The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-12-15
DRAMATIC STOCK COMPANIES,
A TALK ABOUT THEIR METHODS
WITH ALICE KAUSER.
wholesome American Plays Liked Hest BY
the People Who Duy Amusement at
Low Prices-An Actor-ManaEer VINO
Max Comic Speeches 10 Audiences.

York has two, Brooklyn four, Chicago
four, Philadelphia three. Nashville, New
Orleans, Boston, San Francisco and Newark
two apiece and Toledo, Louisville, Mem
phis. Baltimore. Cincinnati, Washington,
Pittsburg. Kansas City and Milwaukee
one. besides Keith's In Providence, which
alternates with vaudeville. Proctor has
joined the ranks Of the stock company
managers, blu hardly the real stock sys-
tenn, because he plays vaudeville between
the acts. The companies of a good grade
in most OF the cities occupy theatres hat
were once the most fashionable, but were
succeeded six or seven years ago by newer
buildings. The prices range from rs cents
TO IS, although some stock houses go as
low as 10 cents and no higher than 80
Miss Kauser il IN agent through whom
much business between dramatic authors
and theatrical managers Is done Especi-
ally Is she a medium Of supply to the resi-
dent stock companies, which have multi
piled Of late in this country, and 30 a Sun
reporter went to her for information
about the revival Of old-time methods in
stage affairs.
The cheap companies that she refers to
are called by theatrical people the ten,
twent and thirt." Corse Payton runs
such a one in Brooklyn, and guying stories
not without truthful foundation are told
about him. In his between-the-acts
speeches he convinces his audience that
IL IL getting the worth Of its money. He
does not lay claim 10 art, but uses figures.
For instance, u performance of Hamlet
by his he commended thus;
Ladies' and gentlemen, this play has
twenty-five characters, not to mention
several spear-bearers who take no active
part. Now. not counting the doubles,
which, | will not deceive you, exist in this
representation, you in the paTquet are
getting actors at the rate of n cent and n
half apiece. | do not hesitate 10 say that
they are worth that. ] will not mislead
YOU, either, in respect TO the play. IL Is
nv policy alw avs To take my patrons into
my confidence. Hamlet is not new, nor
do ] pay anything for its use. However,
" IL a good play, and develops in interest
right up TO the last scene. ] am sure you
will like IL az well as you did Uncle Toms
Cabin like which II contains nothing
to offend the ladies and children. Any
body who feels that Hamlet is not worth
20 cents can see by coming 10 neXt weeks
revival Of '~Aristocracy' the latest things
in mems clothes. Our leading man has
had n new dress suit made especially for
this production.
Miss Kauser did not spend time in such
stories, but stuck to facts. The first OF
the repertory stock companies" she said,
was In Pittsburg. and the second at the
Castle Square in Boston. Then almost
simultaneously came those at the PIX
in Cincinnati and the Dearborn in Chicago.
Now the larger cities have two or more, OF
which. usually. one appeals to the more
refined taste and the other. or Others. 70 the
love of sensational melodrama. In the Far
West there are several Of these companies
that travel, playing frequent, long engage
ments in San Francisco. conspicuous among
these are two led by Daniel Frawley and
James Neil, the latter nov in Australia.
II was az the Grand Opera House In San
Francisco that the system of visiting stars
in vogue prior TO thirty years ago was
lately revived In Denver during the
summer such actors a. F.. j Morgan.
Blanche Walsh and Marie Wainwright play
such pnra prments. There are only a few
companies that ! really call first class.
By that | mean where careful consideration
is given TO the selection OF plays ana actors,
to stage management a. well as business
management, and where "A dignified APP
neal is made. would name those at the
Grand i'm Pittsburg, the Pike in Cincinnati,
the Dearborn in Chicago, the castle Square
I'm Boston and the Bellows in Washington,
ne Percy Haswell in Baltimore, the Than
houser in Milwaukee and the Woodward 4
Burgess in Kansas City All of these houses
charge frst-class stock prices. Among
the cheaper and very PROSPEROUS houses
MIR. John A F~orepaugh's IN Philadelphia Is
longes; established In America torse
payton also must be rated a. a particu-
larry able manage and a comedian OF talent.
These stock companies have "A large and
solid clientele.
stock hous.- are dramas that have been
successfully produced In Broadway In"
prime requisite ~ that they snail be free
from immortality, and preferably that they
be American N scene n subject ~
tha=. theatr-H hpISal to women, largely
because uf numerous matlnee-, the PLAYS
must ba clean and Wholesome. the aotors
~ gu.ui l-.haNior and the
unssn.atipuRl The play II the thing
with the stocks Just the nam" AZ u In with the
first class COMPANIES and star
Mts- kau-.'T land stress ~ the objection
81 stock company %audt"no'- 90 anything
"A -gulDT MORALLY lhh hp hHsn drmuu.
slrnt.d several Tunes AZ the Murray liil
aud American herr It's" only exception
tina Mo- kaur.'r mentioned Wa "a" AlUaFar
iu Sau Frau'i-,sI, Nhrfr rhn said tiF gay
f.pr.w ser. Ia, -turalir AMI Company
aui 'Self and Lady we're enthusiastically
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