New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-10-06
FIRST NIGHT MORALS.
,rsrs OF MINORITY PRIVILEGE IN
TIE LYCEUM THEATRE-INTER-
NATIONAL Comfy OR
REPRISALS.
REPRISALS.
London, September q

~. n-sctice OF "booing" plays is rapidly be-
-t,r an intolerable nuisance. A few noisy
--.,--ents on the opening night of Sherlock
-,,.s" az the Lyceum Theatre offered a strik-
-. illustration Of the inconvenience and intus-
- =, the proceeding. They undertook IN
xro-+ and uaisrepresent the Judgment of the
ss-ce That judgment was unmistakablv
-.-o-sble 10 the melodrama which had prospereo
:, America After the final fall OF the curtain
here were the usual recalls and appeals Tor
.,ssch: but when Mr.. Gillette approached the
,o.I,rnts the "booing'' began from the zal
,.,,es where a small knot of noisy directors un-
ss--Ook to silence him with taunts and 1eers.
Mr. Gillette was forced to look on patiently
.rsle q conflict was in progress between mi.
cautious minority and an overwhelming majority
ps commanded the sympathy and respect Of the
audience by his GOODNESS and raanliness: and 1,
the end the indictments were suppressed and
.he actor was allowed TO make a witty and in
e,s,ve speech. All the London journals depIored
me incident the next morning as disgraceful
exhibition Of rowdyism-
What was demonstrated was the capacity OF
.sw Ill hammered yahoos for uisrepresentfng
the wishes and opinions Of an immense majority
The audience was bent upon an act Of interna-
,;ouaI comfy IN welcoming an American actor;
ard small group Of obstructionists sought 20
veto the proceeding by shouting themselves
hosrse The noise made by these indictments
vss entirely out Of proportion TO their numerical
strength; and the majority were at a marked
disadvantage in the conflict. for they could only
plesd for silence, order and decency. whereas
esch disturber Of the peace could shrek and
howl 10 his hearts content and defer the in
.srrsi OF quiet required for the delivery OF the
sc.ors thanks. Clearly the factious minority
we're abusing their privileges and attempting TO
.snstorn a favorable into a hostile verdict II
Trey had succeeded in silencing the actor and in
Assing him of the stage, they would have in
slctsd great financial damage upon the Ameri-
can actors and the Lyceum Theatre Syndicate
Their failure was due 10 the self-possession Of
gr Gillette and TO the patience and sense OF
justice and fair play Of the audience.
Dsorderly proceedings OF this kind go long
way toward 5ustifying the employment of a
caque for the protection OF the financial Inter
ests Of the management The production OF e
new play at London theatre involves a large
investment OF money. Those who supply the
capital and the actors hazarding their reputa-
tons have a right to complain If a small num-
Der Of DIRECTORS persist in making disturbance
and in misrepresenting the judgment Of the
sudence. The odium of first night failure
Is unJustly incurred and the management Is
subjected TO heavy pecuniary loss. II the scene
Witnessed on the opening night OF the Lyceum
were 20 become a regular first night revel OF
.owdyisn1, managers would be compelled in self
defence 10 pack stalls, pit and galleries with
their own adherents, who could shout down all
opposition. That would be a logical sequence
TO systematic abuse OF minority privileges, and
he judgment OF the first night audience would
kexpressed by hirelings OF the night and would
be Of no practical value.
s-----
tasnly felt by fairninded EngIishmen IN the
audience, who Indignantly invoked the disturb
e-s not to disgrace their nationality. It was
indeed q shabby return for the hospitality and
ts.- play offered by American audiences to Sir
Henry Irving, Miss Terry, Mr.. John Hare and
scores Of English actors year after year. "Sher-
lock Holmes was a frank uaelodrame OF q the
ntrical kind based upon a popular work Of an
English novelist: and while IL was not play OF
:he highest order International comfy required
that the American actor who had succeeded in
pleasing the majority of his auditors. should
have respectful hearing when asked TO speak
after the final fall OF the curtain. Ordinarily
there has been reciprocity of treatment under
e. informal most favored nation clause in the
reception Of English actors in America and Of
American actors in England; and the exchange
o. courtesies has promoted good feeling between
the two countries. It would be an international
misfortune If retaliation were substituted for
reciprocity and a system of reprisals were TO be
Instituted. The Lyceum Theatre. OF all audi
tortEms IL London. was an unfortunate place
for any manifestation OF hostility and injustice
to Al American actor, for it was associated with
the honorable fame and stage triumphs Of Sir
Henry Irving and Miss Terry, who in a long
series Of professional tours had found American
playgoers even more generous and eppreciative
than piaygoers at home.
Il ought TO be added that the practice OF boo
ing" is e common one in London theatres, and
that English companies and plays are constant
y subjected 10 IL. II was not an exceptional in
cident which tzied Mr.. Gillette's patience and
temper. for every new play has to run the ordeal
o. the caprices and resentuents OF the pit and
galleries; but the injustice Of the hostile demon
Eration was strongly marked since the directors
were few in number. yet persistent in the at
tempt 10 override the favorable judgment OF the
majority Of the house. Not infreQuently the
'booing" is merited IN consequence Of defective
Construction OF the play or Of inferior work oy
The actors; but often the chances Of success OF
drama, upon which large reserves Of capital
and the resources Of painstaking acting ana
Etage management have been expended, are
rouded by unseenly and unjust outbreak OF
Impotence from the galleries and stalls. Man
Asers are at the mercy OF faded and capricious
hrst nighters who magnify their own critical
functions and reckless and intolerant in their
Expression OF disapproval. A dozen noisy Cd
'ectors can wreck the fortunes Of q new drama
IN the opening night. Their uproar when men
TONED in the newspapers outweighs the silent
appreciation OF the bulk OF the house and COL
nrnns OF ju6icious criticism in print
sherlock Holmes" came to London Win
record Of phenomenal success in America ana
., an extremely favorable reception in Liverpool
u was an opportunity not only for DRAWERS IN
he gallery. but also for superior persons among
The corps OF critics TO assert the dignity OF the