The times., 1899-01-15

dressing of any sort lose their force for the
very simple reason that nobody reads them.
A journalistic denunciation TO be effective
in the city of the Knickerbockers must be
illustrated with half-tone pictures of ladies
in the midst of disrobing acts. with bor-
ders of corsets. undergarments, garters and
other articles of attire, the reproduction OF
which is generally confined to the adver-
tising columns. The publication of these
little affairs this morning should enable
Mr.. Frohman to send out box office state
ments of his weeks receipts next Satur-
day.
But the true success of "Zaza' is not yet
Before the final climax is reached the
theatregoers of the metropolis will have to
be convinced that they are not being
played upon as they have been before. 1t
is sometimes difficult to distinguish the
admonition of the critic from the appeal
of press agent. When New Workers dis
cover that ZaZa does not wear pink flesh
lings over her neck in the plays first act.
did Laura Burt and Madge Lessing in
"A Dangerous Maid when they find that
her makeup is not donned behind a
screen. as was that of Sadie Martinot
in The Turtle" when they learn that
some of her speeches are genuinely bold
and wicked-when they are assured that
this work is the real thing" and that at
last they have an opportunity OF being
genuinely naughty-the Garrick will have
earned an enormous carriage trade. Final
ly, when the ministers begin preaching
against the piece and requests for pulpit
courtesies'' are coming thick and fast, the
prayer meeting crowds may be expected at
Manager Frohmans cozy place OF amuse-
ment and the electric lights that score the
length of plays run in front OF the house
will not have to be changed at night in
order to insure big New York success
Or, at least this is what may be safely
prophesied now. The serious talks Of some
serious journals may really injure "Zaza'
If they are long sustained. The intense
revulsion which is about to set in against
the brutally and vulgarly inartistic may
begin with such force as to sweep the
truly strong with it. People may grow
ashamed of having patronized The Tur-
tie" and AN Affair OF Honor" and in OK
piation avoid ''Zaza'' and The Christian"
But this would not be according to prece-
dent. Even in the old days The Black
Crook" never made money at NiblO's until
the Herald refused to publish its adyer
tising and in these times men like Mana
gers Jack and Aarons are the ones who
are growing rich on Broadway. If the
tidal wave takes these people off their
feet no objections will be heard. But it
is to be hoped that the intelligent will
not listen to extremists and SO miss the
strongest drama New York has had in
years.
And this is not probable Gotham's
critics have facstiOUsly condemned the
moral of Belagco's offering even as they
condemned The Christian" when they
finally unearthed scene that might be
made to seem disreputable. Accordingly
'Zaza'' is a metropolitan success.
While, as has been said. the daily papers
have hardly had chance to wax eloquent
over the doubtful lesson OF 'Zaza'' as yet,
and probably will not say much when they
do, the more conservative OF the periodi-
Gals are printing matter that deserves
careful consideration. The manner in
which the piece has been taken up in the
professional organs" is especially worthy
of comment from dramatic point of view.
On Monday night the Mirrors critic at
tended the Efforts premiere and was terri
bly, shocked, If we may judge from his
remarks. Quoth he:
This "Zaza"-the work Of two Frenchmen aud
an Americans play that doubtless will be
the subject OF endless discussions between those
who delight to wranglc over the neral effect OF
the drama. Il boldly presents a phase of life
that the young person IS supposed not to know
about nor to be permitted to learn about. OF
certain human emotions and passions it is pub
lie dissection that may destroy many ot the
troublesome young persons ideals On the other
poor cafe chantint singers will broaden the char
Ity and strengthen the chastity OF the average
bchodcr.
The play is based solely upon vice and it is
strong 0nly VIXEN il j. most uHwholeSOme. 1t is
the strength Of Camille" and OF ''Sappho," with
les, o suggestion and more ut boldncss. \ GER
tain phase OF real life it depicts in truth, yet a
phase that the stage would be better 10 leave
untouched. along with others OF like cast, no
matter what may bc the alturements OF their
dramatic possibilities. No good may come OF
f1lI10r ole gnIv
jealousy and revenge, while painting in bright
red the things that arc pictured generally, and
wisely. in pale tints. Zan is a character
avGNcdly low coarse TcpulSlvC-aHd % i she
drawn. Her single CLEAN Of sincerity shines
through her love, and that is not OF the sort that
is regarded with favor in this country. whatever
license may be granted ii in France. Mr. BeiIscp q
translation has sought to preserve all the realism
OF the original and in this particular II is
ful. In a melodTanatic light it Is usually ctec-
tive, and in frank responsiveness it is ample
This criticism certainly is inteliige t
and comprehensive, although hardly lib
eral or broad. Its writer assumes thst
innocence is maintained only b. the per-
petuation Of ignorance, and begs thit in
tellectUal darkness on certain subjects lie
maintained. But the Mirrors review,
while undoubtedly honest, is probably
prejudiced. The Dramatic News viii h
has never been accused Of antipathy TO
Charles Frohman, publishes a summary
that is far from scholarly, but which
would seem reasonable We're it not known
that the paper is bound to praise every
thing that appears in syndicate houses.
Says the News:
The expected has happened. We have been told
via Washington that David Beldsc0 has made a
great play out OF 'Zaza, and we expected to
witness a remarkable production. But Tara
has gone beyond that. 1t has accomplished much.
II establishes Mrs. Leslie Carter OF the
best actresses OF the day, and it has placed David
Bclasco at the highest point Yet achieved by IN
American dramatist. Sard0u made his name
through Camille" David BelasCO has scored
his reputation through 'Zaza,' Tor this peer OF
stngccraft has not only come forward as master
OF dramatic construction. but has made French
play succeed in America purely through his own
work Mr. BcascO stands today the leader OF his
class, and there are few followers
There are several ether papers the
opinions OF which carry more weight. and
which do not seem to think that a mild
hammered. clerical-looking gentleman like
Mr.. BelasCo could have done anything
very wrong. And the authors colleagues
in the American DramatistS' Club are TO
give him banquet in honor Of his sue
cess; so that it does not appear that he
has lost caste with members of his own
profession. But. whatever the outcome
may be. The Times has certainly be- II
justified in the prophecy made immedi-
ately after the local premiere-a pro-
phecy to the effect that the morality of
'Zaza" would be the thing most discussed
in New York.
The Mirror makes its criticism Of
''Zaza" the subject of an editorial on the
present state of the stage. In part, II
says:
The operations Of a class Of managers whose