The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-17
TIE STAGE HERE And ABROAD.
pRODUCTION OF 1.-THE VIKINGS
IN LONDON.
..p,rIing OF the Gods" Model staging
Henry Arthur Jones and His Critics
MN Crinkie's Novel for the Boards
The Boston Independent Theatre.

7, il generally conceded in theatrical
, I,cles that hereafter tho ground hog will
"a accepted as a fairly good weather FORE
nsster Gondolas. not hansoms. were
nseded at theatre doors this week.
Whether or no THE Vikings succeeds
!, London Ellen Terry deserves infinite
credit for giving the play a production.
Generally known as the Chieftains OF Hell
osIand, Ibsen published the work in 1858.
y is his epic, his Ring OF the Nibelungs,'
IMPRESSIONS from reading whole series Of
sagas He worked them freely
mo an organic whole, which is remark
.bIe reproduction OF the spirit Of the race
Of them Wagner pursued the same
course. Those who know Ibsen only as
playwright Of revolutionary tendencies
iii be surprised at the poetic power Of
this early composition.
Miss Terry's son, Gordon Craig. gets
o,s Of credit for the tagging. No doubt
he deserves the has been faithful at
tendant OF Covent Garden. where the pro-
duction of Der Wald' was voted the most
artistic thing Of its kind that London has
ever seen. But wait until The airing
Of the Gods" is put on at His Ma jesty's
Thetre.
Il is doubtful, however, II David Bell SEQ
Wi be able to go over for the sta ging u
his play. He is 20 busy now that he would
ike 10 hflve himself. Possibly Mr.. Tree
Will send some one over here to see the
New York production.
Mr. Craig. by the way. still insists that
nearly all the mechanical entrances and
crossings on the English and American
stage would be done away with II the amphi-
theatre pettern in architecture prevailed.
He has taken up cudgels with the Academy
on the subject. But Anglo-Saxon audi
ences 60 TO the theatre to be seen-the play
is secondary thing. just fancy what an
created by every one leaving the stalls
or else standing up, back 10 the stage,
staring around with field glasses! This
is the common practice in German theatres.
The Academy contains a sharp rap at
Henry Arthur Jones-though his name is
not mentioned-on the theme Of author
and critic; surely sickening theme by this
time. II says editorially:
The dramatists who find modern theatrical
criticism offensive are not confined to En- gland.
Sudermann wrote u series Of articles not long
ago in the Beriiner. Ta0ebloa. which have
s afs Gesn t se asuas Of eas never
been more unsympathetic than II Is to-day
manners declined to % abs aSsoute deseneraey
and he names certain papers as typical OF this
dereneracy; II is the old story over again
paper for the last hundred years to be assured
Of this. II was not kind to refer TO Suder-
ny do Sa S,h orC scSi
Justify his view. The one point that emerges
critics.
Yes. but sometimes the authors make
capital out Of Just such replies. For in
stance. Hall Game. Abuse me. he begs,
but don't lose me. However. the last
sentence above quoted should be cut out
and pasted in the hatband of every dramatic
author. As a matter of harsh reality, dra-
matte critics are such poor. miserable.
envious. brainless idiots that they are not
worthy Of notice. II Ii their form Of mania
that they think they know . bad play when
they see one. 1t Is the authors peculiar
obseesion that he thinks HE play a master
piece. VOLTA! And what are you going
10 do about iti
To-day II the quarrel that once occurred
in Dublin gallery were to be repeated the
witticsm evolved on that occasion might
E R sSm nsal e. Like sss tSs sa ro men
Don't waste him. Kill q critic with
the head Of a theatrical reporter in the
orchestra.
Minnie Dupree Is to be the Polly Of wIG.
smyth's production, Tangled Up in
Beulah Land next fall. 1t 10 Eugene
Presbreys dramatization Of the late Nym
Crinkles novel.
Boston has its independe Mt theatre (situ-
sted in Brookline). 1t Is called the JefYer- |
ION Dramatic Club. On the 9th Of this |
month plays by Arlo Bates, Mrs. Evelyn |
Greenleaf Sutherland and E. H. Clement
are to be produced. And as some one put |
1t pertinently to Daniel Frohman: Why
70 to England for nice plays when literary
An Irish echo answers: why not3'
Tbs Flatiron fatulency of some first
night curtain speeches was put to shame
At the Madison Square Theatre BY Author
Broadhurst, who said just about ten words
In two calls. This beats the record.
The decision Of the French courts that
kissing Is permissible In theatre Is q body
blow aimed at that antiquated and we'll
nigh insupportable Partisan nuisance the
elaque. When the cidgue is suppressed
Missing will be no longer necessary.
Mr.. Jones goes for his critics In the cur
rent Nineteenth Century The writer 10
endeavoring to all the boots left vacant
y the late Charles Reade. and he doesn't
do IL.
April Is IL the probable date Of Henry
Lrvngs production Of Dante" at the Drury
Lane. Sardou Is u ing to get up enough
courage TO cross the Styx-for him the
Channel
Vincent Sternroyd. well known here,
70 be in the Dante cast.
isadore Duncan has achieved the en-
,vable point Of popularity abroad where
her dancing is burleequed In Berlin farce
comedy; When she first appeared here,
over decade ago, in old Chickering Hall,
wash Miss Amy Fay at the pianor-many
thought that her dancing then was such.
the rich sea change must have benefited
her contours.
Aaeterlinck's 'Monna Wanna has passed
~ lOoth performance at the Deutches
Theatre. Berlin. Frau Geesner-Sommer-
s.oH Is playing the title role, originated
~ Georgette Leblanc Nine. Maurice
Naeterlinck.
while Anatole Frances 'Crainquebille,'
= ohe-act piece, Is pronounced exquisite at
sle Renaissance, Paris, the fhree-act
SSotnedy on the same bill, sClaresse Arbois,'
yy Maurice Boniface, has not scored. In
,ts II fell fat, though Mile Brandes Is