The Washington times., 1907-09-15
MeqU York TbeaterS All AgLow;
"The Thet>'t Premiere for Week
By A. H. BALLARD.

NEW YORK. Sept. 14-They ale be-
ginning 10 shift and spar for position
The producing managers have a great
time OF it Plays. near-plays. musical
contraptions. etc. struggle and CLEAN.
and wilt. and sometimes a bright light
of art arises from the chaOs.s A few
weeks Of this years theatrical season
have passed, and we have learned a
few things; First. that there is an Inn
mense number Of happenings, and more
to be heard from; and secondly, that
the prospects are good for the appear
ance Of at least a score Of distinctly
meritorious and lasting examples OF
dramatic achievement
Writers Reaping Harvest.
The writer's have a little the best
of everybody else. They are the big
gest noise They have done excellent
work during the last twelvemOnth.
ana they have been given fat commits
sions for the present season In the
desks OF the prominent managers are
many plays, written in this country,
imported. adapted, patched up, tailored
for stars-au sorts. And. up to now.
a remarkable array has been presented.
AS in a flash the whole string OF
Broadway theaters burst into flame
practically at once.
The city is full Of its own residents.
Nearly all the people Of consequence,
except the supernumerary. fashionable
rich have returned from their vacations
The floating population was never
larger, and thus the possible patronage
OF the iirst-class theaters is something
prodigious. The brainy fellows who
. prepare and manipulate the "attrac-
tions" at the big theaters te= catch all
the American dollars they can from
amusement seekers, are now up TO their
ears in a particularly interesting cam
paign. and. for the good Of their own
pocketbooks and souls. they are actual
" trying TO produce shows worth an
intelligent persons attention
New Dramatists Appearing.
A little while ago it was an accepted
truth that it took a good man TO write
a play. and a genius to get it produced
Wen, the writers have won out. We are
all realizing now that there are others
besides Clyde Fitch and Augustus
Thomas in the land Of the busy and
free. Last year THE Great Divide, g"
'"The Three Of U.s." and The Man OF
the Hour" went a long way toward
proving the wisdom Of looking to Amer
leans for good plays. These will net
their owners each in the neighborhood
OF a quarter of e million before they
have spent their strength. and it is no
longer tne universal habit Of producers
to seek in foreign fields for material
suitable for American consumption
Write a good play and bring it to
New York, and you'll succeed in getting
It produced If you possess intelligence
and perseverance, Besides this. they
want good plays. There is a tremend-
Gus market for them.
Successes Of New Season.
The unequivocaI successes thus far are
'''The Ranger" at Wallack'g; Glass
mates" at the Hudson: "The Round
Up" at the New Amsterdam; The
Thief" at the Lyceum. and THE Mar
On the Case" at the Madison Squal
Half a dozen last years favorites are
running again, and there are perhaps
half a dozen more new things that will
last for a time The unavoidable mere
ment of musical comedy is always
with US, and this years crop contains
satisfactory elements OF catchy music,
wit. pretty dancing and color effects
faded New Workers. and suburban and
distant visitors unite in proIonging mus
ical comedy's vogue. This is as it should
be We Ike to sing, dance. and laugh
and look at pretty girls The silIiest
features Of this kind Of shows, together
with the extremes Of fndecency, have
been eliminated in great measure.
Take The Yankee Tourist" now at the
Aston. and THE Lady From Lane at
the Lyric (Which move down TO the
Casino this week., for example They
are popular and help us TO a happy life.
The Dairy Maids, at the Criterion.
is Of the same kind. but too thin and
Matery In quality to last long. Mr..
Frohman brought out this musical effort
ana us very English seems to kill It,
Thomas Play Much Discussed.
After a long silence Augustus Thomas
has given US another message. and It Is
3 strong one. The Ranger" has caused
a huge amount OF discussion. Mr.
THOMAS has lost none Of his skin since
he wrote Arizona" The Ranger in
the hands Of Dustin Farnum. Is q new
type for Broadway. Magnetic person.
atty Of the actor. scenes with Mary
Boiand, stirring situations that the
author knows how TO handle, keep US at
high tension. II Is a virlle, natural.
human story which must be listened 10.
and cannot fail to be felt as It BRO