The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-01-04
~ THE DQHN1H AS INTERPRETED IN WASHINGTON
Trying 4 Play on the Dog---Is Washington S
Pre-Eninence as FTst-Night City a Doubt
full DistnCtOR?--Long List Of Plays Success
fully Launched Fere---ATe the Local Play
OOers Any Gamers Thereby,

"A Rose o. Plymouth Town was de-
tected and the play condemned. This
happens to be the most recent instance
of that sort, but there are many others.
Nearly always changes must be made,
it is true. But the greater number Of
such changes are detected by the audi
ence, not by the management. There is
no manager in the country who would
oppose his judgment as to the success
Of comedy or the strength of tragedy
against that OF two actual trials in a
city like this. Such changes as are
made are nearly always made on the
recommendation of the frst-nisht audi
ebces.
The judgment of a New York audience
in such respects has long been mis-
trusted. It's theateTgoers are jaded. As
has already been Indicated. it cares only
for cheap musical comedy, worthless
melodrama, or disgusting problem
plays" If it grants favor to anything
else it is because q new class Of thea
tergoers fills the seats. What manager,
then, would undertake to alter a good
clean, healthfuI play like Mice and
Men on the verdict of New York
audience? Not Mrs. Fiske-she pro-
duCed Mary of Magdala" in Chicago.
Not Henry Miller and Richard Harding
Davis-they produced The Tanning of
Helen"> in Rochester. Not David Bel
asco-aH his plays are to be first shown
on the Washington stage. Not Charles
Frohman or his brother Daniel-tbey
seem to prefer any other city in the
Union
IN contrast. nothing could inspire more
confidence than the irst-night trials IN
Washington in the past ten years. No
single play has drawn well in the Capt.
tai which has failed when on tour.
Every work, good or bad intrinsicaIly.
which has been heartily supported here,
has been heartily supported in every
other city, not excepting New York. Il
is unnecessary to cite instances, a but
one or two may lend emphasis TO this
statement. THE Cuckoo" suffered from
severe frost at the Lafayette. in spite
OF that warning its managers attempted
10 tour the country with it; and in less
than a month it was practically dead
Her Majesty" played 10 half houses at
! the Columbia, and during the next two
months to half houses in a dozen other
cities. 1.-The Children Of the Ghetto"
was a pronounced success here. II failed
outright in London. But It has proved
/ one OF the most successful American in
vestments the LtebIer Company has ever
made.
/ Indeed, little else could be expected.
/ Good plays are designed COR the more
/ intelligent OF theatergoers- Few ques-
tionabIe plays are given frst-night pro-
cuction in Washington. The compost
zion Of the local audience challenges
comparison with that of the most high
/ priced and socially exalted pIayhOuses
anywhere else, London, Paris, OF New
York Probably no other city in the
word has so many highly educated resi-
dents Of the middle class, and so few
residents who are poor or uneducated.
IAN audience at all representative of such
/ 4 population viii invariably give its ap-
prevail to whatever is finished, artistic.
reasonable. strong, and pure. play
without those attributes must invariably
+ fail Washington theatergoers are not
fadod- Their minds are open 10 sincere
pleasure. Unaffected absorption. and
+ heaIthfuI enthusiasm. They are not IL
/ to pass upon such compositions as THE
/ Belle OF New York, ." and they ought
TO thank Providence for il.
/ With such a view spread before the
! eve life in this frst-night. city is not
/ dreary prospect. Whatever is artistic
F and worthy finds Washington as ad-
vanced as any other community in the
country. It IS Jay" only in those things
which Dander to the deDrayed taste OF
/ New York-a decoration 10 be worn
proudly these days-aud it is sufficient
/ ~ advanced along the lines OF true art
TO appreciate actors like Annie Russell,
and Otis Skinner and plays sike Mice
and Men" and Francesca Da Rimini. -
I American managers have finally discov-
cred this. like barometors Of slow ac-
Ition. and the people Of the Capital are
NOW reaping the benefit OF their own
discrimination Washington is no dra.
matte dog. Its estimate Of new play
/ is as good guide as the actor. play
wright. and manager can obtain in Amer
II