The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-08
LAUNCHING THB NEW THEATRE
ITS AIMS AS IMPLIED Nv TIE
SCHEME OF THE BUILDING.
A Now Era In the English DFama-A Play.
house On . Par With the Bestin the World
VI. -F1nanees and DirectOrs-ATt and
The PeOple-vieNS % the Founders.

has made public a printed statement OF
the conditions governing the competition
for the selection Of the architect. h
pamphlet contains a full and explicit state
ment not only Of all the essential features
Of the projected edifce but Of the general
nature and purposes Of the institution, ana
may be taken as marking the first definite
step in the undertaking. The event ls be-
yond question the most interesting in the
annals Of the English speaking stage, ana
IL is not unlikely to prove the beginning
of a new FRA in the English drama Ofthe
financial resources OF the foundation ana
the details Of its artistic management no
definite statement has yet been made,
doubtless for the sufficient reason that thus
early in the formative stage such r state
ment il impossible; vet certain leading
facts have already reached print and others
have been ascertained by THF SUN for pub
LEGATION in these columns.
With me abortive National Theatre, 40
called. Sarsationally announced by one
Of the New York papers early last NO.
venber. the present project has only a
historical connection. That institution
devotei to a national drama which Toes not
exis., slppnrte1 u the extent OF 3,OOO,Oo o
Ivy thirty gentlemen who refused 10 sub
scribe. and under the social censorship
of three gentiewomen who refused to serve
il any such absurd capactty-was to have
been the creation Of Heinrich Conried. Its
s,le substantial ass It was a SIS 900 option
on a piece OF real estate valued at SI50.oO0.
This has passed into the hands OF the
founders of the New Theatre. 1t is to he
observed that it il Made up Of citizens who
have long been suspected of solvency. and
WIN are no known to be liable to what is
s,netimea des as cold feet. Twenty
three of them are:
John Jacob Aston. Cla.rNGe II. Mackay.
, Charles r. Barney i. Ptcrpont Morgan.
Fdrluud l.. Rayli"S. James Henry smith,
August Belmont. James StillInan,
Robert p. Van Cortlandt. Hamilton Mex. Twombly,
Paul d. Crava,h. William X. Vanderbilt,
William u. OSgood Field. Cornelius Vanderbilt.
, George i. Could. Henry walter.
\ Eliot Gregory. orme wilson
flames n. HYDE. Henry Rogers winthrop.
Otto n. Kahn. Harry Payne Whitney.
W. nc Lance kount2e.
: This leaves only two vacancies. the NUM-
Der of founders being twenty-five.
There are to be two tiers OF boxes in the
new edifce, similar to those at the Opera,
: and numbering forty-six in all. OF these
all are or soon will be sole in perpetuisy for
the Tuesday and Thursday performances,
the price being sos 900. SO great has
been the demand for permanent locations
in fact. that many people have requested
to buy seats in the parquet on similar terms
"a proposition which Is without precedent
in the repertory theatres of the Continent,
upon which the New Theatre is modelled,
but which is not unlikely to be adopted.
The idea of a social censorship has been
eliminated; but. as is sufficiently indicated
by the list of founders, the patrons OF the
New Theatre. like the organ IN Maggy
Murphy's parlor, will give the place a tone.
This ia perhaps as well. Even those who
most loudly proclaim the artistic benight-
ment Of metropolitan society cannot logi-
pally object to a plan which Is calculated
20 cast upon it some few rays OF light
And it may he questioned whether their 1g.
norance and sin have not been exaggerated
} It is certain that those who most loudly
cry Art for the pee-pul' have as yet failed
in their efforts to deliver such a commodity.
And In any case the thing chiefly 70 be de-
Fired Ia thai there shall be art, Unless my
observation errs, moreover, those who most
loudly cry out against the frivolities Of the
golden horseshoe are most apt to bask In ITS
effulgence. Certainly nothing could better
guarantee practical success land In such q
venture this is the paramount considera-
toni than the patronage OF just such people
AZ th~ese-unless it be the excellence OF the
performances: and, the state OF dramatic
art and popular intelligence being what 1t is,
Il may be questioned whether at the outset
this can be as confidently relied on.
The management ia as yet committed TO
no man as director. A number OF the found
ers, as it seems, are favorably disposed
toward Herr Conried. His lack OF scholar
ship in our language is not. "a far as l am
aware, denied; but it is thought that his
I business ability. his lifelong experience
With a repertory theatre, and the resources
an a stage manager which he has some
times made manifest, as in his "Parslfal,
render his general direction OF lndlspensa-
bile practical value. Certain OF the iouno-
ers, il appears, do not favor Mr. Conrled' on
,he ground of his lack of tact and his pre-
occupation with the opera. 1t is certain
that whoever receives the appointment ia
10 have the collaboration oil a musical d.
rector. presumably a Frenchman, for the
opera comique, to which two evenings IN
the week are to be devoted. and of a literary
director for the dramatic performance
who is 10 he an American or an English
man.
The oondit ions governing the competition
for the building are, a. far as can now be
Judged. ideal. Certainly a number Of the
competing architects so regard them Inc
competition is by invitation of the com
mittee. and nine firms have accepted. The
time allowed is short, all plans being due
on April ri. 4 fee OF $50 IL allowed to each
firm, and the successful competitor 10 70
receive q per cent. Of the total cost OF
A. od;ana Particularly Admirnhle Is the