Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-03-22

FRANK RCSHWOR1H AS ROBIN HOOD IN
MAID MARIAN.
IDENTIFY expected to score the success OF
her career. She was also very much
y impressed with the play as a whole,
but as the rehearsals progressed she
became convinced that the role as
signed to her leading man, Frank
Worthing, was of so little value that
it would be an injustice to ask him to
play it. Rumor has it that Mr.. Worth
ing made no objection, but Mrs Bing-
ham insisted that the author, Mrs.
Haines, should rewrite the play in
such manner as to give greater prom
inence to Mr.. Workings role. This
Mrs. Haines fatty refused to do. 1t is
also reported that she declined to per
NIT any one else to do it. Mrs. Bling
ham accordingly stopped rehearsals
and Immediately began preparations
for the production Of "a Modern Mag
dalen." Thus it is that a new writer
for the stage will not get an immedi-
ate hearing for her maiden effort
Opinion as to the actual merits Of the
case is naturally divided. Dramatists
lean to the position that Mrs. Haines
was perfectly correct in her attitude
and that it was n piece of imperti-
hence for Mrs. Bingham to ask her to
do something which might have de-
stroyed the very fabric of her play.
Actors, on the other hand, are in
elined TO think that Mrs. Haines should
have made the effort to do what Mrs.
Bingham requested and that it would
have been time enough to stand firm
after she had discovered that her work
had been injured by the changes.
The announcement by Daniel Froh-
man that he will not disband his stock
company will be welcome news to low
ers Of the drama in every section OF
the country. From the old Lyceum
theater on Fourth avenue, over whose
destinies Mr.. Frohman has presided
for many years, have gone forth many
players who have since become prom
inent in various lines OF dramatic ef-
fort. The performances at the Lyceum
were invariably marked by good taste
and irreproachable stage management.
The stock company is not so good now
as it was n few years ago, but it is
still creditable organization 1t, how
ever, has always seemed to be out Of
place in Days theater. to which house
IT was transferred when Mr.. Frohman
took the lease OF that one time home OF
Americas greatest stock company.
Now that the old Lyceum IS TO be
pulled down to make way for a mod
ern skyscraper. Mr.. Frohman will
build a new Lyceum near Broadway.
When that is. completed. he will make
it the home OF his stock company,
Days being given over to the produc-
ton of comic operas and musical COM
edies, presumably OF the English
brand. as it is generally understood
that Mr. Frohman has an arrange
ment with George Edwardes OF the
London Gaiety theater looking to the
transference to New York of the Brit
isher's successes in that line
This is as it should be. A theater
gradually acquires clientele in con-
sonance with the class of entertain
ment with which it becomes identified,
and when a different form of amuse-
ment is offered 1t is too often an up
hill task to win back the old patrons,
who in many cases have found new
idols
Frank Rushworth, the Robin Hood
of maid Marian De Koyen &
Smiths sequel to their old opera, Rob
in Hood" is a,graduate from a church
choir who has won fame and not a