New-York tribune., 1908-01-05
THEATRICAL MANAGEMENT.

THEATRICAL MANAGEMENT.
-...o,r,ar4 has often been made and lately
IL has been reiterated. that there Is not the big
money, in Shakespearian plays that there IS In
,,anv others and that what the people want and
,rfu Aocl, IN get that must the managers give
than," On what cOmpulsion must they II
NAV be true that-as rule,-it IS possible 10
gain more money by producing other plays tnan
those of Shakespeare: but, if true, the cnier
reason is that most other plays require fewer
scenes fewer costumes, fewer stage hanoSr
fewer railroad fares, less car room for scenery
TRANSPORTATION, and, above all, fewer actors anu
those of much less ability TO act. As TO WHAT
the people want and will flock tot is iTnpos-
sibIe to formulate the want" Of the people, ouI
il has been noticed that "the people" have al
most invariably "focked'' to adequate repre-
sentations of Shakespeare's plays. or Of any
other good plays in the presentment OF which
tha reliance has been placed chiefly on getting.
No one so far as known, wishes managers or
actors to be continually producing Shakespeare.
or to thrust upon anybody the production Of
Shakespeare at all, il such production likes
him not" But il has been proved, over and
over again. that the Bard can be produced with
abundant financial reward. by any one who can
supply an adequate setting and even reasonably
good acting: while, given with fine setting and
Oreat acting. Shakespeare has spelt fortune for
many. IL is certain. Furthermore, that. as
Shakespeare best plays are the best plays that
exist the public respect and admiration viii.
finally, .be greatest for those who. MT neglecrins
other important branches of drama, make
handsome productions and supply superb acting
in the plays of Shakespeare.
To express that conviction is not (as often
it is said to be- to condemn managers who do
not produce Shakespeare's plays actors who
do not act in them. Nor is it TO intilnsts =
desire for a constant succession OF Shaksspeares
plays, to the exclusion of others On the con-
trary, to most persons the continual presenta-
tion of Shakespeare would be bore. But, when
speaking of the reasons why managers do not
produce the plays OF Shakespeare and of other
classic authors. it is well to mention the truth
that most managers wish and diligently labor 70
exact every cent that the traffic will bear" II
is unreasonable and unjust TO blame the public.
There have been ghastly failures-fnanciaI as
we'll artIstic-in Shakespeare: but there
have in every other branch Of drama-notsbly,
for example. in plays. with small casts and
inexpensive sets. in which. for the most part.
actors bought their own dresses: such, for in
stance (to indicate a modern cIass), as This
Rich Mrs. Repton." The Daughters OF Men
The Stepsister,' John Glayds's Honour etc
etc Tile point of real Importance in all the talk
that goes on about Shakespeare" and classics.
and losses and gains is the parrot cry that
is heard. almost. every day-''you must give
the people what they want Why must youo
To do that is to surrender TO the lead OF the
mob The people wanted Christ crucihed-
and the people were given what they wanted:
and Barabbas went free. To give the people
what they want" is. frequently 20 give IRE
people what they have no right to have--nsme-
~. vugarfty and corruption One-half the in
dustry. in the Theatre and out Of II. that IS
bestowed f0OiiHg the people. on fostering IL
the people IA want" no matter how mean and
low. which it is easy and profitable 70 satisfy
expended on fostering IA want and demand for
that which is fine and worth having. would ad-
eance our civilization century in the space
of a decade. Give the people what they ought
to have,--and work to make them want 20 have
it, one great trouble. in our time and e-c--
cially in our country. is that tire mere means OF
living have been converted into the ultimate
object OF living No sensible person wishes q,
see the Theatre. any other institution that Ia
dependent public support for its existence.
conducted as aItruistic institution. But II
is reasonable to feel and to express the Sssirs
TO all SUCH institutions. and particularly our
Theatre. because of its vast influence cond,,c+s3
with more regard for public welfare and Isss
regard for merely private pecuniarv gain To
conduct the theatre an intellectual institution
presenting in it everything that is right. fine
and ennoblins. and, by hard work. thought. and
study. leading the people" to support the the
atre in a way to return a reasonable proat-b<
to be a Theatrical Manager and not a Thsat-
rical Janitor or Amusement SpecuIator. And
furthermore. such an administration or ths
theatre wins from "the people" respect and al
miration for the manager and sets on his en-
deavor the seal OF true success wv