New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-06

winter a
establish a standard both OF musical and dramatic
excellence and OF popular appeal which viii tax
the best efforts Of American writers. composers ana
producers 20 rival To be sure, the same lesson
has been often enough impaired in bygone seasons
but never. perhaps. with quite so much force. De
cause never al a time when American musical
comedies were being produced with such alarming
frequency and OF such low standard The sho"
girl. the most degrading feature Of American the
atrical life to-day. has come 10 occupy on the sla6e
in this city and through the country place OF
prime importance IN the eyes OF the managers;
the vaudeville element OF vulgar song and dance
and scatterbrsin variety has usurped intelh-
gence plot and musical daintiness; and musical
comedy" among sensible people has come 10 De
almost term Of reproach.
Yet these American-made musical comedies
flourish and continue grow in rank abundance
from which Il may be inferred that there is a
large number OF people who are not sensible. Per
haps this is only halfway a fair inference In
New-York especially there is little else 10 do but
80 70 the theatre and eat. the demand FOR some
sort o. a show is oil out Of proportion 20 the
supply Of good material Yet Il is fair in this that
a person both OF sound sense and a modicum OF
taste would rather he bored by doing nothing than
by sitting at a show which both bores him and
ofrends his II is the almost childish eager
ness Of the American 10 be doing something.
no matter whether II is worth doing moths
inability 10 be happy by hmself-that allows these
American musical plays TO flourish We are Sun
so decent as a race that the show girl does not MI
nights which is a for universal rejoicing.
But how large a proportion OF the public IS really
sensible and how large proportion OF the re-
rnainder stiu prefer the better things when they
are 10 be had. is problem American managers
would 10 have solved only badly after all
Tho remarkable success Of The Sultan Of Sulu"
last a straw that might have pointed
the wind for any theatrical manager and
the instantaneous and deserved success Of Three
Little Maids" at Days Theatre last week is
rr7or sig igr
ried 20 by virtue OF idea cevery and CO.
herently worked out-a satirical idea, fun OF the
racv humor OF which slang is born. The other.
more finished piece Of work, almost work OF art
wins its success by virtue OF its fidelity a single
aim the aim TO create atmosphere OF dainty
music charming sentiment and well hammered
rnirth. Show girls. vaudeville interpolations-even
the harmless chorus-are IN reality responsible for
not jot OF the Of either piece; the credit
IN each case is due TO the who worked out his
own idea into stage presentation. and was not
turned aside 10 concoct features which the man.
ager thought would appeal TO the public.
n -nglish author. be sure Is aided by being
his composer, too. and by the actors OF hts
com--ry. every OF whom is capable and
finished Nor IS il small thing 10 write originally
Tor the English stage. whore higher ideals Of mu-
Fical comedy prevail. Mr.. AIDE backed up by
one excellent comedian. but the bulk OF his com
pany the usual in musical
plays. He had good OF his music. and ne
hampered by the traditions, rather, by the pres
ent conditions Of musical comedy in this country;
and possibly. too. by lack OF that sustained abl
fly keep HIS main idea which Mr.. Rubens pos
sesses A greater directness and fllness Of the de-
sired effect thus results the latters play but
greater popular rush 10 see 81 has also resulted
appreciation has kept pace with attainment. And
50 the American musical comedy producer and
manager stand confronted with the fact that the
hest pays best that an idea not disastrous that
Wholesome laughter and dainty charm and
entertaining story better assets than the appeal
% lust indicate exposures and the coarse. helter
SHELTER methods Of vaudeville. The sad feature OF
this lesson is that IL must needs be English play
which drives the moral home
But. when all is said what difference will II
make 10 the managers" says the scoffer. Prob
ably none. il must be confessed-not at present.
The Rogers Brothers viii still he Haunted on
Broadway, instead Of on Fourteenth-st.. where
they belong. and they will draw fun houses. A
Princess OF Kensngton" real operetta which
they stil dare write IN England will go nusicay
over the heads OF many and the viii
point 20 that fact and shake their heads. Does
anybody expect that George ". L.ederer could be
taught the vulgar error OF his present ways il he
should see dozen Little Maids" or that George
Luders could learn 10 write good music II he sat in
the presence Of Germans a lifetime? What
have a right hope for. however. is the rise OF
better musicians a Chance ana look more 10 he
capture OF an in;elleent nbretto than the capture
or unirteligent but scnsuous line Of show girls
And we may look Tor help from Charles Frohman,
hopes that he will discover American book and
score. but he will likely enough. bring over other
British musical comedies proved Of worth by the
tngly do his share toward the betterment Of taste
success. let Us take heart Whenever the best IS
success, be i American or English Only II is very
tnknd Of Mr Frohman TO reraliate by sending
The Billionaire" 20 London.
Tomorrow is q Labor Day in very truth for the
actors and the professional theatregoers. Miss
Crosman. Mrs. Langtry. Andrew Mack and the
Monday
Manhattan Theatre IN a revival Of las You Like
II" Her first performance viii be IN the after
noon. She has been seen and favorably received IN
this city IN the character OF Rosalind. and her
Viyal is worthy OF the attention and patronage
that il viii Doubtless receive. The cast:
Duke Frederick l'ecton Rocford
Frederick Lewis
,--fa- ts,
William Herbert
Aniens. Henry Gunsn
fylyfus rrhur shaw
SSss-l@s the DreStie 49,. F,5wer5 Tt+rner3
- Rssn ' - Tlotor = IySrns ,sfl l
JACQUES de bois----- Oscar Nnowlt7n
llerlf u j talei ne
Trst officer Richard Marsh
Second officer Macarthur
Mau6e Winter
AUDREY Miss Bessie Baldwin
fhohe Miss Frances Whehouse
Rosan Miss Crossrsn
Monday even ne the Savoy Theatre will open
with the FIRST New-York presentation by Mrs
Langtry OF Mrs behring's Divorce" play by
Percy FendalL Mrs. Langtry tried this play IN
Provfdencs last season. rather than pay a forfeit
Cor no; producing st. and discovered that in Proyi-