The Washington herald., 1907-06-23

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THE only real bit OF news Of inter
est to local theater-goers during
& the week was the report that a
syndicate Of New York managers
had purchased the st. Matthew's Church
property. at the corner Of Fifteenth and
II streets. for a site for a new vaudeville
theater. Investigation disclosed the fact
that nothing had been settled about the
transaction, but that the agents for the
New York men had been in Washington,
had viewed TIE property, found it ade-
cuate to their needs, and intended to pur-
chase If the price could be arranged.
Vaudeville houses are growing more
and more popular every day. Mr.. Chase.
at his comfortable theater on the Avenue.
although he has had a monopoly OF this
form Of entertainment, has been giving
an excellent class Of shows. with some Of
the most noted performers in America on
the bills He has. too. always played TO
the patrons Of Chase's are regulars who
60 TO the same show twice in the week
or oftener. It is the belief Of New York
ers that so far as patronage IS concerned
there is room for two vaudeville houses
The proposed site is a most excel
lent one, indeed. Il would be hard To find
lot downtown better suited TO the needs
Of the7ter. II is close 10 all the car
lines. and one Of the principal lines runs
right by what would be The front door OF
the new lloater. That an ancient church
would have to be torn down to make
room for the playhouse need cause no
surprise; many of New York's theaters
are on sites once occupied by churches.
Summer has given us the first touch Of
its breath during the week just past, but
50 far the hot weather has not apprecia-
bly, affected the patronage Of the three
local stock companies. All three Of them
are playing % big business. and they all
hope TO continue an indefinite period. II
is NOT unlikely that they will be playing
until the first dates Of the regular season
are announced Nor have the changes in
the personal Of the stock companies
caused any falling-ofi in the business
Ir. LaClayes absence from the Column
bia and Miss Herue's departure from the
Belasco made no difference in the patron.
age The Belasco gets a new leading
woman for the coming week. and it is said
that the Columbia stock company viii be
strengthened by tie advent of Mr.. Jack
Mason before very Ions.
At the National the success Of the d0u-
BE bin Of grand and comic opera was
marked, and something Of the same sort
Is likely % he again attempted before
tre season here closes.
The stock companies are a great boon
10 tleaterEoers, especially the rising gen. !
GRAFTON. in this age We DO not allow
play. no matter what its merits. to last
more than one or two seasons at the out
side. unless. indeed. Ct be some such piece
Of stage carpentry as Rip Van Winkle."
And so when the great playwrights Of our
age turn out a finished piece OF work It
has its vogue for a year or two. and then
as there seems 20 be mighty little lltera-
ture Of the drama these days-it dies out. |
It is the happy function Of the stock COM
panes to revive the best Of this sort Of
work. and so this season in Washington
we have seen some Of the best effects Of
Pinero. Henry Arthur Jones, Oscar Wilde. ]
and SardoU; plays which but for stock /
companies might scarce have expected TO I
see the American stage again.
The members Of the American Theatri- !
cal Syndicate have long been looking for /
new worlds 10 conquer. and they have |
more than once turned their eyes long |
iuely on England. Charles Frohman has. !
Of course, broken into the London field /
with more or less success. and William f.
Brady now that Grace George has made /
a success over there. may be expected f.
70 pay more attention 10 London than 7.
ever before. NTr. Marc Klaw. Of Klaw q /
Erlanger, has been sizing up the theat- |
cical situation in London. and before he /
departed for Paris the other day he gave 1
out his impressions Of English thea tricai /
methods. As Mr. Elaw IS. at least. one
Of our most experienced theatrical man /
age-s from the financial end. it IS inter /
esr.rg to note what BE finds the matter
The theaters are suffering from two
causes" said Nr. Klaw "One is that no
effort is made TO get at the sO-called mid
ole class. which is really richer here than
in America. Tho other is the high prices
charged for seats
I cannot see any reason in the world
Why man should have 10 pay los Cd
G262 for an orchestra stall. when the
man behind him pays only IS. Ga. M2
centsl. The former pays the extra S
shiIlings gg for class distinction This
last kills anything theatrical. unless it be
grand opera.
In my opinion. the London theatrical
that would abolish the Dit and
fight st out, giving half Of his lower floor
FOR SIS. cs2D and the other for IS CsD. and
then put the pit crowd In the back part
Of the balcony at and l62 cents. would
eventually make a lot OF money.
'O1 course. the pioneer would have
trouble al the start and great opposition.
For that reason London should have an
association Of managers such as we have
10 New York who would get behind any
nan who should be willing 70 try out the
experiment. for a year
Another thing which initiates against
he patronage OF the genera! public Is the
question Of dress. Men come homo tired
rom business or the races as they do in
America. II they and their wives have TO
dress for play, they patronize the thea
er as seldom as possible Tho man is
likely TO don dinner jacket. nut 4 cigar
p his mouth, and stroll of 10 a music
,an
L ua-iSn smaller prOpOrtiOnate num-
Der Of people in London go 70 the theater
nan In any other city IN the wcrld.
There is absolutely no reason why more I
hould be charged for seats here than in
lew York, where expenses are Just as
.eavy. rents being greater and salaries !
certainly higher
They are catering for the drama 70 a /
.ttle smart set which is worth very little .
"A any rru1a or r.-srF1esf0r7 TrH.-, ]