New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-26
4 LEAN TIME FOR THEATRES
MISFORTUNES OF THE HOMES OF
AMUSEMENT.
POOR PLAYS AND POOR BUSINESS PREVALENT
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE IN NEW WORK
REASONS FOR THE DEPRESSION
TOO MANY THEATRES.


The theatrical season is practically over. al
though few incidents OF interest yet to come.
Managers are fortunate who rich they
were when the season began. Actors are fortunate
who have been employed for the mos. Of the time
and have got the most OF their pay. The pubic Is
fortunate that IL will have 60 through eX-
actly the same theatrical season again Altogether
II has been uncommonly bad season. The
standard OF the attractions offered has In general
been far from lofty. and the business done by the
theatres has been almost uniformly bad That there
have been some few notable exceptions to botE
these rules does not affect the rules themselves
There are. indeed. signs to be observed but
the present case OF the theatres Is evil Although
there have been few excellent new plays presented
in New-York since last summer. and although
numerous excellent actors have been seem there has
not been a season in many years which offered 50
small a variety OF what genuinely attractive
Even among the plays which succeeded IL has not
always been easy the reason Of the success
while two or three have practically failed when
seemed distinctly to deserve success the pro-
ducton Of American plays has been almost at
standstil and the success OF such foreign at
fractions as have been sent here has been by no
means uniform.
OF the splavs that have had their first productions
in this country how many have made distinct and
unqualified successes In New-York? Possibly Inc
Prisoner OF Zenda" deserves head the list. both
as the first success of the season and as an I'M
portant success. Mr.. Sothern played 1t at the
Lyceum Theatre in August. and It's popularity was
instantaneous. This popularity appeared TO be
important too as indicating that the romantic ana
healthy character of the play was pleasing 10
theatre-goers as n change and relief from the
problem play. and the Stiffness and hppancy OF
the prevailing farces and buresques. a war play
"The Heart OF Maryland" has occupied nearly
the whole season at the Herald Square Theatre and
.E.... ..I 1lri
John Drew has played The Squire OF Danes at
Palmer's Theatre and af;erwarl n the Garrick.
and has thereby added his fame and fortune.
The melodrama, The Sporting Duchess found
q congenial atmosphere at the Academy OF Music.
and ran through a large part OF the season At
that house. "a Social Highwayman. played by the
Holland Brothers. would probably have made a
notable success at the Garrick Theatre. had II not
been put the stage at a time when the actors
had only few days Of their engagement stu be-
fore them. Among the farces "rhe Gay Parisians.
THE Widow Jones" and "A Black Sheep" have
had long runs and the extravaganza. Excelsior.
Jr" has met with like experience.
PEOPLE AND PLAYS FROM ABROAD.
Here. then. are nine successes for the season
not one for every two theatres. And beyond these
1t would not be easy to name six notable achieve
ments among American plays The foreign contri-
buttons to the Ncw-York Stage to plays and
companies have been OF about the average quantity
and quality but scarcely Of the average success.
or course Henry Irving and Miss Ellen Terry are
to be placed az the top OF IN. list Their Visit TO
New-York early In the season was without question
the most interesting and gratifying occurrence OF
the year Ii was also happily prosperous. They
PLAYED an uncommonly large rcpertory. Including
several plays In which they had not been seen here
before These were Macbeth" King Arthur"
"a Christmas story Don Quixote." journeys
End in Lovers Meeting" and "A Story of Water
loo" They have still to pay another short visit
and they will still extend further their repertory
Next in Importance OF the foreign stars has been