New-York tribune., 1907-11-06
ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

At time when many persons. both on the stage
and of, are writing and talking about tho Theatre
and some OF them talking nonsense. Il Is pleasant
to read such timely and rational remarks as those
made by Mr.. Daniel Frohman which now and
here are reprinted. Those remarks. coming from
Mr.. Frohman, doubly welcome and significant
for they appear 10 indicate that the time can
never come again when that manager Will allow
his stage to be disgraced by production OF such
tainted plays THE Tree Of Knowledge" Ten
theatrical managers In this city. actuated by such
convictions Mr.. FTohman has expressed and
enforcing them with persistent courage would. in
a short time, undo much of the injury to the
Theatre that has been accomplished in a period
of years It may be that Mr.. Frohmans dev-
erance Of judgment upon the existing conditions IS
the first rift in dark cloud OF ignorance and
commerciaism. II is too TO say But Mr.
Frohman's delverance IS encouraging. Sir. Be-
lasco has two fine theatres in New York now. both
of them devoted 10 clean interesting. dramatic II
not perfect plays An excellent play, THE Man
of the Hour" has long been current at the Savoy
At Mr.. Frohman's Lyceum of the most strik-
ing and significant plays produced in this city in
recent years II the food tide Of deserved sue
cess Rumor whispers that before long. that fine
intrepid brilliant, intellectual actress. Mrs Fiske
will again be the dominant figure OF a splendid
company, doniciled in a theatre destined to be
her permanent artistic home. Something may
come of the proposed theatre, 70 be called THE
Booth" for the presentment OF Mr.. Sothern and
Miss MarlOwe, in Shakespeare Robert ManteH Is
acting in a brilliant manner and with much sue
cess in the best repertory maintained by a con-
temporary American actor The prospect begins
to be auspicious, and never was encouragement
more needed
At this momerS there are at least a dozen spec
tacle'' or musical comedy shows visible in
this city. There eight or ten theatres regu-
larly given to Observation-Disclosures that are, in
fact Music Halls; and the Music Hail is the
tai enemy of the Theatre. and has always been
Injurious to It. No wishes to disparage inno-
cent amusement No one, in his senses. wishes TO
see. or has expressed a wish to see, a continual
devotion to Shakespeare. the Classics Old Com
edy. But no one. not out OF his senses fail
. TO see that, however much money is gained. the
preponderance OF barelegged spectacle and med
leys of musical" nonsense and 'horseplay' is
detrimental both to the stage and society That
preponderance has often been conspicuous and it
has. with the able assistance Of nauseous drama
OF the clInically analytic and carnal expostory
ORDER aIienated n large body OF theatregoers
That statement be denied. but IT happens to
be mournfully and positively true. The late Au-
gustin Daly,-one OF the most astute and accom-
plished managers our stage has known
years before his death, said to a representa-
tive Of this paper that the character Of his audi
ence had radically changed 1T is not" he said
that the old patrons are dissatisfied with my
theatre: it is that, moro and more, they get
ting. out of the habit of going to the theatre at
ALL because they do not like what they find
there: theatre is not enough TO keep them in
terested the stage"
Wallacks Theatre, in Wallacks time. had
distinctive audience: It a family audience. So
was that of Dalys. That is the audience which, to
large extent, has been alienated from the
Theatre, and that is the audience which must be
won back TO It's support. II the Theatre is TO be
kept in its right pace-the family people, who are
the best people in society and who in the long
run, prove the most influential. Their adherence
to the Theatre can only be secured and maintained
by sane, clean administration of the Theatre
the production OF good plays-Shakespeare classics
poetic drama, old comedy. meodrama new comedy,
tragedy. domestic drama. farce, burlesque,-all well
set and all well acted by the exclusion Of vul-
garity and by the extirpaton of freaks and or
displays of weird menageries Of human tiger-cats
and Shiny expositions Of mental and physical dis
ease under the guise of moral lessons"
With the support OF that public II might be
possible insure the commercial independence OF
the Theatre-the rghtfu. healthful competition
that the interests of all and the survival OF
the fttest At this time the theatre-gong public
in this city Is largely Indifferent The wrong and
injurious custom of considering the Stage, first.
last. and all the time. merely a means for
amusement" has become almost universal. The
public endures the outrageous imposition OF the
ticket-speculator: the public is largely indifferent
20 tie commercial attitude OF managers: IL is will
Ing to or the other pushed to the walSand