The San Francisco call., 1906-09-15
Burlesque Will Usurp
Musical Comedy.

Il IGeorge Erwardes' and as an ar
bitter in these theatrical fashions
Edwardes speaks with authority. The
ickleness. is about to return
to its old love. and musical COM
edy, like the unemployed actor. is to
rest for some time to come. But it will
not be revival of mere old time bur-
lesque that we are to witness. The
public of today. Edwardes says. would
not stand it, They have been educated
far beyond it. Musical comedy will
break away in two directions-it will
be a development rather than reviv-
al One line will take the playgoers
to an artistic and highly hnishei prod
uct OF the musical comedy stage. The
other will introduce the audience to
bolder farcical productioh-up- p-to-date
burlesque extravaganza
London wants tightening and bright
ening in the long autumn and winter
months, and the change will undoubt-
edly be welcomed by most who de-
pendent on theaters for the bulk Of
their enjoyment, however much 1t may
disturb the feelings of the earnest
student" ever on the lookout for the
gloomy and depressing.
Notwithstanding the increased popu-
larity of theaters and the number OF
playgoing people. there undoubtedly is
a slump in actors salaries here.
offer me an engagement at E3 ($15)
a week for two years certain. ard I'll
take it," This proposal was made in
all seriousness only a few weeks ago
to a manager who owns several pro-
vincial rights" by an actor of consid-
erable touring experience who not long
ago could command $50 or $40 a week
and was seldom out of an engagement.
In a still more recent case an actor
was offered an engagement as heavy
lead" on a tour in popular melodrama
which has been playing to big business.
The terms he was asked to accept were
S12.50 week. He was expected to find
frocl< coat suit. lounge suit, an
evening dress suit and a huntins cos
tune, not to mention a silk hat. dress
shirts, a wig-and his fare from Lon
don to Glasgow. He declined the mu-
nihcent offer. and the part was eventu-
for $40 a week.
According to an actor who has been
ventilating the grievances CT the pro-
vincial players, an actor who now goes
on tour in a No. company to play the
leading part in a London success the
comedy of "drawing-room type" counts
himself exceedingly fortunate if he re-
ceives $50 a week and generally as to
be content with less. Before the
slump" set in he could command SIS
or $50 a week for similar role. The
leading lady in such a company NAV.
if she is exceptionally fortunate, re-
ceive s22.50 or perhaps s25. In nine
cases out OF ten she has to supply her
own dresses for tour which probably
does not last for more than three
months.
ITS a question of supply and de-
mand." said a theatrical manager when
asked him what had caused the
slump There's a good deal of supply
and nothing like as much demand. A man
is not going to pay E5 a week if he can
get equal talent for fS. Is it likely?
And there is always room at the top."
The fact that there are so many
stagestruck idiots about in these DAYS
who ARE willing to do anything for
next 10 nothing" says George r. Sims.
doesn't make matters any better for
the genuine pro-"
Theatrical managers in Paris are
worrying a good deal over the new law
imposing one legal day Of rest in seven.
How it is to be carried out is what
troubles them. On that question they
are all at sea- Paris with it's theaters
closed on Sundays Is almost unthink-
able. Less things have provoked revo-
lutions in the gay city. Besides IL
would mean a great loss of money to
the proprietors, for the Sunday per-
formances are the most profitable OF
the week The Syndicate OF Dramatic
Artists advocates the closing of the
theater on Monday instead OF on sun
day. arguing that as Monday is the
worst paying evening of the week by
following such a course managers. for
half the year at least would save
money instead OF losing it.