The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-13
a CLASSIC THEATER.

a CLASSIC IfEA lex
y GORGE BERNARD SHAW, the wel-known
7 playwright and eminent dramatic critic of
~ London, has recently advanced scheme Tor
establishing classic theater, which has been we'll re-
ceived not only in the British metropolis, but in New
York as well. The proposal is simply that the pro-
duction of high-cass dramatic works shall be pro-
vided for by an association OF wealthy subscribers
just as is done in maintaining grand opera
In one respect the method proposed for supporting
the drama differs from that employed with respect to
the opera Mr.. Shaw does not advocate the erection
OF stately theater TO be used exclusively for the
higher grade OF dramatic works He would have no
grand theater to rival the grand opera-house. His
plan is have the proposed association arrange with
the proprietors of existing theaters to give afternoon
performances OF classic works and to guarantee the
expense In that way Mr. Shaw believes the interest
in the classic drama would grow that in the end
there would be regular patronage for the afternoon
performances sufficient to make them profitable
As the plan has worked we'll with opera there seems
no reason why it should succeed equally well with
drama. 1t is well known that few wealthy people in
Our larger cities, by interesting themselves IN high
class music and guaranteeing its production have
succeeded in providing themselves with that form OF
entertainment and incidentally in furnishing the gen
eral public with the OF musical culture they
could not otherwise have had With such record Of
in line OF there is certainly for
the belief that equal benefit would be derived from a
similar patronage OF the highest class OF dramatic
works.
The plan as we have said has been we'll received
both sides of the ocean, but up to this time the APP
proval has been confined to words No committee
or association has been formed either in London or
in New York to make experiment with the propo-
sition A movement has been started in Brooklyn,
however to get the Brooklyn Institute to guarantee
several performances during the coming winter, and
perhaps test may be made OF the plan in that city
The suggestion is certainly the most sensible and
feasible that has been made toward the solution of the
much discussed problem OF the elevation of the stage
As it stands now it be tried only in large and
wealthy cities, for few communities have sufficient
leisure population to afford extensive patronage OF
/ afternoon performances. IT, however, these sue
ceeded, the influence would be felt throughout the
/ whole heatergong public. The Tiyo has shown
lis what small theater can do in the way of furnish
/ ing grand. opera to San Francisco without
asking guarantee, and if classic drama were once
made the vogue among the leaders of society we
should have popular performances of the same
works in all the larger cities of the Union.
+
Once more the Illinois authorities have captured
Tascott 1t is right that they should do occasion
ally. Ever since Tascott shot Banker Snell or was
supposed to, he has devoted reasonable portion OF
his time to giving Joy to detectives by being cap
tured. This is nothing than fair return for
the trouble to which he has put them, and it does not
hurt him any, for he is. always somebody else Our
Durham is equally considerate
1t is hard to believe that Senator Thurston con-
templates resigning. He measured for his toga
long before the goods could be delivered and has
seemed to regard it as a good fit.
Santa Rosa's trainwrecker goes to prison for life,
and he is only 10 this promises to be for long
enough to permit him realize that his lacked
wisdom
i Creek Indians fighting among themselves over
election Yet there people who assert that the
i Indian cannot be wholly civilized
Populists almost everywhere seem this year to be
striving to lead better life but Up in South Dakota
they still wicked enough to elect Governor.
/ Dreyfus die and ultimately his memory be
purged OF disgrace, but there is similar relief for
France.