New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-31
THE SPREAD OF THE DRAMA.
ADJUSTMENTS IN FAR CORNERS OF THE
WORLD.

ANY one who chances to glance through an
English dramatic paper as few In this country
do is likely TO be astonshed at the apparently
hourishng condition Of the theatre and its up
to-date character in the most distant parts OIL
the world Readers Of current literature are
not altogether ignorant Of the status OF British
society in India. everybody knows that there
is q good deal of intelligence and civilization In
South Africa, in the direction of diplomacy II
in no other: that Australia is a great and grow
ing country is we'll understood. yet the ideas OF
these countries that have been gained from
hooks of exploration and adventure receive
distinct shock from the special correspondence
from Johanncsberg Calcutta or Adelaide. show
ing that exactly the same plays are current
there that are or recently have been in London
and NcN-York.
who the readers are who care enough about
these places to make it pat for the dramatic
paper TO publish the correspondence may he
bit OF a puzzle bat there is the information.
and a good deal more Of detail on the subject
may be had if il is sought in the right quarters
English is becoming universal language
English people have settled where they have
gained dominion and their colonies have grown.
and the English colonists are twice as English
the Lcndoners. They are feverish to see all
that London sees: their opportunities are limited
and they want entertainment plenty Of 1t and
In their own language. II an English or an
American actor wants 10 work his passage
around the world there is no reason why he
should not do H.
Suppose that he starts from New York He
may first go through New England and Canada.
playing wherever h. chooses Then he may
make a tour through Ireland and England. Let
him take ship thence 10 South Africa II he
4, hipf. n
ceyed with rapture there and may line his purse
well for his journey through India In Aus
tralia he can make a long stay. He viii find
fine cities. intelligent people and good theatres
Thence he can go 10 New Zealand There will
BE- something for him 10 do AT Hong Kong which
is not In the regular route OF most theatrical !
companies II h. cares To stop at Honolulu he |
viii ind Il fine no" theatre and an audience glad
OF a novelty. If he has not begun his tour yet !
h. may BE- assured that. 10y the time h. gets To- /
Alaska the weary people OF Dawson viii be T
longing for theatrical entertainment and when /
ne comes from there down thu coast 10 Portland /
or San Francisco he VIII have a clear cour-. be /
fore him back to Ncw-York
The most important field for theatrical per- /
formanccs in English outside England and /
America is. Of course. Australia. For the most
important and expensive attractions there ar.
Adelaide. ana for those which are contcntcd with /
smaller but no less sure gains there, are many +
other places making circuit on which travel /
ling company can spend a cDnsiderabl. limo
The people of Australia are fond Of amusement /
and . city Of a population which in America |
would warrant theatrical company in making
a visit Of not more than two or thrc. NIGHTS
viii support an attraction for two weeks The
audiences ana the press Of Australia too have
most cultivated and Intelligent apprc,iati,n
OF what is offered to them
Yet lhey prefer In general amuscmonts Of IN.
strong and broad sort Burlcsaue. fare. and
variety are what suit them best Theatrical
managers in Australia Just now are giving ,,,cb
attention to entertainment of the music han
sort The firm of Williamson a Muserovc is
more important III theatrical MANAGEMENT there
than all others put together These men CON
tr"l many Of the best theatres and they have
Important foreign connections They have re-
Gently made alliances with managers in this
country III England and on the Continent Of
Europe. whereby they will receive many of the
most important variety performers Of the world
and manage them on long tours including Aus
uaiia. New -Iealand and other distant points
Another reason for the preference of variety
In Australia is that il suits the convenience az
the managers better than the presentation OF
plays Good as the theatrical field Of Australia
reaily Is IN itself II scarcely pays to take a large
'onPahy th"r" from America from England
because the great cost Of getting a number Of
PERSONS there and getting them back absorbs
Hi ihc prohts arising from the actual tour. But
u d"es not cost an cxtrayagant amount to take
single variety star across few oceans and
Continents He can be placed in a COMPANY
made up. for the rest. Of local entertainers, he