The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-07-24
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The Theatres.
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Bernard Shaw. lin his criticism of VIII
liam Gillette's "Secret Service, detected
the essential quality of tho piece when he
declared that IL was as thoroughly melo-
dramatic as the average Adelphi drama,
and differed from those WORKS because the
American author had been able to do
deftly and noatly what the British writer's
nave generally treated in bald and OBJ
yious fashion. The delicacy and aptness
of Mr.. Gillette's method did prevent his
subject from appearing To be entirely
melodramatic in the modern meaning of
the word. when, az matter OF fact in
theme and character "Secret Service" Is
as thoroughly melodrama as "The
Lights of London. But Mr.. Gillette
was able TO conceal this quality. lie
could manipulate his figures with such
fine craft that In the suspense created
what they did seemed possible If not prob
able. and they took on some resemblance
TO human beings; and, above all, their
actions were thrillingly interesting.
1t Is significant In connection with
Bernard Shaw's commendation OF this
American work that no English melo'
drama is announced for production In this
country in the autumn. 1t has rarely
happened for the past five or six years
that one of these SNOWY pieces has not
been brought over. The death OF sir
Augustus Harris may have been in
measure responsible for this. but since
his death several plays of the class pre-
viously imported have been acted, and at
least one. "The Duchess of Coolgardie,
has met with some success at Drury
Lane. But mono of these plays Is to be
brought over to us The melodramatic
production last year from Paris. and,
superior as IL was TO the average British
f.lx lyt rteaft
qualities in the piece-the pathetic con-
olusion, tor instance-whloh prevented it
from gaining really great popularity. SO
even Pierre de Courcelle, who was
thought to be "a worthy nephew TO the
illustrious d EMERY. will not be repre-
sented on our stage next winter.
The London critics analysis of "Secret
Service explained, as well as il did the
particular excellence of that piece. tho
present state of affairs. The day of the
English melodrama has passed. and it has
disappeared because American dramatists
are seemingly able to do better work. The
American intelligence that would be alb
sorbed in Secret Service" The Heart of
Maryland" and Shenandoah" would
revolt mt the clumsy, heavy, ragged de-
velopment of piece like 1.-The Sporting
Duchess. F" Ihe Drury Lane spectators and
those of the Adelphi are able to find
pleasure in any situation that is de-
veloped in a fashion suited to the delib
ations of their own minds. Such pieces
are written for such a public. They are
suited to no other. Recent successes in
British melodrama have been made only
through the aggregation OF capable
actors. or by beautiful spectacular effects.
The PLAYS themselves have steadily retro
graded In character. 1t was not because
"The World" was novelty when pro-
duced that it was more interesting than
"Straight from the Heart" or "Burmah.
1.-THE Lights of London" was far more
absorbing and engrossing than 1.-The
Prodigal Daughter, not merely because
it was ten or twelve years older. The
plays grew weaker in proportion to the
rate at which the number OF their authors
increased. When these pieces were able TO
boast four or five authors their stupidity
and olumsiness were just about at the top
notch.
1t is no wonder, in view of the fare that
London audiences get when they look for
melodrama, that American pieces OF that
sort have met with such success there.
Hero in America the demand is for the
local work. The deftness. the aptitude,
and the inveutiveness OF the Americans
have triumphed here just as they have in
other dissimilar brain work. The produc-
tions of melodrama in this country Will
never again bring forward such heavy ex
amples ms have been used in the past.
theaters. There Is. indeed, no portion OF
the American public able TO tolerate these
British efforts any longer. The least pre-
tentious of our American plays contain
more qualities suited to our audiences.
There are more humor action. and spirit
In them. When IL comes To the highest
grades of our American melourama. like
1.-THE Heart of Maryland" and "Secret
Service" the superiority over the best of
tho English work is So great that nobody
need wonder why it is that the American
work. and not the English, is getting
attention. The melodramas of our best
authors is the melodrama of Sardou, COM
pared to which the English is heavy bun
Cling.
John L. Adams, New York Wall
street broker, and tho owner OF a hand
some estate at Oyster Bay, Long Island,
has been the defendant in an action for
$50, 600 damages brought by William ).
Reeves, theatrical manager, whose
Hands Across the sea" company made
success in the eastern states In the