Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-09
Merchant Of Venice" Twelfth Night
and Romeo and Juliet"
Foreign Stage Gossip

LONDON, August %, 1905.
Musical comedy has had it's day here. de-
clares George Edwardes, and as an arbiter
| in these theatrical fashions Mr.. Edwardes
speaks with authority. The Gaiety, after
| a long period of fickleness, is about to re-
| turn to Its old love; the musical comedy,
| like the unemployed actor is to rest for
| some time to come. But 1t will not be q
| revival of mere o1d-time burlesque that we
are to witness. The public Of today, Mr..
Edwardes says, would not stand it; they
have been educated far beyond 1t. Musical
comedy will break away in two directions
it will be a development rather than a
revival. One line will take the playgoers
to an artistic and highly finished product
Of the musical comedy stage. The other
| will introduce the audience to a holder
farcical neutrality-suspicious. burlesque
extravaganza. London wants tightening
and Frightening in the long autumn and
winter months, and the change will I'M
| doubtedly be welcomed by most who are
dependent on theaters for the bulk Of their
the feelings Of the earnest student" ever
on the lookout for the gloomy and the de-
pressing.
Notwithstanding the Increased popularity
OF theaters and the number Of playgoing
people, there undoubtedly is slump in
actors salaries here. "Offer me an engage
certain and I'll take itr' This proposal was
made In all seriousness only a few weeks
ago to ; manager who owns several pro
vincial rights" by an actor Of considerable
touring experience who not long ago could
command $50 or $40 a week and was sell
dom out Of an engagement.
/ In still more recent case an actor was
tour In a popular meiodrama which has
been playing to big business. The terms
he was asked to accept were $3.50 per
week. He was expected to find frock-
coat suit, a lounge suit, an evening dress
suit and hunting costume, not to mem
ton silk hat, dress shirts, wig-and his
fare from London to Glasgow. He declined
the munifcent offer. and the part was
eventually given to an actor who signed
for SO week.
According to an actor who has been ven
tilating the grievances of the provincial
players, an actor who now goes on tour in a
No. company to play the leading part in q
London success Of the comedy or drawing
room type counts himself exceedingly for
tunate If he receives $40 a week, and gen.
eraly has to be content with less Before
the slump" set in he could command e45
or $50 week for similar role. The lead
ing lady In such a company may, II excep-
tionally fortunate, receive $3.50 or perhaps
$25. In nine cases out Of ten she has to
supply her own dresses for q tour which
probably does not last for more than three
months.
said a theatrical manager when asked him
what had caused the slump. There's
good deal Of supply and nothing like as
much demand. A man is not going to pay
E5 week II he can get equal talent for
g. Is it nkely7 And there is always room
at the top"
''The fact that there are so many stage
struck idiots about in these days who are
willing to do anything for next to nothing"
says George r. Sims, doesn't make mat
tiers any better for the genuine pro.
Theatrical managers In Paris are worry
ing over the new law imposing one legal
day Of rest in seven. How It is to be car
ried out Is what troubles them. On that
question they are all at sea- Paris with
its theaters closed on Sundays 10 almost
unthinkable. Less things have provoked
revolutions in the gay city. Besides. 1t
would mean a great loss Of money to the
proprietors. for the Sunday, performances
are the most profitable Of the week. The
Syndicate OF Dramatic Artists" advocate
the closing OF the theater on Monday In
stead OF on Sunday. arguing that as Mon
day Is the worst paying evening Of the
week, by following such course managers.
for half the year At least. would save money
instead Of losing It. Anyhow, they viii