The Washington times., 1905-10-15
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Uplifting the Stage
Manager of a Russian Thea
ter in New York Shows
by Practical DemonstTa-
ton How 1t Nay Be Done.

There has been good deal said and
written. from time to time, regarding
the moral and intellectual tendencies of
modern stage productions. Much of 1t
has been to the purpose; great deal. on
the other hand. has been mere sound
and fury. signifying nothing" That the
thinking public has right to expect
FROM the theater something more than
the trashy stuff that is served up to 1t
with the label society drama will not
be seriously questioned
There are great many people. CT
course. who go 10 the theater merely TO
be amused. Undoubtedly they have
pc-<sct right to demand what p.eases
Them best ard to patronize playhouses
AID plays that cater 20 their particular
predictions. But there ought TO be also
so-ne consideration fer those who ro>, ard
the stage not altogether as a vehicle of
amusement. but OF Instruction and edu-
caticn as well. This class has been COM
paratively disre gardcd by the managerial
clement
Al editorial in the current number of
Golfers brings these facts into the
E,neiight 1t says:
The stage in America is one aspect
Of our existence of which few can be
found to boast 1t is n topic on which
the majority of civilized Countries can
give US hints. The Russian actor Paul
Nikolaiyitch Orlenen. who played in
New York last winter. is about to inaug-
surate the first Russian theater there.
What is his cornpany's repertory? Not
much like the ordinary American out
put, for it includes Tolstoy's christian.
yet unpublished. Gorky's Children of
the Light, Chechhov's Uncle Yania,'
and 'Chaika. Ibsen's Ghosts. He'd
da Gabler.' and The Master Builder
Hauptmann's 'Sunken Bell" Solitary
Souls and Michael Cramer.' Herman
Bahrs Apostle Arne Garborg's
'Paulus.' and other plays of high merit.
although mostly unknown TO the Ameri-
can theater public.
I'VE are pleased to see that in the
effort which educated Bostonians are
making to raise their standard, the
Castle Square Company seems to have
advanced both In its personnel and in
its repertory. which for this season in
cludes four plays of Shakespeare and
one or two old comedies. The September
Architectural Record shows what views
ct setting are held by the new man
agement- The Twentieth Century Club,
including the same people who are in
terested In the Castle Square, makes
these announcements: December 6. 1906.
The Fruits of Enlightenment a social
comedy by Count Lyof n. Tolstoy, first
time in English in this country. Feb
ruary IS, 1906, La Princesse Lointaine
romantic drama by Edmund Rostand,
given heretofore only by Nine. Sara
Bernhard. at the Theater de Ia Renais-
sance in Paris. April %. 1906, 'Androm-
ache by Gilbert Murray. not before
given in this country but given to
high applause in England. and. as we
know from reading. one of the finest
modern plays in English.
Such efforts 20 fS.ye worth and mean
Ing to our stage should have the vigor-
Gus support OF men and women of in
teliigence and purpose"
There is one manager in New York
who evidently has some regard for the
feelings of those of his patrons who
like to enjoy performance undis-
turbed from beginning to end He
does not think. so it seems, that this
enjoyment is enhanced by having peo-
pie Chamber over you after the curtain
has risen, and the play Is in progress
What is more, he has the courage of
his convictions, and has taken steps to
suppress this nuisance. AT the Garrick
Theater hereafter late corners must
stand until after the first act. If this
rule is strictly and consistently en-
forced. there can be no doubt that at
tendance at the Garrick Will be prompt
and there will be no continual bobbire
up and down during the greater por-
tton OF the first act.
All hail TO this manager, May his
shadow never grow less. and may he
find many to follow In his footsteps
both in New York and elsewherei BY
the way, which one OF our Washington
managers will have the courage &c
achieve glory and gratitude by becom-
ing the local <.oneer in this reform?