New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-20
THE STAGE IN EUROPE.
MR.. SARGENT'S VIEWS OF THE TENDEN
CIEs OF DRAMATIC ART.
WORK OF "REAL1srs AND OF AMATEURS

4
interest In the classics has Just retained from novel
| trip abroad. A reporter for The Tribune obtained
from him the following account Of unique journey IN
search OF methods and ideals in dramatic art
al sailed for Paris" said Mr.. Sargent, early In
May, and after visiting the larger cities Of Europe,
started for Athens, via Constantnople Ny stay w
Athens short, and was able on the return trip
to pass hurriedly through Naples. Rome. Florence
| Milan, Genoa, Barcelona, saragossa and Madrid.
SThe object Of this trip was somewhat unusual. IL
was to obtain comparative view Of the stage, the
present methods OF producing actingplays to survey
I'm fact the whole field Of drametic work In Europc.
was not IN search OF adventures but the trip was not
without its incidents. Ny mother. Mrs. Sargent was
taken for the Queen OF Scrvia who. having been ex-
lied from her d0mnons, suspected Of cesirc TO
return to them incogno. She had considerable dru-
Guilty IN explaining TO the conductor OF the fast ex
press, which wes conveying Us 20 Constantinope ana
couple Of gendarcs, that she not that supposed
llustrious parsonage. As for myself, the refusal 70
comply with the exorbitant demands Of Turkish
courier led TO my being confined to boat which would
have dropped me of Morocco instead Of Athens lad
not fortunately discovered the mistake In time With
the exception Of these episodes, my journey was one
Of quiet observation in my peculiar branch OF artistic
work.
Mr.. Sargent was then invited To sum up the total
Of his impressions with regard % tho stage OF Europe
Briefly" he sald 81 might state as a general con-
clusion that the tendency OF dramatic art Is In TWO
fold drecton-tOward moro honesty, sincerity ana
realism in methods OF production and higher plane OF
thought with regard to the subject matter In other
words / must candldy admit that In the struggle Do
tween Romanticsm and Realism, lola and his disciples
have rs yet the best OF IT, But make this Important
qualification. BY virtue OF the operations which these
surgeons of the drama have been inhcting upon the
STAGE the health of the patient has been improved
"wlth naturallsm In art has come thirst for the
better and purer Indeed the fanatics OF realism have
more adapted to the representation of what Is noOe
than that which Is base. But this transitional period
Is a trying time for most theatrical managers. The
independent theatres have stolen their thunder-and
might add their fire. The incident no longer paws nor
does the common place. The most successful play in
Europe to-day Is that idyl Of Alsatian life LAM
Fritz"
"But, Mr. Sargent do the Independent theatres paw
"Without an exception. The Theatre Libre Of Paris
has made large earnings for number Of years with
constantly increasing subscription. The purchasing
value of subscribers ticket may BE- appreciated from
the fact that paid 80 for seat which cost the owner
80 But besides the organization headed by NJ Antoine,
there are four other independent theatres in Paris. all
making money. In these last cases singular thng
Is that the managers Of the regular theatres willingly
lend their artists to the managers OF the Independents
theatres and this l take TO be an evidence OF their
consciousness that there Is mighty literary movements
abroad which Is revoutionzng the stage and Of which
they are carefully taking note But the contrast Is
stnkng-the subsidized official homes OF the drama In
Paris are neglected and the tents OF the Isnmaetes
thronged to overlooking. This contrast is TO be met
with i'm more less degree In other cities or Europe
The independent theatre in London is successful inc
Freie Buhne in Berlin IL eminently and as for the
Auf den Neugeshichte Theatre OF Munlch-here are
produced the plays of Shakespeare under the same con-
dltlons attended the performance OF ms plays IN inc
days Of good Queen Bess; scenery. costumes nor
accessories are allowed and tho proscenium Is that OF
Bac1friars and not that OF Theatre Francois or La
Scala Whatever may be thought of these performances
now and in spite OF what Ind been predicted, the
weekly performances OF this theatre are so crowded
that only initiates get seat. To these strictly
ndependent theatres could add long list OF regunr
theatrical organizations which have yielded 10 the wave
OF realism which is sweeping Europe notably such as
the Gartner Patz of Munich which though not techni-
ca1v independent is virtually In its choice OF plays
and in its method Of producing them Again must re-
mind yo however, that the most Significant note OF
this movement is the dehverance OF the author ron
the tyranny of the banking side Of theatrical prOducton
Originality IS longer at discount, although Toistoi
and along with him many another great name mas been
compelled 10 seek refuge the boards OF the Theatre
Iibre OF Paris because the boards OF inc pg'llAr
theatres are closed to HIM In the interests OF freedom
II would appear even the frivolous Parsans are Wiling
TO endure the dramatic sermons OF the ua'oVu Aoi'''
"IIow about Athcns!"
aWellp said Mr. Sargent with q SMILE "even
Athens is stirred up. Athens, you know up to few
wears ago. had sunk, artistically 10 the plane Oh
foithrate French city, Even to-day the cafe chahtaht
is tho rcgnng type Of dramatic resort However, te
independent theatre idea has found lodgment even
here and presents curious compromise between tiie
classic ideals of the past. ye nigh buried In the
tawdrness and obscenty of the French variety stage
and that drama of realism expressing the promise Of
the newer time.
al had the pleasure of making the very pleasant
ACQUAINTANCE of Demctrus Koromelas, the best ana
principal actor and the leading playwright OF
his county, author OF great number Of plays, writ
ten. of course in Greek. / have in my collection OF
plays thirty from the hand of this gentleman with iuu
authority to produce them. KOromelas Is the leahor
of an Independent theatre organization tho only ono
that con be called stock company. In our SENSE III
Athens This organization is carried on In the same
way that an amateur association is here in New-iork
The repertOry runs all the way HOm "n0io"' Viva
plays TO modern farce.
However so great has been the success OF this com
pany Of players that II has been made the basis oil
national theatre state, upon the authority OF
the secretary OF the Athensn Parliament, NJ. Souzo
a ssb a. chair ds now died b H. jules cSSe q
the Theatre Fralcas TINT the King OF Giee9e naI
utilize tho enerprsng spirit Of ". Koromelas and mis-
associates NJ Kocomea3 BY the N way ,G Is purely an
wealthy gentleman OF Athens and proprietor 0t the
principal hotel Curousy enough all these geasemea
the representations IN this country OF the Greek plays
produced under my direction or advice notaoy uss
Of BOSTON and Ncw-Haven. They had also heard Of
nv prodncfon of Electra In fact that IS the ex-
rent of their information about America iorgavo
them this Injustice 10 my country the more readily
icCnnse had lost my letters OF Introduction, aud was
onIv aba 10 make them good by the free masonry Of
common interest In the slime subject: In fact was
invited TO produce Greek play IN Athens according 70
NV ideas ~ cassc methods Mr.. sargent said Mr..
Soltzo sst,y in Athens-we Will teach you Greek and
Won shall teach acting
gentl" -. .... 49,, ..ooro ,rc,o,oo.
which ave affecting modern thought all the world over.
cspecaIly as they have already made themselves felt
in the novel OF the day, as written BY Mr. Howells
and IIsnrv lanes Both these writers considered
resrstic abroad OF course. the Athenian style has
tbus far fairly well resisted the encrOachment OF
NatnraIjsm as IL is technically called by the French
sti American managers are perfectly well aware that
tbey are passing through transition period, and 10
nens te me that they are outstanding their resources.
Watching for the signs OF the times and waiting for