New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-16
ENGLISH DRAMA.
>rv METHOD OF STIMULATING PUB
,,c INTEREST IN CLASSICAL PLAYS
MIR. BENsONS WORK IN
TIN, PROVINCES

Birmingham. October i.
IN. Of the most Interesting dramatic move
,,s ~ England escapes observation in Lon
bAcause Il is conducted In the provinces.
80 - Ny. F r Benson's systematic effort TO re-
to bubble interest in classical drama and 70
1--we local inspiration for H. He Is an actor
y, ,everences the noblest traditions Of the
10. and has the Incompatible talent OF arous-
- .-,husiasm FOR dramatic art. He has re-
.r,,es 4 company which is capable OF produc-
80 tventy-seven u Shahespeare's plays ana
.-,.s NJ standard English comedies. This is no
,.o,s,derahle achievement. There is no other
,-.,atic company which can enact in rapid
.assion 30 many masterpieces of the stage
u.v,ns inspired his stage associates with hign
',.,,e and a noble enthusiasm for their art he
e ,oU Organizing public opinion in the provinces
a., novel way. and creating in many com
..rn,ties sense OF responsibility for the en-
couragenent Of good drama.
S,r Henry irving in his admirable address
=. Rede lecturer at Cambridge. few weeks
.ro asserted that the theatre should ne
Estinctly encouraged in some degree Ov
me State or BY the municipalities ne
NICELY refrained from entering into details
-.spe,ting the financial relations Of ratepayers
.,d o4icials with the drama. but contented him.
self With emphasizing the fact as an acaoe"ic
,ronost.on that the theatre as an educationa!
medium should have its proper place IN the Stat-
.coro1ov. Immediately after the delivery Of this
.adrsss an inAuentally supported petition on
hshsI- Of municipal opera was presented to the
,,,5or County Council: but II has been fol-
oved nv nurneyous protests from Boards or
Guardians and ratepayers. The example OF
continental Governments and French and Ger
.,s-a has not been followed by any English or
sco+ch municipality. Theoretically a theatre
NAV rank with schools museums. libraries ana
,son,as palaces as one Of the institutions de-
.srvins municipal announcement anc support
M, practically il is difficult 10 reconcile hnshSn
,aspayers 70 a system OF subsidies for places OF
amusement whatever may be the artisuC oeneH'S
O, state aid in foreign countries.
Mr. Benson, who has been identihed win
sbakespearian revivals at Stratford. Is not an
advocate OF municipal theatres and official man
aserent az the drama, but he oeileNes thor-
oughIv ir enlisting the best local influences IN
,rpport Of the stage. He has been acting IN the
provinces wear after year without tne ddNeh-
,iious aid of a London reputation and has re-
,t,icted his energies 10 the production oi 'he
greatest dramatic works without following '"e
oaprioes Of metropolitan fashion. Appealing 70
= more discriminating taste than is orolher"S
cultivated by stage managers ana theau'cai
svndcates he has considered himself JustlAeo III
,ls,n,inr a special educational and artistic value
ror his seasons Of classical drama Wherever as
,onnanv appears a local committee Is formed
.ra the enterprise receives the social prestige
and support Of classes OF thearesoers who are
,ndineren. to the ordinary attractions OF the
modern theatre The experiment was first tried
:, I,verpool upon the suggestion of Mr.. Gray
n...-yubi--spirted patron OF the stage; ana
q has been repeated with sigma success IN Blk
snnead Newcastle. Manchester. Birmingham
Belfast. Glasgow. Edinburgh and other cities
One OF these seasons Of classical drama has
been opened this week in Birmingham. COM
rItiee Of over one hundred members was formed
in advance under the patronage Of university
professors. headmasters, clergymen, members Of
Parliament justices local officials and represen-
ta,ive men Of wealth and social influence. The
committee assumed no financial liability for the
enterprise but every member interested himself
yin its success and exerted his influence 10 In
due his friends and aoqusintances TO lend their
support 4 committee vote was taken on the
pays 70 he presented from Mr.. Bensons list. and
the local preference for certain works was re-
speoted The season includes eighteen evening
and three matinee performances. Five OF
shakespeare's plays Antony and Cleopatra
AS You Like IT," Richard II, Tanning OF
The Shrew' and Henry W. are produced with
"a really beautiful stage setting, and 70 these IS
ADDED she Stops 70 Conquer. season tickets
are issued with reductions for family parties or
four and for schools. Classical drama IS pre-
seutsd 10 the public in this way high order
of amusement with distinct educatioral Naiue'
The Theatre Royal last night was crowded
Of n
pea had been mad, by a representative local
committee for hearty support of a series or
dramatic performances Of an exceptionally high
character The response vas satisfactory rom
-very point IF view. The stalls and boxes were
filed with subscribers q critical taste and social
distinction. and the pit and galleries were well
occupied Ther4 were not a few ministers ana
esrevInen In the audience. The high character
% this assenblage and the sympathetic atten-
,ion with which the play was followed were
proofs that the community had been Impressed
vith sense Of its responsibilities in the mat
'er o. public amusement The ratepayers OF
Birmingham might not be prepare ed 70 suosidize
theatres in the interest OF social education or OF
trama,ic art; but men and women OF enhght-
.aeo in.elligence were cons -ious that something
ough, u De done - elevate public taste ana
70 rescue the stage from the sordid domination
abox-ofFce MANAGEMENT and theatrical specu-
s,crs when an opportunity vas offered Tor
public support Of mastery plays distinct from
Tie ordinary range Of the thoughtless ana
frivolous drama u the time, full advantage was
aiken OF 1t.
Iris committee method produces the same re-
suits In other towns. IN Ne~casile-on-I Yhe
twenty cergymen AMI ministers OF al com
nunions have enlisted for the support Oh Inc
Classical drama. and representative labor eau
Of. worhinemens organizers and railway opera
ives nave united with them. The time mas oe'H
When no preacher in Belfast had a good "oIu
hny FOR the theatres. but only exhoTta'iohS
warning ssainst attendance al such goo'eSS