The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-11-10
Brighter DAYS Predicted.

Surely brighter days are dawnlng for
the stage when such men as William
Winter, who has been generally consid-
cred the dramatic Mrs. Grumpy" hypO-
condriac among the critics. sees some
thing to gladden. the heart il present
day conditions.
Mr.. Winters habituaiIy pessimisti,
view OF almost all things modern T.:
connection with the stage makes a word
OF praise from him of double value.
The public does not Otter indOrse his
dIatribes against plays and players, and
1. has never been charged that he has
EiEned by manifesting lenienCy toward
faulty work.
It is an encouraging sign. therefore,
to read in the New York Tribune OF re-
cent date a not erhypochondriac-
a. resume Of conditions in New York
at the present time Mr.. Winters utter
ances were inspired by a published in
terview with Daniel Frohman, in which
the latter said that there can be no
durability, stability, or future for plays
which reflect what IS contemplate, SCR
did, or degrading in life, or which de-
pend for their value purely on depicting
such elements.
Mr.. Winter says; 1T may be that
Mr.. Frohman's deliverance OF judgment
upon the existing conditions is the first
rift in dark cloud Of ignorance and
commercialism. It is too soon to say.
But Mr.. Frohman's deHverance is en-
couraging. Mr.. Belasco has two fine
theaters in New York now, both Of
them devoted TO clean. interesting,
dramatic, II not perfect, plays. An ex-
cellent play, The Man Of the Hour
has long been current at the Savoy. At
Mr. FrOhman's Lyceum one of the most
striking and significant plays produced
in this city in recent years is on the
food tide OF deserved success. Rumor
whispers that, before long. that fine.
intrepid, brilliant, intellectual actress.
Mrs Fiske, viii again be the dominant
figure OF splendid company. donIcIIed
in theater destined to be her perman-
ent artistic home.
Something may come Of the proposed
theater, 70 be called The Booth for
the presentment Of Mr. SCthern and
Miss Marlowe, in Shakespeare. Robert
Mantell is acting in a brilliant manner.
and with much success, IN the best
repertory maintained by d contemporary
American actor. The prospect begins
to be auspicious. and never was en-
cOuragement more needed.
AT this moment there are at least
a dozen spectacle or musical COM
edy' shows W 5ible IN this city. There
are eight or ten theaters regularly given
over to varieties-theaters that are. IN
fact. music halls: and the music hail
is the mortal enemy Of the theater, and
has always been injurious to it, No
one wishes to disparage Innocent amUse-
ment. No one, in his senses, wishes to
see. or has expressed a wish 10 see, a
continual devotion 10 Shakespeare, the
classics, or old comedy. But no one.
not out of his senses. can fail to set
that, however much money Is gained,
the preponderanCe of baTeicgged spec
tacle and medleys of musical non
sebSe and horseplay' is detrimental
both TO the stage and society. That
Vroponderance has often BEN Conspicu-
GUS and IL has, with tie able assist
ance Of nauscous drama, OF the clint
cally analytic and carnal eXpOsitOry
order, alienated a large body of theatsr-
i goers."