The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-13
New YOrk's Winning Theatrical
Ventures OfPast Season.
Alan Dale Reviews the Dismal
Failures in Gotham.
8 DECIDED TRIUMPHS.
50 A Wife Without a Smile .
Was a Fizzle.
Managers Suffered Heavy Losses
in Broadway Ventures.

CLOSE the shutters fast, let fall the
curtains" and-for goodness sake let
US stamp on the poor, squirming. ex-
traordinary season and put it out of
its misery. Even to attempt to pro
long its feeble, anaenic, gaspinE life is
a cruelty. Nobody Will be more pleased
to see the end of the strangest record
Of failure and of strangled competition
IN the annals than one handful of peo-
pie who still pretend that they are
agers-except perhaps that other
handful Of people pretending to be
audiences"
Such is the opening paragraph of
a1an Dale's review of the closing New
York season in the New York Amer
lean and Journal. In reviewing his
review OF the expiring season one dis
covers that the majority of the real
successes OF the past year have been
strictly American. He says that you
can count the successes on the fingers
OF one hand names 1.-The Duke of
klll1crankie, THE Music Master"
me College Widow, Leah Kles-
china" and "Adrea.'' Going still fur
Their he says that to some it will ap-
pear that Mrs. Wigs of the Cabbage
Patch Mrs. Lef1ngwelfs Boots" and
Mrs. Temples Telegram are three
decidedly clever productions and
which he admits have scored triumphs.
Out of these eight plays six are dis
tinctively American. Mr.. Dale goes
on at this point of his review, to COM
miserate the fact that there are not
more industrious American play
wrights He says that the cherished
pastine of theater-going is certainly
down in the doldrums, for a time be-
ing at least, but the depression viii
not be permanent.
The writer next goes into the dis
nal failures of the season, which he
designates as follows:
"a Wife Without a Smile" by Ar
thur Wing Pinero.
1.-The Rich Mrs. Repton." by R. c.
bird Center" at the Majestic
''The Spell Binder" at the Herald
Square.
"Once Upon Time" at the Barke-
ley Lyceum.
Lucky Durham" at the Knicker-
booker.
''Friquet," at the Savoy.
''Who Goes There ?" at the Princess.
1.-The Trifler.'' at the Princess.
In speaking of the failures. he says
that the last seven named were so ut
terly inexplicable that they simply
evaporated. The list of failures for
the dramatic season of 1904-05 breaks
all previous records in this line.
Continuing, he says:
Miss Annie Russell had two foreign
chances. In addition to Jimmy the
Carrier she appeared in Brother
Jacques" from the French, and there
was no case in which the sympathy of
the public was so thoroughly aroused.
Miss Russell is a fine, sterling little
artist of international appeal-London
was at her feet when she played Sue
there-and it did seem like the very
irony Of fate that both of her ventures
should have been such failures. She
needs very little to carry her toward
success. She has been associated with
some of the most delightful entertain
ments on the calendar. Yet twice she
was showed under by means Of plays
that were hopeless from their incep-
ton.
I'm the musical line sFantana' and
The School Girl may be set down as
successes, while Lady Teazle,' with
Miss Lillian Russell must be proclaim
ed as very nice and artistic. These
three entertainments held their own
nicely. The School Girl showed that
Mr. Charles Frohman knew his bust
ness, and Miss Edna May for the first
time proved to be a prophet in her own
country. Even in musical comedy there
were some extraordinary failures, such
as The Royal Chef The Baroness
Fiddlesticks.' and The Cingalee.' The
potency of George Edwards waned in
this city. The admirable London pro-
Queer needed the guiding hand Of Mr..
Charles FrOhman. Without that guild
ing hand Mr.. Edwardes can afford to
give up New York as bad Job.
Miss Amelia Bingham in Mile
Marni Miss Mary Mannering in
Nancy Stair and Miss Virginia Harmed
in Lady Jane Shore failed to awaken
more than a very passing interest. Miss
Harmed was the best Of the three. Miss
Bingham the worst. It was all very
battling Among the men James K.
Hackett in The Fortunes of the King
and William Faversham in Lefty suf-
fered from fatty degeneration of the
possessor of one of the seasons great
est successes, The Duke Of Killicran-
kie.'
Close the shutters fast. let fall the
curtains Perhaps better things are in
store for US next season. There seems
to be a rift within the lutte and seers
note a Frightening Of the atmosphere.
Straws tell. and one or two Of them are
adrift at the present moment. Hope
springs eternal The panicky feeling is
not quite as keen as It was. Certain
indications point to an improved condi-
ton. A few thunder showers Of late
have cleared the air.
THE curtains are falling fast, and
soan there will be nothing left of the
| old season but It's memories-its few
successes. its many failures, its bicker-
ings and heartbuTnings, and the wet
blankets that it has thrown upon hon
est endeavor. Even these viii be for
gotten and a new perspective establish
| ed. When the curtains rise on Sep
! TENDER we shall be there in our best
clean shirt and eur sunniest outlook
1.-The king is dead; long live the king.
ALAN DALE