Los Angeles herald., 1908-02-02
THEATRICAL NEWS

Speaking of the seasons many failures
a writer in the New York Times lays
the blame in many instances, not at the
door of the playwright or actcor, but
upon the producer. Says that paper:
There is a frightful lack of competency
in American stage direction. Great talent
in stagecraft is rare in every country
and in every age. Mr.. DAILY in his time
was unrivaled as a producer and IN his
own particular sphere l do not recall that
Mr.. Herne In his day had any rival
worth mentioning.
1--WE are about to import from England
young man as director of the New the
alter. Miss Maude Adams, the most con-
spicuous of American woman stars, is
obliged to retain Gustav Won Seyferritz,
late of the German stage in Irving place,
as the producer of her newest plays. And
one after another works fall on our stage
which If intelligently developed in dtrec-
ton might have brought fame to their
authors and financial emolument to the
producer.
This is not theory, 1t is fact borne
out by experience and observation.
mot so very long ago, on finding that
there was to be a conflict of first nights,
I had permission to attend the dress re-
hearsal of an important new production.
A prominent star was to be seen by the
public in the play the next evening. Inc
NAV had conspicuous merits, but the
slovenly, slipshod. easy-going methods at
that rehearsal left little DOUBT what the
result would be- The play was a COM
plete failure The playwright had done
his share of the work admirably and the
cast was fairly adequate. But the thou-
sand and one little things which go 10
create Illusion were entirely overlooked
in the rehearsing on the familiar plea that
they would be 'all right at night
"They were not all right on the opening
might And they never were all right any
night during the plays fortnight ol 'N
"Tbe same qualities of sympathetic Sc
,ao+ton NJ material and direction thar
have made q success OF the WaIreie
of virginia might have resulted IN
beautifully satisfying thing IN the ease
of Austin Strong's lovely niue lanVasy
~ Trhe Toymaker'; the same sort ot
baroic treatment, with personal and UNI
derstanding attention, which Mr. Beiasco
gives 10 each of his plays might naNe
saved sThe Movers for our stage for
in certain vital qualities it was the SUI
perior of many successful plays
Harry Lauder, the famous scotch CONF come,
dian, is an enthusiastic Rugby looeoa''
Lien ni1ine the progress of foot
baii game which took place in Glasgow
inst nrevious to the famous comedian
advent in this country, Lauder stoou
NEXT to another spectator who occaslon+
allv helped himself to some refreshmenil
which he carried in flask. 1t was DIT
! terly cold day, and Lauder, casting en-
yious glances in the direction OF the pol+
tie each time it made its appearance DIT
length ventured to remark:
"I think we've been a fitba player yer
sell haze We no?'
eyes" replied the owner of the coy.
eted LIQUID What makes you think soE
IT can see ye're graund dribbler l
wish We were as guild at passin, re-
piled Harry, who, it is recorded, got the
much coveted drink.
To the question put forth by New
York newspaper recently, What woulu
YOU do II you had week to liver. tlol-
ence Roberts sent this rather novel rspiy,
! ~ would show the Real Struggle OF .nS
week. would Put My House IN Oruer'
say farewell to The Hypocrites' niaAe
my will, tell my heirs to LOOK out lor
The Thief see my 'Classma.ess', "a, a. assure sur.
them that my Struggle Everlasting was
| over that THE Girl from the Golden
West was going to reform ner Master
Builder when she had crossed The Great
| Divide"