The sun., 1903-10-30
THEATRES NOrSO PROSPEROUS
DAVID RELASCO SAYS FREELY
WHAT MANY MANAGERS KNOW.

DAVID kELANO ShbS E"EbSs
WHAT MANY MANAGERS KNOW.
Empty Heuses Almost the R"'e--sut Better
Times Are Ceming-S"'nc shows Ina'
Haven't sufYercd-"Iler Own Way
Drawing Zig Crowds Gossip.
Mr.. Belasco's anything but optimistic
predictions about the fate of the new thea
tres In New York are not without founda-
ton. The playwright has merely voiced
what many managers think on the subject
Business has been poor 80 far tins season.
both here and on the road. Where are
the audiences to come from, asks Mr.
BelRsoo, If theatres are further multiplied!
The answer or the audiences are not forth
coming; that IL, not yet. But come tey
will. In this case the supply.will create the
demand. Old fashioned, grimy theatres VIII
sujYer--that Is undenable. The newer
theatres will absorb patronage. Just as the
tide OF thestregoing has slowly but surely
moved toward Central Park. IT. is no
novelty in these days for downtown theatre
parties to visit tho Harlem Opera House.
Ten years ago we made our wills before
taking the train to that remote and peril
Gus section.
No, though we agree with Mr.: BeIasco
that theatrical prosperity IL on the wane,
wo believe that this is only temporary;
thas the election, Wall Street, half dozen
minor causes, have contributed to the
salump', that it won't last is o matter OF
course. Yet while 1t does last 1t is pro.
dpdng an uneasy feeling. The second
night OF costly show In one OF the newer
theatres saw not more than 5OO people
L. h,,fI ItU~ ta NINA 1nt a
spoctacle to the management After all.
Il will be survival OF the fittest. The
handsome theatres with the superior shows
viii draw the biggest audiences. Who
knows whether the dramatic season OF
lsoS-l9oA may not be banner year!
A. last Wednesdays matinee in the Car
rick Theatre there was certainly no falling
az In attendance. An audience largely
composed Of women witnessed Mr.. Fitch's
s..y With unusual interest. To one who
bad not seen Her Own Way the improve
msnt TN tho authors fdcture seemed great.
Il 10 a comedy OF American, rather, say.
Now York manners. that In parts shows
true Henri Becque coloring; without that
saturnine masters cynicism. Stimulated
by much adverse criticism last season MIR.
Fitch has discarded his usual air Of a fidneur
sauntering through his scenes, distributing
mild epigrams to giggling ladies. "Her
Own Way" Is as far superior TO The Girl
With the Green Eyes as was that imper-
fsctly constructed character study superior
In purpose to ~The Stubbornness Of Ger
aldlne.s The playwright has isolated a
social group, has studied It with his accus-
TONED penetration-he has an eye for fol-
bies-and the result is that he has set upon
their feet three or four live human beings,
not dolls.
In doing this he has contrived a straight
forward narrative OF no especial originality.
but presented with such skill that the
authors evocation Of Atmosphere often
blinds us to the thinness of his story. De-
spite the condolences, despite weak
fourth act, Mr.. Fitchs people are real.
Maxine Elliott seems to be playing herself
possibly because the part was written for
woman she paints Her emotional range
u greater, and deeper, also, Is her pathos.
She 10 no longer merely the pretty woman
exhibiting surface feelings. She may now
lay claim to the title Of artist.
Mr. Fitch has evidently rehearsed his
people with care. They play In perfect
aooord. The Kinder symphony in the
opening aoe IL very clever; throughout the
exposition is made In q technically neat
fashion. The women are Mr.. Fitch's best
characters. He knows his types. And he
10 not too cruel with them. Nellie Thorne,
a. Mrs. Steven Carley Is q perfect foil for
Miss Elliott. Her very cOifure-as Bella
Shi~dls would SAYS suggestive Of her
birdlike brains, her blond. silly soul. Bella,
by tho way, Is character that MIR. Pinero
would not disdain. She is as true az one
Of his oockney manicures or typewriters.
The performance Of George Lawrence
could not be bettered. Nor is the elder Mrs.
CorJsy merely q type-in the capable hands
Of Eva Vincent she is breathing reality.
With his men Mr.. Fitch is less successful.
though there Is vitality Of the bouncing.
ssl9sh kind in Arthur Byron's Sam Coast.
us believe In his Steven Cariey up to the
middle Of the third3 act. After that the
author abandons him, and all that Mr..
Hers can do Is to look his misery in volumes,
and this he does very well. We repeat.
Her Own Way" Is Mr.. Fitch clearly at his
Improvement. 1t is.. while not sounding
the big notes. a genuine play of American
MeAnd character.
We expect something more heroic in
-M0J0r AnQTey WHICH, HOt OtWIIHsldnulnH
tho difficulty Of the theme, Is said to be
strong and compelling In the treatment.
Its first performance Ia set down for next
Friday evening at Hartford. Talented
Arthur Byron is to take the leading role.
Some years ago, say dozen, one Of the
principal magazines started symposium,
the subject Of which was will the People
Have Shakespeare Viola Allen. who
was at that time the leading lady of the
Empire stock company, was one Of the
contributors. She Wrote among other
things
VIII the public have Shakespeare l say.
emphatically, YesI Judging by the feeling
that exists In the public mind at present |
am convinced that there is a disposition toward
more solid dramatic works. | believe that Il
revival Of Shakespe earian drama. produced
with artistic access0ries. and acted earnestly
and intellig gently. will meet with unqualified
public approval. And why. not2 Surely
patrons OF the drama must like best what is
trusst and purest In IL, as do, also. believe me,
the opponents OF that art.
These words were prophetic, tor Miss
Alien u meeting everywhere with Success
In her revival OF sTwefth Might She is
ss present IN Washington.
10 was . good idea OF Manager Conried
to rsvivs 'Old Heidelberg at his Irving
Place Theatre. Those who have seen the
EnSlish version OF Mr.. Mansfeld's at the
Lyric, may now 30 down 10 Irving Place
and make comparisons not invidious
5.ss, y is difficult TO excel the truthful