Los Angeles herald., 1908-11-08

that generous and highminded as the
founders of the New theater project
have proved themselves, IL after rea-
sonable time we do not show our fitness
they will not accept the situation phil
osophically. Why should they?
But If we haven't the advantage In
that line of the subsidized theater5 we
have, on the other hand, no fear so
long as we have to keep up to the mark
of falling into their special pitfall,
which is dry rot. Many of the Euro
pean subsidized theaters certainly get
slack from lack of incentive, which Is
a weak, perhaps the only weak point of
the subsidized system.
Another impression OF which 1t may
be well to disabuse the public mind is
that the New theater is to make spe-
cialty of advanced plays. 1 do not call
them problem plays, for that WORD
problem always strikes me as being
rather Inadequate. think advanced
is a better term for it.
1T am really tired of the Ibsen ques-
lions in regard to the New theater,
but I suppose / cannot ignore the fact
that his plays will have their proper
place in the repertory, but no more, and
that place is not yet determined. we
expect to produce every kind OF play
from the classic to melodrama- II any
preference Is shown 1t will be to the
native product, the American play. de-
plotting our own national and social lie
the best field for the playwright and
the most prolific of all the elements
which go to make a fine play.
There are a great many people here,
I am sure, who will welcome the OPP
portunity of seeing fine representa-
ton of Electra or Oedipus Rex just
as there is a sure audience for really
good melodrama, such as Secret Ser
vice. which is so good that 1t doesn I
need to be patted on the back, so to
speak, The people will have a chance
to see everything they want, and the
popular appeal will of course determine
the number of representations OF eacn
class.
"If, as we hope, we can get good
American plays, plays that come up 10
the required standard, and find that
they are wanted by the theater-going
public, the weight of our combined APP
prevail as directors will be along that
lead. but the standard is to be high.
''The chief novelty of the New
theater enterprise is the repertoire
system, in distinction to the long runs
and in consequence the limited num-
Der of roles that a leading character
has a chance to play in season. We
intend to have frequent changes OF
bill, perhaps three week. This Will,
in addition to it's other merits, have
that of affording the opportunity for
the limited audience to see occasion
ally plays which from the point OF
view Of the box office are not sue
cess.
1--WE expect to have a large stock
company, perhaps forty active mem
bers, capable of playing a repertoire.
/ am not sure as to the number in
the European theaters, but / think
there is about that number at the
Coincide and at the Vienna Hofburg.
This will give us ample material to
draw on for every play in the schedule,
MANY of the stars are playing
along certain lines, owing to their
popularity in those roles, and the as
tute management which keeps them
in playing parts carefully selected to
display their characteristics. Many of
these are really more versatile than
the public imagines, but they do not
get a chance to show this quality.
Others have been more fortunate.
"By the repertoire system, the ac-
tor will have more time to himself,
certainly he will be free one night a
week. which is, I believe, very good
thine for the acting. No one who is
overworked can give his best tempera-
mentally, and to avoid overwork is
going to be one of our notices.
"The stock company not only gives
a star an opportunity to~show his YER
gatility, but it develops it in every mem
her of the cast, however unimportant.
That is what made those old compa-
MES so wonderful, the continually
changing bill and the wide range in
the repertoire, the man who played
a leading part one night coming on
as a footman the next"
Asked II the stock company idea is
opposed to that of the syndicate Mr..
Ames permits himself vigorous shake
of the head. Not at all, he says I'M
mediately.
personally" he says. II approve Of
the work the syndicate has done and
the good 1t has accomplished. l don {
believe it has really been adequately
appreciated"