Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-08-22
Special Corresnondenco.

Spccldl correspondence,
New York, Aug 2O--l'p In Saratoga
few days ago John W. Gates said
the theatrical glory Of the resort had
almost disappeared He had seen only
one footlight fayOrite IN the three
weeks he had been there, and she APP
parently had interest only IN her Sc
date chaperon, aud little red terrier
that had been tagging behind tho heels
of freddie Gebhardt In city and
country all summer.
Last year the Chicago plunger adj
mlred the enthusiasm with which
big colony Of players plunged into
the whirl Of festivities at the famous
Spa. He made friends of most Of them.
aud had looked forward to meeting
them this year, Why then, he won
dcred, had Saratoga been deserted by
star and maid by chorus girl ana red
automobile?
II Mr.. Gates knew as much about
theatrical affairs as he does about Wall
street, he would know the reason for
the theatrical void In Saratoga. The
Spa has missed one OF It's most char
acteristic features because material
managers forbid the pleasures An
carly opening OF the theatrical season
spoiled all hopes Of fun for the actors
in Saratoga or elsewhere Hot dusty
broadway Is the present camping
ground OF the player folk. and here
they will remain until they depart with
well trained scompanies for the enter
tainment Of other cities,
The rehearsal season Is at It's
height. Behind the boarded entrances
OF the Broadway theaters. stage man
ayers and stars are studying new
manuscripts, and wranging with un-
ruly and dull .witted but beautiful
choruses In two weeks the seusou
Will be IN full swing, and before that
short time has passed some actors will
be boasting Of new triumphs, some viii
be trying to explain failures. and rail-
ing at the bralnless persons who, he is
sure, make up the average audience.
With the players rehearslng daily II
Is interesting to note what they do by
way OF amusing the public. First of
all, there will be no dearth OF new
plays Charles Frohman when he re-
turned from Europe a few weeks ago,
had the rights Of SO plays In his grip
sack, and he IL only one OF the many
enterprisng promoters who have play
wrights under contract There will be
an increase IN the number OF new
plays this year over last, and likewise
the number of old favorites TO be pro-
duced will be IN the majority There
are nine new theaters In New York,
and so there must be more plays. The
writer's have not labored with enough
industry TO I'll the gap, and, II is evil
dent then, that the needed plays had
to be found in the files OF other days
In all the hurry Of preparation one
fact stands out above all others. The
season is to be a noyel-play year.
Daniel Frohman raised a storm a short
time ago by saying that the end of the
dramatIzed novel was in sight, He
thought the prediction of years was
near fulfllment, and that the play
wright would triumph completely over
the novelist Short time was sufficient
for Mr.. Frohmans undoing, A list OF
the book plays to be produced was
made, and II was large enough TO con-
vince even the SCotchman, who said
-, 30 htaN ttFntf1A
like TO see the man who could con-
vince him. The outlook is that the
novelist will carry of the large share
OF box office royalties. He may not
give us the best play, but he will pro-
vide the largest number And II Is
probable, too, he will come near to the |
In the artistic finish OF his
work.
The dramatized novel seems TO be
n necessary evil OF the theatcr II IS |
an evil that continues to exist despite |
strenuous objection and there Is no |
doubt 1t will exist as long as the play
wrights fail to supply the demand for
plays. II is hard 10 say which will be |
the most important Of the authors |
stage settings. Probably THE Light |
That Failed" will attract most atten- |
ton, partly from the name OF kipllng
attached to it. partly from the solid |
reputation that anticipates the coming |
Of Forbes Robertson TO this country.
Robertson has been filling the public |
eye I'm England for several years with |
strange persIstency, and since he gave |
dramatic distinction to Kipling he has |
been hailed as an exponent OF all that |
is best I'm dramatic art
The stage Is a serious thing 10 Rob- |
ertson, 80 serious that he insists on his |
following the play II was |
Roberts who reproved a gossipping |
person in a box In london theater |
last winter, and Il Is wondered here |
what viii be his fate II he attempts to |
impose silence on any OF the Fifth |
avenue tattlers. THE Light That Fail |
ed" has been fayorably received in |
England II has been spoken. Of as |
strong play. play that carries an audi |
encc along without effort from one In |
cident to the other. Robertson viii be |
doubly welcome for the reason that he \
win be supported by his wife. Ger |
trude Elliott. There have been many |
whispers recently that the public may |
expect 10 find Miss Elliott has develop |
ed real dramatic worth since she de- |
parted from America. Perhaps she has
but who cares7 Her husband will do |
the acting, and she will supply the
hunger for beauty
One OF the most important produce
tons viii be a dramatization Of The |
Pit" Frank Norris last novel This !,
has been done by Claiming Pollock, n
young man who obtains publicity for |
the business interests Of William A. |
Brady. Pollock Is said TO have done hts |
" ork we'll He has had experience in |
a piece by him having |
been played here successfully two years |
ago. and besides be was an intimate |
friend Of the lamented author But |
whatever his success may be. the re- 4
rret Is that Norris did not live TO do /
the work himself
only now are the facts OF his hard |
fight for recognition beginning 10 leak |
out. More and more is being learned |
about the man TO prove that he had |
the talent and the viii to work out a
great future He had an ambition TO |
write plays, and hort time before his |
death he had expressed wish TO
dramatic THE Pit" Ii Is 10 Mr.. Pol |