Evening journal., 1893-05-26
NEXT SEASONS PLAYS.
We Will Probably Have Vaude-
Vile and Comic Opera.
TRAGEDY DOES NOT PAY WELL

Interviews with Prominent Theatrical
Managers Bring out the General
Opinion That Americans Want to BE |
Amused-H Narrowing Plays Are No
Longer Popular.
New York Sun reporter has inter
viewed several prominent theatrical
managers in that city with regard %
what form Of amusement or Of the drama
will be popular next season
A. NJ. Palmer said that It looked as IL
vaudeville would continue to be the
popular craze; that people would be
maoder than ever after it next year, II
that could be possible.
Now just look at such facts as
these, said Mr.. Palmer. .some promi-
nent society people, do not want TO
mention names-get up an amateur
dramatic entertainment. What is IL
they imitate2 is il my company Or
Mr.. Dalys or Mr.. Frohman's2 Is II the
legitimate drama2 Even good comedy
No IL is the lowest sort Of farce It's
Tara ra Boom de.ay and Papa
Wouldn't Buy Me Bow WOW, and that
sort Of thing
There are not more than two or three
theatres In town which have not given
up their stages at some time during
the year to entertainments of this class
"A Trip TO Chinatown is practically a
speciality performance SO is 1892
which is now running in my own thea
tre There Is a slight connecting
thread OF plot, but not much IL will
probably be the same next year We
managers have been saying for a long
time that the vaudeville craze was at
an end. When some one thing-which
was not good-fel flat We all cried
out that the bubble had burst; but the
failure would be followed by something
good, witha success ten times greater
than ever
Mr.. Palmer was ssked II he looked for
revival Of tragedy.
No. said ne, tragedy In itself is
nothing Shakespearean plays won't 60
without some big star. When Irving
comes here next year with his Henry
Viii" he will undoubtedly do a big bust
ness. People will 20 TO see Irving.
They will not care a rap about the play
itself. might put the same thing on in
better style aud with better company,
but IL wouldn't draw corporals guard.
No; In my opinion il will remain hop,
skip and Jump to get into popular
favor next year, as IL has this. -
Oscar Hammerstein, who has expert.
mented largely with the public taste
agrees with Mr. Palmer.
'What do think She people will want
next yearl' lac repeated. vaudeville,
and plenty of It.
"How about light opera2' was asked.
"The lighter the better The airier 10
Is and the more somersaults and kicking,
the more the people will like 10. IL is
nIr i Aut tl1uN rnff tal
and they are all planning Tor variety. or
vaudeville, whatever you want to call IL,
There are three houses giving vaudeville
performances TO one giving anything
else People don't want to think; they
want to laugh, and they will laugh al
things that would make brass lior
weep"
Rudolph Aronson, Of the Casino
thinks that vaudeville will sac declin,
next year. and that the most popular
form OF amusement will be comic opera
Charles Frohmar Is in Europe now, in
quest Of new plays, but Mr.. lockwood
his acting manager spoke for him Mr.
lockwood thinks that the vaudevill,
craze has seen its best days; that we art
going to have a season of better plays
more like "Arisiocracy' and The Girl
Left Behind Me
"How about emotional playsY" wai
asked
"We will not have them, for two rea.
sons We lack the great women TO play
them. and then, the public does not lik'
10 be narrowed up
Edward ID. Miuer, Of the Fifth Avenu,
Theatre, has very decided opinions Of hii
own. and they we're quite at variancl
with those expressed by other managers
In Mr. Miners opinion, the vaudeville
craze is doomed The bottom will drol
out next season, and there will be a dull
sickening thud as the dancers turn thei
last somersault and execute their las
kick.
But be hazards a slill more startling
prediction than this. Mr. Miner b
fondly anticipating Shakespesreal
revival. High tragedy will, In his opiu
ion. stalk forth once more aud strut 10
little hour upon the stage. Willard
10 give a good deal of attention 1
Shakespeare, Irving Is coming, and
number OF other actors and actresses wi
revive the perennial popularity Of TIA
bard of Avon
Not only this. but We are to hav
emotion In large doses. Nine. Duse
glowing success has fired the hearts
other aspirants. Fanny Davenport wi
revive "Fedore" Duse will probab
come again, and nervous prostiati
will be on the increase.
Frank Mckee, OF toe Madison Squal
Theatre is of the opinion that peop
want novelty. 80 long as manage
can dig up enough sensations TO ke,
the novelty alive people viii like IL
said he. ''When they begin 20 spriI
lot OF old things on the public IL Won
eo Ia my opinion that time Is comm
Vaudeville has s--p its bA-t days.
Al moOre's snIpyard.
The SCI onner Thomas Bow which b