The times., 1899-04-16

worthy tnan IN the fallure OF the unWOr-
thy-has been that marvellous creation of
Edmond Rostand. 'Cyrano de Bergerac,
a drama the history of which has done
much toward the creation of coming ep-
och in things theatrical. The work, which
was initially presented in Paris nearly two
years ago. was brought to this country
through the spirit and enterprise Of Rich
ard Mansfield. who has profited by his
venture quite as much as have his patrons
1t is quite possible that the offering would
not have been accepted from any other ac-
tor on the stage, and that even Mr.. Mans
field might have found his experience dis
! astrous but for reports which reached
here concerning the manner in which the
| French had received the greatest effors OF
their compatriot and the prominence given
| its production by our newspapers. As 1t
was Mr.. Mansfield not only held full sway
himself with the presentation, but, its copy
1 right being defective. "Cyrano de Ber-
gerac" was done with greater or less sue
cess by every twentieth combination in
] the East. Though much talked of none of
/ these legalized piracies was greeted with
real heartiness, and the most notable OF
| them-that put on by Augustin Daly-was
not only taken off the road early but sery-
| ed to injure its protector immensely.
! The popularity of "Cyrano de Bergerae"
had manifold effect Not only did it pave
/
/ than had been generally seen in support OF
stars. but it inclined public already more
| than half weary of Irish farce and of musi-
cal comedy first TO tolerate and then TO en-
! joy more creditable things. Many of the
| less pretentious of these degenerate works
were relegated to the popular
| priced houses, while blank verse
became more frequent in profitable
proffering than at any time
| Will in ont
distinctly dignified plays on the order OF
| Nathan Hale and Catherine filled
good two thirds of the season at the higher
classed places of amusement; men and wo-
men like William Gillette and Olga Meth
| ersole did Unexpectedly large businesses,
| and factors of purity and wholesomeness
not often noted in this period were allowed
as props to financial gain in such pieces as
''The Little Minister and Way Down
East" All these conditions prepared the
field for a return to the semi-ciassic that
bore fruit two months ago in the numerous
versions seen of The Three Musketeers,
and for the remarkable Shakespearean re-
vival which promises to end the term OF
| 1898 '99-a revival already forecasted in the
announcement that Romeo and Juliet is
to be done at three Broadway theatres and
that one combination is even now making
money at no less frivolous a temple of
| Thespis than the Herald Square.
Meanwhile the style of Offering accepted
by the more intelligent quarter OF the
populace has been steadily changing. Ro-
mantle drama OF the ilk of THE Prisoner
of Zenda" may be said to have gone COM
pletely out of fashion, although James X.
Hackett has found feasible vehicle in
Rupert OF Hentzau'' and Wilton Lackaye
expects much from his Sayre adaptation OF
Charles O'Malley." Such conventional
farces as "Charley's Aunt and THE
SNOWFALL have lost favor almost alto
gether, while the variety of Irish slap
stick humor just mentioned is confined to
the low-priced houses, and vaudeville re-
mains in its accustomed rut. The year
has brothered extravaganza in a most mar
velous manner. fully a score of burlesques
having been magnfcently produced with
in the last few months and musical COM
edy has held its own through the success
of pieces like "A Runaway Girl and THE
Telephone Girl Then the war spirit, still
rife in this country, has fostered melodra-
ma notably, causing the revival of such
works as Shenandoah on the best stages
and the turning out of various sensational
efforts like Remember the Maine" The
, Dawn of Freedom and Held Up in. Ha-
vana' for the other playhouses. Few new
comic operas have been written-"Ths
Fortune Teller, sThe Charlatan,'' The
s Jolly Musketeer" THE Three Dragons.
/
E list OF these-while Frank Daniels, the
Bostonians, and the Broadway Theatre
Opera Company comprise the trio which
has made good with the offerings o.
0 other years.
y The most noticeable grorth in the fielt
: has probably been in a modification of tn,
society comedy drama that was so much IL
favor decade ago. present tendency Il
realism and a rather unpleasant note o
nnh iSffn hoe nffa yfy,eye
e changes mentioned while it is also appar
d ent that action is being less required thai
g last season and that bright, sharp cpl
: grammatic lines have achieved vogue in
d stead. The Liars and ''rrelawny of tn
II Wells" may be taken as samples of tn
e form coming into favor, while ''ZaZa" an
5 THE Christian stand as evidences of an
: other school that threatens serious rival
e ship. Since both varieties are Intelligent
dignified, able and virile in their nature
: since neither would appeal to any othe
4 than the best class of theatregoers-thei
ascendancy should be taken as a token O
u Improvement.
II may be argued and with a show o
reason, that all of these creditable presen
tations have been given by stars who hav
never furnished anything but the lofties
works. 1t may be said that from tn
n James -KidderWarde and McLean-Tyler
" Hanford triumvlrates, from amen
: Walsh Mrs. Fiske, Richard Mansfield
Nat Goodwin, Modjeska, Julia Arthur Sc
: Smith Russell and Julia Marlowe only tn
a best could have been expected, but sti tn
: fact is significant that a good many G
n these people have come out of retiremen
! TO achieve success with great efforts. tina
n others have climbed higher than ever be
r. fore in staging new vehicles, and that al
" have found majestic plays more popula
now than at any nearby time. There ca
a be no doubt that the tendency OF the yea
c has been toward better things.
IS From this statement it need not be in
n ferred that the season has been withou
Ie it's discouraging circumstances, for sever,
,r of the conditions met have been eve
II more disgusting than displeasing. Th
" sudden longing for filth because it is fl
1t thy, for suggestion because it is sugges
l. tive. and for degradation because it is dc
= grading. manifested in New York an
y gradually apparent elsewhere. will prov
f. one of the greatest detriments to the il
l. fluence of the stage ever evolved. Fro
so dramas in which unpleasant subjects wei
t. artistically handled for the sake of the
j. strength-dramas such as The Conquer
ic ors" and ..ZaZa"-Gothamites have reacl
E. ed a state where their prurient craving
e. are for the boldly lecherous and vu,ga
Id whether the pieces in which con aint
I'd those demerits have any other merit
ne not From 1.-The Turtle and Mile Fiji
Sc they have gone to the extreme of AN A
L. fair of Honor and like rot. until it
1t. truly impossible for anything decent
ht succeed in the metropolis until it has bee
ty made to appear indecent.
t. A gratifying incident in this connectic
In is the circumstance that the mania f