not only 10
dramatic matters, but in business and social rela-
hcns. Now the law IS supposed TO be somewhat
clearly defined collection Of rules and axioms. but
. very eminent lawyer said TO me few days ago: Il
what the law IS In this State. try IN court and
get verdict Then It is taken to the General Term
and the decision IS reversed Then perhaps, the Court
OF Appeals changes this again. Never has there been
time when there was 50 many varying and contra
dictory decisions
"What your plans for the summer and next
son, DIR Palmerf"
any company will play here till May s. and then go
to Boston to the Park Theatre probably for four weeks
Will ragf I a. not ale t0ur
this year. but instead shall open my regular here
much earlier than usual probably in the latter part Of
September This wiz entail greater number Of pro-
auctions than customary, aud plays being written
for me by Buchanan. Sims and Petit, and Chambers.
the author OF Captain swift That play viii be sent
on the road season, not far California.
have had several good offers 90 West this summer,
but as both Mr. Daily and Mr. Frohman take their conf
panes, l Will wait another year and keep Captain
/ Swift TIN thenp
at has been reported that you would give up this
| theatre and devote yourself entirely 70 PslmersF
here viii remain practically the SAME have no con
tracts with one, but don't fancy many arc anxious
to leave, and quite content 70 have them stay
The only addition have far made is Edward Bell,
| Who will share tho Juvenile business
| as It true that Little Lord Faun1eroy VIII DO
| played here during the sunmerP "a.
aNo such arrangement has been entered into.
Several applications have been made 70 rent the INC
atre, but nothing has been decided
"What are tho plans for Palmer.sP 80
Harry Ice has the house for the week OF Merch
tor The Cavalier by Dennery, which he brought out
last summer in Chicago once interested 10 that
piece but the present venture is purely Mr., Lees
! Understand he has already engaged Tom Wnlnen,
! Dorothy Dorr and Minnie Selgman. ON Mareh ~
Colonei McCauu will begin his long season. which Will
iast till October g. After that salvni viii appear tor
three weeks The great italian viii be under ny man
ssement FOR a tour OF twenty weeks, and shan en-
deayor 10 surround him with really remarkaDIe COIL
Many An which the younger Savinl VIII proDaniy DC
Included Following tho tragedian at Paimers WIN WIN
come Charles Wyndhsm for six weeks, ana then VIII
| come what may term my own real occupancy OF inc
| house / shall mark IL by something now, what,
don't know yet but certainly the best thing can se''