The Washington herald., 1907-05-19

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~HE stock company season is fairly
launched in Washington and it
has started out so brilliantly that
it promises to be d most success
fuI one. both artIstically and financially
Both the BeIlsco and the Columbia thea
ters have excellent companies, and the
good plays they have produced are har-
bingers Of high-class drama throughout
the season. The National is to open next
week with a musical comedy stock COM
pany. and then there will be no lack
Of frst-class theatrical entertainment
throughout the supplementary season.
II is most encouraging sign Of the
times, this growth Of the stock company
idea. 1t is a barking back to first prin-
ciples that promises much for the future
growth Of American theauicals. These
companies, scattered throughout the
country-for every city Of any size has
one or more-present the best plays Cf
the dramatists of Yesterday. as we'll as
some Of the classic plays. and this will
continue for some time. But as time
goes on this material will wear out It's
welcome. and there are few new plays
being written that. after their first flush
Of success viii stand the test of repro
duction by stock companies This does
not mean that no good plays are being
produced nowadays Il only means that
the good plays Of our day depend much
more than did the PLAYS Of yesteryear
upon the star and one of two members
Of his support, and could hardly hope to
succeed without the kudos of the name
Of a big actor or two % help them along
The time is coming. then when the
stock companies of the United States will
have to look for new material IN the way
Of plays and this will furnish the op-
portunity-and perhaps the Inspiration
for many budding playwrights. who now.
in this age Of svndicatas and theatrical
trusts, find some difficulty in getting
hearing at ALL This movement has al
ready started. as a matter Of fact, and
in many localities where stock companies
are established there have been found
rlaywrights whose work has been pro-
du-od
Another phase Of the stock company
idea is the great value it has in shaping
and broadening the players The growth
of the star system in this country. while
it has had an evil influence on the maxi
ing OF plays has, az the same time. had
a tendency to emphasize the limitations
OF our players. As it IS to-day a player
IS known as a leading man. "a heavy. a
Juvenile. a Characterization or what-not:
II is seldom that having once established
his genre o player steps ont Of IT, When
he does il is something 20 marvel NJ and
he 1ndS the critics hailing him aS a genius
and talking enc0uraginEly about his yer
saulity."
As q matter Of fact. the present system
is all wrong. Specialization may be
very good thing i'm commercial life. but II
has little business on the stage The
actors Of the old school were not limited
thus. indeed. refused 20 be so limited
and would play tragedy one week with
a facility equal TO that with which they
ll1- Fi 4'.A i'Illftlh lt-f WEEK if-LtTF. Win
the stock companies established more or
less permanently. the time will come
when versatility will have TO be the stock
in trade Of our players. Who viii have %
play whatever parts are assigned 10 them.
without regard TO what they think their
temperament or their physique is suited
to. And this will be good for the stage.
fTrs &c g--H-..F-
at the Columbia was a most interesting
event. and the old play which. in spite Of
its minor faults Of construction. remains
one Of the best Of its class. was given
an excellent presentation by the Column
bia Thelter stock company This COM
pany has a cast Of unusual strength for
q summer stock company. it Is doubtful
whether any city in the country has a
stock company which is headed by three
players Of such prominence and repUta-
ton as Miss Hilda Spong Miss Charlotte
Walker and Mr.. Wilton Lackaye In the
hands of three such able players. the dry
bones Of the good. old sterling plays
should take on new flesh and blood. and
there must be some dramatic treats in
store mere for Washington theatergOers.
The Columbia Thc8ter Company is un-
d0ubtcdiy one of the most expensive that
has beer brought 70 Washington for sum
mer stock and great credit is due 70 Mr..
Joseph LugEctt for his enterprise
Very Interesting was the revival by the
Edwin Arden company at the Belasco
Of the Oscar Wilde comedy. THE I'M
portauce of Being Earnest" It is so bril-
liant in paradox. epgram. and aphorism.
so clever Of situation. and so fine Of da-
l1gue that it is wonder that managers
have not. before this. dared to try If on
the American public. especially in these
days when Mrs Wawen's Profession"
hardly creates a stir.
The Importance Of Being Earnest
was the last play that that erratic. as well
as crotic. genius Oscar Wilde. produced.
ana il was his most brilliant effort. II /
was produced in Londgn I'm January, 1895. (
and it was having a brilliantly successful
run at the ST James Theater when OS-
car Wilde was suing the Marquis Of
Queensburv for libel We all remember
how his suit fell 10 the ground. and how
IT was immediately followed by his prose /
CutioB on a criminal charge. His case
WIS tried at the Old Bailey in April and
the evidence was such that from g pOpu-
l7r idol, Oscar Wilde became so detested 1
that his play had 10 be taken from the
stage. The cast Of this first production
was rs follows,
J.in Wel-lirr J P............Mr George Alexander
N-WEn NwgHc1............NT. Allen Ayncswlrih !
l;cr. Canon CHHsUblc d. D......Nlr II H. Niuc-n, !
Ai1lin7n. Frank Dyall
Hans, W1n servant Miss Rose Leccre
Laly Eucsrei. Rose Leccrc
iir GVCHiDrn Fairfay..-.....Miss Irene Eaubu;eh /