The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-20

Mn. CONRIED SAYS HIS DIREC-
TORS MAY BUILD ONE.
He and Others outline Plan 20 American
Dramatists' Society and Steps Are
Taken TO Further an Agitation In
Favor Of National Playhouse.


Dramatists' Society and Steps Are
Taken TO Further an Agitation In
Favor Of q National Playhouse.
Thst the idea OF a national theatre in
this city for the presentation Of the best
plays, irrespective OF their value with the
box Office. Is not a chimerical one. but one
which. II properly planned, will have sub
stantial backing, was announced last night
1t . dinner at Delmonioo's given by the
American Dramatists' Society.
Tho dinner. besides having been planned
for Q general discussion Of the subject
BY playwrights. managers and authors,
vas also arranged with a view Of specially
IGNORING Heinrich Conried. the new d.
rector Of the Metropolitan Opera House.
who was the guest OF honor.
Mr.. Conried. in bis speech to the MEM
bers OF the society, told them that the
principal factor in determining his ac-
ceptance Of Mr.. Grau's mantle was the
fact that he regarded it az the first step
toward the realization Of long -chershed
dream OF his, a national theatre. and added
that. having disclosed this to the directors
OF the opera house, he had received from
them assurances that they would build
such q theatre once he had demonstrated
tie feasibility Of his ideas
Mr.. Conried explained his ideas at some
length to the diners, as did Augustus
Thomas. Sydney Rosenfeld. Charles Bar
nard. Wilton Lackaye. ". A. Brady and
others.
A resolution was passed. calling for the
organization Of society to be known as
the National Art Theatre Society, for the
carrying on Of an active propaganda for
the speedy realization Of a national theatre.
hr CAnriad Wa ipfro6nCad nv i G.
Clarke, the vice-president OF the society.
who, in the absence Of Bronson Howard,
presided at the dinner. MIR. Conried said.
1t Is certain that all audiences in the
theatres taken together number more than
the collective audiences Of all religious de-
nominations. Follow the history OF the
stage from Athens to Dawson City and then
challenge my statement that 1t Is one OF the
vital points OF the life Of every man.
.There Is wide space from King Lear to
'LAssomoir' but the stage. like all educa-
tional factors, is subject to degradation.
great. but it is no greater than the down
ward path from Bishop Potter to Mother
Eddy. Education is not left to private
enterprise and the stage as an educational
factor is q public charge.
Mr.. Conried said that the public reoog-
milton Of the stage In such a form as
national theatre would result in the eleva-
ton Of dramatic art and that a theatre
COmDelleO LOT financial TedSOIS 10 run tne
same plays for months cloud not be con-
sidered an educational factor
While other theatres might pay more.
Mr.. Conried thought II would be a matter
Of pride, to authors to have their plays
thus get the best plays
Mr.. Conried said that II 1900 persons
could be secured who were willing to pay
$40 to see ten plays the first season the
theatre would be well started and that at
the end OF the sixth year Of it's existence
the theatre could give new play every
night.
10000 people who will thank you that they
have been able 10 take home something to
talk about except pretty costumes.
Augustus Thorn as apologized for differing
with Mr.. Conried In his statement that the
ss:ge catered to as many as the church;
the stage is an educational factor, but the
church Is an emotional thing which every
ANN needs and the siege not. We cap
30 eduosuonaf. but the theatre is never to
bs encouraged on the theory that i IT dis
rogue because he was the acolyte OF dis
II want TO see a national theatre for the
good u will do. want to see theatre
that will preserve the national traditions.
don't believe that the national theatre
will become q hospital for rejected manu-
scripts. believe that the story that APP
po0lB TO MI. Daniel FrOhfnan Is not inc
one that appeals to Mr. Charles Frohman.
and believe that both Of them will not
appeal to Mr.. Erlanger
don't believe the American drama
needs Q theatre for itself, but I believe
that the American people need a national
theatre and want to see a national theatre
that will give a man chance that the mana
gers to-day won't give him.
Il should like to see a theatre which
would say to the actor. We have seen
you play SrenpaIi and the rabbi in the
Ghetto: now try Shylock. I'd like TO see
q theatre and a board of directors say to
Ed Morgan You'd make a great Macbeth
Try it, should like to see theatre which
would relieve Marlowe from the dramatized
novel, and believe it will come"
Mr.. Conried evidently didn't like Mr..
Thomas objections to his statements,
for when Mr.. Thomas sat down he got up
and said:
Il maintain that the theatre can do as
much good as the church. for many go to
the theatre who never dream OF going to
church. There are three great educational
factors-6rst, the church; second, the school,
and third, the theatre"
Sydney Rosenfeld and Charles Barnard,
author Of The County Fair" indorsed the
project, a. did Wilton Iackaye and W: A.
Brady. Mr.. Barnard said as a curtain raiser
h would read a telegram which was from
Q Mrs. Edith Hail. who lives at the Hotel
Manhattan. promising to subscribe for
the building Of a national theatre, the
A. L. L. L. 1Asa