The times., 1897-12-05

w
When The sas Of the Earth goeyfnte
New Togl, il win lie to play at the Academy
of Music. This is a very large house.
where lneIodrama is al home Here the very |
noints which In the little Columbia were |
delicate and appreciated touches VIII go |
Tor weaknesses. and the holder strokes VIII |
size better with the capacious environment
But there IS mere noise and motion than |
quiet and repose IN Mr.. Arthurs play, 80
il ought 70 toe more of success there
than here. The theatsr has great deal
TO do with creating proper receptive con,
ditons FOR 4 play. Melodrama does not
accommodate itself wen 70 the Columbia
This is a comedy house nnquesIlonanly-
Miss Francis OF Yale win 20 eNcellently
here. There is that feeling OF proximity
and confidence which helps along the
delicate points OF comedy The Geisha
did fairly wei al tile La "a y-ette for a sec
ond visit. The play 81 the Academy packed
that house at every performance 1t IS
vile piece which exists only on account or
the Disgusting carnaI curiosity or certain
low hroay4-d members Of society. such IS
the ttnacnountatie condition Of curiosity
that the real facts aboui this story cannOt
be published for selfrespecung readers,
and II they could, they would defeat the
end or THE telling, for the daring OF the
scenes would pack the iheater again
This week lie National has Henry ,iiller
in has charming romantic oamcdy, Hearts
ease" IL il play which a wakens all
uheb.tt er impulses O. Jur natures and leaves
us better for seeing it. Etienne Cir lTdot
appears at tire head Of = company N The
comedy success, Miss Francis. Of Yale"
No one looking for hearty, spOn-aneous
laughter should miss tids piece. Every one
who has sen il VIII vGuch Tor its fun. The
Lafa yette has the novelty 0 fthe week n the
spectacular extrava ganZa. one Round of
Pleasure. Thus Is an ella podriGa OF mirth
and music. Ithas been widely praised and
its list og principals indicates that what
eveT opportunities there arc ii it viii be
madethe iat 81 OF. The management prom
iscl00 people Ga the stage.
Just at present wherever vo1 find few
actors, a few mana Gers, or few thea rical
persons ~ any sort gathered together the
topic is the theatrical syndicate OF trust
This combination is a prodigious power
in affecting tie vitality Of the American
drama, for GOOD or evil, as the Wiel1eTs
feel disposed. Al its head are Nixon x
Zin8Iaer NAN. Charles FrOhman, Al. hey
mann and KIaw & Erlanger. They 20aar9I
theb00ldngs OF nearl every important sjrst-
class rFscater in America, and OF all he i'm
portant stars and companies. except Fra leis
Wilson, Minnie Madden Fiske and the mi
nor attractions
From the standpoint or an outsider they
seem TO demand that pla yers managers
and lists do business with us OF
not 81 an for they have created lis
advantageous state for those who seek in
dependence OF them, which is tantamo ant
10 mot at eH.- Tbose WHO do business
witt them find that they must do as the
syndicate chooses. The effect OF the syn
dicute's operations Is felt in Washington
in many ways. For instance, Mr. Rapley,
Mr. a Ibsugh and Mr. Mfzerott, who nave
their capital invested iu their theaters,
when approached by managers and stars,
with tlieir own capital, cannot 90 business
Wit them except through The medium Of
ths syndicate neu who la Va nc capital in
vested IL either enterprise. And for tins
privilege 60 both our local managers AMI
the itineranu managers pay Il per centnm
trieutc TO the syndicate.
Mr. AibaGeh, being an experienced nan,
wuulc never have booked The Lafayette S
attractions IN The sequence ia which they
have raE. Since the house opened bheTe
have teen but three performances which
wer. rot OF 2 musical character, opera or
musical comedy 1t is giving the public
TOO mach Of good thing. He doubtless
would have given no quarter in his no.
60 The Geezer,'' which belonged at "a.
other end OF The venue. Mr.. Metzerott
he's Edward Harrigan thrust upon him
Francis Wilson and Minnie Madden Fiske
are forced cut Of the hieh-priced houses
where the dignity and raIue OF their pro-
ductions de..and that they should appear
Two VI uhe three parties 90 the synaicate
are extensive producers. IN tie present
state Of active competition IL seems an
heroic test OF the integrity OF human na
ture TO expect that these producing man
ayers who control the booking OF so many
other attractions should not other thing.
being equal, give the preference TO the
companies ia which their own active cap
itai IS invested. These and many
considerations arise, which. to II
outsider seem 10 suggest that The syncd
cate IL good thing for the syndicate
but il good thing al all for anyone elst
IN very much less degree.
The Dramatic Mirror, d periodical d
merit and integrity is conducting an &c
tive campaign against the syndicate IL
The Interest Cf the independence and indi
viduality Of the drama an art; pla yer
ss artists, anc managers who are pro
uloters OF art and artists, as well as specu
latOrs. IL is almost single handed in IN
fight though the sympathy OF the pro
fession, as feaTfuIly expressed under tn
breath, II evidently with them, and tn
New York World has given indication .
a desire 10 give independence a chance
The Mirror has been very much strength
ened ia its position 10y the action OF Nix1I
ana Zimmerman. who refused TO let Phil
adelBhla hotels sell tickets To their thea
ters when they kept the Mirror for sal
on their news stand. This action, a
coming from assumedly broad -ninde;
business men. needs no comment
Last week the World gave conSideraill
spanc to the case OF the opera Il 399
THIS piece rented the New York Casino tw
weeks ago Tor four weeks. The managers J
1889" are avowecly iniTnical TO tie syT
dicate, and Manager Lecerer. Of the Casino
is Client OF tie syndicate Ia AFFIDAVIT
taI