The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-08-05
INV YORK 70 SEE BROwNING'S PLAYS

New York Tribune.
One of the most interesting announcements
With regard 10 the next theatrical season Is
that Mrs. Sarah Cowell LIE Moyne, who mas
taken such high place since her return
10 the staee. will give series OF perform
ances ot Brownings plays. beginning WIN
ain n Ra,cony," Those persons who know
their Browning and like him, and those VINO
aop't know him and join in the parrot cry
about his obsourity, ought to seize upon the
opportunity. In spite of the fact thal toeFe
has bean recently an epidemic OF plays uiaue
out OF momentarlly successful NOVELS Peopie
have been going to see shakespeare's plays IN
London In spite of the popularity oil 'OaVai-
leria Rcsticsna," we have had TWO o'e
Wayne, seasons. So why should not new
York 90 to see Browning's dramasE IL VIII
surprise a lot of amiable but uninformed per-
sons to know that these plays are intellgiole'
clear and lucid throughout And what is more
they have been given with success.
"strafford. which was written In 1885 when
tn. poet was only "a, was produced at ne
Coven! Garden theater on May !, 1851 Ma
creudy was the STAFFORD, and no Tess an
actress than Miss Helen Faucit was the Lazy
Carlisle. 1t was an immediate success ana
the run would have been much longer tnan II
was but for a row in the company. But tue
fact remained that those who saw the play
were enthusiastic about it. blot In me
.soutcheon'' was produced upon the same
stase on February II. 1913. Phelps was Lore
Tresham, Miss Fauoit was Mildred Tresham,
and Mrs. Stirling Guendoen 1t was great
hit and Browning had the satisfaction OF
HEARING brilliant and crowded house insist
on the appearances of the author. Now IL
must he remembered that at this time Brown
ing was not SO we'll known as he afterward
became SO when the play ran along at
Drury Lane until June 8. phenomenal thing
tor that time. it simply meant taat u was
entirely upon its own merits. 1t was re-
vive1 later by Phelps during his manage
mert Of Sadlers Wells. Miss Faucit pro-
produced "Colombe's Birthday in 1852 Ana
It also was II success. These were strictly
professional performances. IL Is unnecessary
to refer to the efforts OF ambitious amateurs
As for the possibilities of "Pippa Passes,
king Victor and King Charles" "Luria
and "A Souls Tragedy" one thing is sure
TO apply to them the ignorant criticism Tor
which the ridiculous Browning societies are
mainly responsible, that the work of 1.-THE
master" is a deep riddle, would be absurd.
| "sordello' may be difficult But In his
plays Browning is never maker OF postical
tortures. Mr. Augustine Birrell, who loves
simplicity and directness himself. writing on
this subject, once said that though ii would
| be absurd to pretend that Browning's plays
met with that overwhelming meaure of suc-
cess our critical age has reserved for suct
dramatists as the late Lord Lytton, I'M
I kA n Nom q "
author OF The Overland Route the late
Mr.. Robertson the author of Caste, Mr. Il
Byron, the author OF Our Boys. Mr. wills
II the author OF Charles l.. Mr.. Burnand, thu
author OF The Colonel, and Mr.. Gilbert, tins
author OF so much that is great and glorious
lin our National drama; at all events, they
| proved themselves able to arrest and re
| tain the attention Of very ordinary euoi
ences." 1t is only fair to add that Brown
lings plays are literature, which can harol,
be said OF some of the dramas by TIC dis
| tnguished authors just mentioned.
II Is safe to predict that Mira. lie Moyndl
production will be strictly In the way o
business. There viii be no pretencs OF beini
ilc what It doesn't want. The unhealthy at
mosphere OF the Free Theater" or the THE
alter OF Arts and Letters will be conspicuod
Inv its absence. The various occasions will
| hardly appeal TO the long-haired. freakish
lpseudo- literary persons who focked recenti,
| To the Carnegie hall to see poor Ibsen mur
dered They will not be tempted from thei
graceful retirement On the other hand thos
VINO want TO see justice done to the mos
lvirile Of poets will go to Waliack's assnrs'
that they will get their moneys worth.