The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-03-09

cita,
NEW YORK, Feb. 1.-THE latest fare,
comedy has found its show case at Mr.
Days Il is called H1Iove in Tandem, >
an inexplicable title Mr.. Daily has takel
the material from the French, and in do
| ing so had to deodorize it. The disinfect
ant is provided in the dialogue The piece
does nothing more than furnish an anus
ing skit at the disagreements of young
I married people. It is an inexhaustiblc
theme with the French writers, who al
most iways'snpFoach the subject in the
spirit OF the dramatists of the Restora-
ton, which OF course will not do for Broad
way. for singular as it may be, the Puritan
spirit still exercises strong influence on
this Partisan promenade.
In this piece of Love in Tandem" the
young couple quarrel after awhile and
agree to separate, but before doing so and
obtaining divorce, the young wife has a
spasm of the self sacrificing sort, and con-
ceives it to be her duty to look out for an
other companion for her husband who will
make him happy. 1t is her endeavor to
| find somebody for him who will love him
| for himself alone that furnishes the alb
surdity of the piece and limits it to farce.
The literal American wonders how these
| people, who are living in New York, arc
going to obtain the divorce under the laws
of this state Mr. Daily forgot to provide
| for that when he Americanized the piece.
As soon as the wife discovers somebody
who will make him a good wife she be-
comes jealous of her, and then the couple
agree to make up and not separate.
The reception of this rather diaphanous
play by the press was apologize. When
ever Mr.. DAILY produces farce that is I'M
worthy, there is one redeeming clause in it
and that is Rehan. Upon Rehan criticism
focused itself powerfully. 1t should be
said, however. that Love in Tandem"
produced scarcely ripple upon the placid
pool of theatrical matters. There was
nothing to provoke discussion and nothing
even to object to.
During the week the swell little uptown
theater known as the Berkeley lyceum
passed into the hands of Mr.. Franklin Fl.
Sargent. This is the first public intima-
ton of a movement for the organization of
an Independent theater that has been in
progress for some time.
Mr.. Sargent is the well known Lyceum
teacher who has done so much to encourage
and devevelop a taste for true dramatic
art here. He has now behind him an or
ganization of artists and literary men who
purpose to make the independent theater
a vehicle for production of plays which
shall not appeal to the vulgarity, the pref
udices or the love of sensation of the pub
lie. Their theory is that enough people
can be secured as subscribers to support
one small theater on basis of literary and
true intrinsic dramatic merit.
There are in New York twenty-five
theatres. The average attendance at each
house is about 700 people. Of these
437 500 people who make up the weeks
attendance at the playhouse, it il esti-
mated that two-thirds are furnished by
the hotels, the bachelor quarters and the
cheap lodging houses. They go to the
theater purely and simply for diversion,
and the more startling or snowy it is the
better they are pleased. The result of this
frivolous majority is seen in the managers
bias in their favor They control the sue
cess of piece, except in Mr.. Days case
perhaps. They impart out of their desires
the tone to the plays, and they prevent
such plays as Judah" Alabama" and
"Thermidor" from becoming as popular as
the wholly vulgar hilarity of blue Jeans"
or the acrobatic glitter of 1.-The Lion
Tanner"
A protest against this condition of affairs
has been growing up for some time. There
has been felt by intelligent lovers of seri-
Gus dramatic work a need for a theater
that will be uninfiuenced by the caprices
and moods of the mob.
There is here a group of literary men
who have both the ability and the desire
to write plays but they are indisposed to
write them down to the catchpenny level
which is a prime condition of acceptance
with the manager Mr.. Howells has
shown a remarkable cleverness at farce
writing, but the cleverness and sprightli-
ness of his farces would not carry very far
with an audience accustomed to the horse
play of "Trip to Chinatown" and "a
Straight Tip" The condition of accept
ance in his case is an audience of intelli-
gent people. who can appreciate literary
excellence and fine order of wit and hui
NOR.
Hence this movement to get theater
where the conditions will be provided for
soberer, finer work.
Since my last letter the enormous opera
at the Metropolitan opera
house has undergone some changes. 1t is
now pretty well understood that Mr.. Abbey
will lose money on the season. So far it
has been brilliant one, but not profit
able one. And that recalls to my mind
that there has never been profitable sea-
son of Italian opera in New York
Any one can figure up the present season
by counting the artists who have TO be
paid from $500 to 5000 every time they
sing, and then counting the house.
Nine. Albani. who sang in "Lohengrin"
last week did more than anybody else to
revive what may be called true prima
donna interest | was talking with her a
day or two after the performance and ven
tured to say TO her that | thought she
Dught to 60 TO the people with her voice
and accomplishments. Opera, l said. both
German and Italian, always had plenty OF
prima donnss, but it was only at long in
tervals that the people possessed one.
Jenny Lind sang TO the people, 50 did
parepa Rosa: so did Clara Louise kellogg
What was the result in each caseS-a for
.une. The people worshiped them and en-
-iched them. But the people viii not so
% the Metropolitan opera house.
don't think my advice bad any weight
There is a strong feeling Of musical caste
among prima donnas. They prefer the eN-
,lusiveness and precariousness of opera 10
he assured popularity OF the concert room
Nine. Albani and Nile. Van Zandt are the
.wo American singers of this extraordinary
troop, and now that Don Giovanni" has
been given with Mime. Albani a. the Donna |
Eiyira, there is no longer any doubt that /,
he is, in point OF execution as we'll as in |
purity OF voice. the artist OF the company. /
We have not had MozArt's music given |
here In many season with 50 conscien /
.ious a regard for the best traditions and /