The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-11
LUCKIEST OF THEM ALL
GREAT PUFF FOR MANAGER
CHARLES FROHMAN's SUCCESSES.
No Other Metropolitan Producer in
Recent Years Can Claim an Equal
Number of Triumphs.


NEW YORK, April 10.-CharIes Frohman
has provided New York this season, as he
has done now for three theatrical seasons
back, with nearly all of its play trumphs.
This is a remarkable record for a metro
politan manager. especially when one takes
a look back over the list of attempts at
successes which have been made here since
the season of 1892, and which presents a
long stretch o: managerial disasters light
ened and bri1ht.led by little else than the
successes of one man. This is not a mere
press agents yarn, but fact, as investi-
cation of the theatrical annals will dis
close. 1t is no use, however going back
over the old history, not farther back, any
how, than last season, when all that can
be recalled of brilliant achievement i'm New
York theatricas was almost epitomized in
the great successes of christopher, Jr'
THE Sporting Duchess Too Much John
so7." THE Gay Parsians,' Thorough
bred" Carmen" in which drama Olga
Nethersole made her debut at the Empire
under the management of Daniel and
Charles Frohman
This season. again, there are few remark
able successes-not more than two or three
outside of the Charles Frohman produc-
tons; and when one considers the number
of new plays offered to the American pub
lie through the New York channel, prob
ably 125 year, and that Charles Frohman
makes nearly all the successes and has
the lions share of the profits to put in
bank. it causes just two thoughts to arise:
either he is very lucky man or a manager
of unusually clear and unerring Judgment
Other theatrical men, in commenting on
this one-sidedness of the years record
content themselves with adopting the first
idea, and say Mr.. Frohman is the luckiest
man they ever heard of. If they permitted
themselves to indulge little thinking they
would come to the other conclusion, for
they know that Mr.. Frohman had read
and refused many of the plays which they
accepted. and Mr.. Frohman seldom refuses
q play in which he sees fair chance of
success. He has a genius for taking "A
dramatic or comedy nucleus Of this kind,
and by suggestion. revision, remaking and
strongly casting, getting a good thing out
of it. Mr. Frohman has the pick of the
best dramatic work of the new and old
worlds; the chief American playwrights
and the leading dramatists of England and
France are either under contract to him
or prefer to place their works in his hands,
and, having this vast treasure field prac-
tically for his own, to take the best and
leave behind the mediocre, it is little Won
der that he gathers all the golden apples
and finishes each season with a string of
triumphs. any of which a great metro
politan manager would be proud of.
This seasons record of Frohman success
es began with Two Little Migrants" at
the Academy of Music Then came Bret
Earte's Sue with Annie Russell in the
title role, at Hoyts Theater. After that
John Drew won the most splendid laurels
OF his career in Rosemary play which
Mr.. Frohman secured for his star in Lon
don last summer. Secret Service fol-
lowed. with William Gillette the author. in
the role of the hero. This wonderful play.
conceded by all the critics TO be the best
American war play yet written, ran to
ever-crowded houses at the Garrick The
alter for over seven months, and only left
New York at the end of that time because
it had a long engagement to fill in Boston
previous 10 going TO London for production
there. with the entire original cast and
scenery.
Passing over the great revival of Caste"
by John Hare, which made at Mr.
Frohmans suggestion. and stopping merely
to say that Rosemary already men
toned, left a sweeter fragrance after its
lou NIGHTS at the Empire I0ealer IMAM any
piece ever produced here, one comes down
TO the current triumphs which Frohman
has in hand-"Under the Red Robe at
the Empire, and Never Again" at the
Garrick Theater. Under the Red Robe"
which is Mr. Edward Roses stage version
of Stanley Weyman's marvellous French ro-
nance. has been running at the Empire
Theater since Christmas week, and its au-
diences now in the fifth month. overflow
the capacity of the house. In the play the
charm and delight OF the books atmosphere
are completely preserved. and the story is
splendidly revealed and strikingly told
that both those who are familiar with
Weyman's volume and those who have new
er read 1t find equal enjoyment in the per-
formances. The hit which it has made is
the greatest Mr.. Frohman has had at the
Empire since the theater opened The piece
| is running in London. too. where il has
| passed its 10th performance. Never be-
| fore were the members of the Empire Stock
| Company so well fitted with roles as they
are in Under the Red Robe" william