New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-26


It's problem" and It gave Mr.. Hare himself small
opportunity When he exchanged this play for "A
Pair OF Spectacles" his popularity began 10 gro"
at once. His out OF town Is also SAID 10
have been excellent, and 1t Is promised that ne VIII
return next season. Nine. E,eonora Duse mas pald
another prosperous visit but she presented only one
play in which she not already familiar here'
and that far from new to the New-York PUBIC.
This play "Magda." An exception to this
statement should be made, however in favor OF the
pretty little od-fash!oned comedy OF pamela by
Goldoni which Nine. Duse played at single
charity matinee, though 1t was not part OF her
regular repertory.
Sarah Pernhardt came again and played several
pieces old and new, and won the usual degree or
admiration. but caused no great commotion sne,
to- sgda nd % ss9 the onS one
had never before been seen in New-York MISS
oa e iii she
version OF 'CarTen."
terest was Humperdncks opera HanseI ,ns ana
Grctel.' Unfortunately, however. the company
donate iSa 'i to that Of the he work and it
marked success. His Excel!ency" proved to be an
celIent English company 1t was not so successful
it deserved to be- though i could not help being
MSdf h5 wiz h hT Rs Of hope D @as
Of the pys hsd BY 5 a sHHd run Of e ae
pantomme Miss Pygmaion."
THE NETWORK STOCK THEATRES.
The history OF the stock companies has been for
the most part not unlike that Of the combination
theatres Mr.. DAILY has given REVEALS of Twelfth
Night" and THE School for Scandal" and Miss Ada
Rehan has given her familiar and brilliant mper
sonatIons in them. These efforts WERE of course.
well supported The company has also been
in several plays the most successful OF which
was Countess Gucki." An expected revival of
Henry "" did not take place but 1t is still prom
Used the opening attraction of next season. AT
the Lyceum Theatre little of especial note has
been done. except The Prisoner OF Zenda. This.
has already been recalled, was done at first by
Mr.. Sothern. and afterward an excellent revival
given by the Lyceum stock company. and II
finished the season agreeably and prohtably. The
Empire Theatre has had varied ei season 6nt the
sole attracted more attention than the efforts OF
shakespeare fas had rather small place on the
local stage Es this year NJ Irving played Mac s
About Nohns ' Nine MOdjeska gave awe sratifyins
production of Measure for Measure at the Car
s Tssa TASS and ana s S MrSw T.
asS IN Ss a Ma r part % s %a
s seen as e Hamsr at the Herald s9nare Tneat,re
Ha%e othe5 and f0 julius Cesar s''s at the
Broadway; Mr. DAYS revival Of Twelfth Night"
complete the list.
WHY AFFAIRS ARE so BAD
After thing is over. IT Is easier to say why 1t
fell out the way II did. than it is to tell before
hand just how II will fall And 1t Is not hard
to find convincing reasons for the general lack OF
success In the theatrical that is just end
ing First and most important OF all the reasons
let those remember who have anything to do with
theatres. is the general med.ocrty worse OF the
material that has been presented Enough has
been said about this already. The business de-
preston In nearly all branches is likewise. OF
course responsible for much This Is not the first
PAD theatrical season. II IS nearer the fourth in
me present series The depression extends further
IMAM Ne"-l ork IL reaches all over the country,
and further than that. The last two seasons in
England have been all but insufferably bad-worse
even iran here. II Is said.
one reason FOR the badness OF theatrical business
has been suggested that would be OF equal weight
omnipresencc OF the bicycle People ride In the
evening and do not care TO 20 to the theatre. or
they ride in the day and get tired that they do
money all winter to buy BICYCLES, and one Of the
such S be- For Is 0y Is not the psh
people who support the theatres; 1t Is the middle
really means something. The business and pleas
ure OF the bicycle cannot assume the proportions
that they have without sensibly affecting business
and pleasure OF other sorts.
Another cause. which should be considered in
connection with tho hard times. IL the sudden
growth OF the continuous performance variety en-
tcrialnment. These little theares-not so very
l!ttle either. some Of them-suppy the want OF
amusement FOR enormous number OF persons
VINO accept them. not necessarily because they are
altogether as satisfactory as ordinary theatres
woulI be- but because they are cheap. and viii
DO rs a mikesiift in hard times. But local
o cause OF dspresson ana great one Is that there
theatres and they still multiply. They have IN
creased in number much faster than the theatre
going population. and still more OF them are i'm the
air TIE reckless course OF theatre building must
md its check somewhere. though the present APP
are 80 many that few Of them must fail utterly
through the very impossibty Of support.