The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-09-18
AMERICAN STAG
IN FRENCH. EYES ! IS.
Paris Temps Publishes a Review
Of Dramatic Art Here From III
Notes By Mr.. Grau.
MOST PLAYS From EUROPE Q q !.
Some Astonishing Information
Contained in Article, Owing
to Blunder BY Adapter. s
Especial Gable to The Tlmes, D-Ispa toh i AM

4 i = i.5ts
Especial Cable to The Times. Dispatch ant n
New York Herald.) f
a PARIS. September 17.-Before Paris
theatres reopen the Temps has been
entertaining its readers with reviews
Of the dranlu.!e art In other countries
concluding With IN article on the AmeTt-
cam stage fro!ll8tnotes supplied by
Maurice Grau. he says: 81 st 5
&"Amercas s. dramatic art though SELL
young, is distinguished by its absorp-
Etion OF: the mature talent5lofi al RACES
\ On the other hand, 1t may be said that
3all American dramatic art does not
exist for people with business cares
look on the theatre only as 4 prov.ui:lgs5
amusement after the days work lsls
Although many plays are prod uced in +
America, most are OF European sltnportti-E
ton. But as the people have an ms
tllttive love Of the beautiful. certain
banal dramas and operas, successful IN
Europe, have failed to draw in Amcrica. VI"
This article makes certain reserves B
as to American dramatists, limiting that 4
there are too many adaptations, but
none whatever concerning the artists,
WHO are truly astonislNng. Amerl-S
cans. In spite of statements to the CON-
trary have considerable taste on tho
stage, They want the best'.and most
failed turning to the lyrical stage
Poor Field for Opera Cornique.
The article states that Americans Its
tic appreciate the opera conllque, as I'M
derstood In France their taste oscillat-S
ing between opera and apereaat. With Z
regard to the former, touring companies
triumph for the reason that the country
Is poor In good voices. male especially
Z After referring to his Italian seasons
at the Metropolitan. M, Grau lays stress &
on tho fact that he has given a pre-
ponderating place to French works and
artists In twelve years he never pro-
f,lced an American opera. not because 4.
he despised their productions, but none
In his particular field seemed worthy Of
production. Moreover for American q ~
lists arc more important than authors,
On this point education has to be made (
entirely. vaudeville md musical com q
edy do much harm to opera lSs
In conclusion M. Grau has great hope e.
for \, the future OF America. She will
have 10 stage, combining Ill origins,
Shakespeare, Schiller. Molierc,, Caldcron.i v
GoldInl, and lbsen , ,ss
The adapter of NJ. Graus notes mads
sad blunders In the names. leading tbs
New York llernld's European edition
edltorlally to comment thus:
,Possibly American readers may re-
greet that only passing reference Is MADE
to people OF whom fuller particulars
would be acceptable. Cnes appetite for
information Is merely whetted. not ap-&
peased, by the brief alluson g the cele-S
hrated Auguste DAILY who frequently
presents his repertoire at the A..eatre
Francals.' Certainly he cannot refer TO
the late Algustn DAILY, unless he COM "
tinues to present his repertoire by wire Y
less telcgraphy from the world beyond the I
grave
zone would like TO learn more OF tho
native dramatlst :Elisafitch," OF the pop
uIar comedian counted among the ma
t,onnl glories of America, Mr.. tiliuea
Fool. OF the actress. Mrs, Bats who
appeared In Chinese play for many
years In succession of the esltinaple
comedy, Alabama in Mizzonra, a geo.
graphical miracle only Americans can
fully appreciate,
"In n second chapter OF his memoirs,
M. Grau may crafty public curiosity on {
these and other matters, He may eN-
Main. for example, what was going on at
the New york Academy OF Music In 1854, 4
when Patti was singing at 'Castel Gar
den, and Nine SembrIch at the Metros
nolitan. or. why American theatre
coers attribute the authorship Of 'Trilhy'
to Mr. Paul Potter, when, according to \
The Temps, that honor Is due 70 Ms
tGlllet,' !.
American composers. as Mr. GrauS
Gains. may be chiefly remarkable for
their complete ignorance OF music. though
the statement will surprise the admirers
of Aisssrs Dudley Buck, j. Is Paine.
Macpowel Parker and many pther app
parently learned musicians, but an Amer
lean audience likes only what is best
ana knows how 10 distinguish u from
what is lnedlpsrs,'