New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-01-10
THE COMING GARRICKS
M4TINE ELLIOTT'S VIEWS.
NeT Era Coming-Stage IN Edu-
GATOR She Sans.

Now that she is at home in her own pretty play
house Miss Maxine Elliott finds time TO sit In her
luxurious dressing and mediate upon the
things that are and those that viii be She is
slt Of E dreamer at times though not impractical
Between the acts OF The Chaperon, several
nights ago. she turned defender of the stage as
Il is to-day. OF modern farces, comedies and some
tragedies. She has high opinion of the mem
beers Of her profession in America, and, while al
Knitting that there GarTicks or kenoies
sraong them. she confdes her friends that the
American stage will yet have actors and actresses
who by their histrionic gifts VIII recall the Gays
gone BIZ. While anticipating the coming OF new
esafricks Kembles. etc. Miss Elliott contends that
the stage has not deteriorsted-that il is stin
power for good.
In my opinion" she said, '-the stage has no
more lost its educational value than have I'll.
schools she churches OF the United States or
the civilized world AS educational factor the
stage, from the golden age OF PeTioles in Athens
when -1Sschyius, ScpnCcles, Eurlpides ana ATS
.ophanes ruled it and educated not only the
masses but the classes. down through the Roman
era. the Shakespearian. The Restoration, the
Georgian and the Victorian. the stage has kept
step the music OF the choir, the sermon OF the
,,uip.t and the voice Of the pedagogue. The cynic
VIII ell you that the stage OF to-day Is of no
vsiue-that the world would be better without 1t
No the world would be poorer even without the
cheap theatres and moving picture shows. for they
teach something OF worth. Even the cheap thriller
teaches that honesty is really the best policy; that
IN the long vice is never triumphant, and the
breathlesS interest shown 10y audiences at moving
picture shows when they scenes in foreign lands
proves that they educate / have known persons
that we're npelsd become readers Of books from
visiting moving picture shows. and l have known
Of persons who Here>EQade better men and
By visit 10 the theatre during the run OF
e uplifting play.
or course all plays not so1d and uplifting
Are all sermons? in good theatres yOn viii see and
hear good actors in good plays. The very atmos-
phe7e of good theatre is soul cleansing, and that
Tha
troubles the ppointments the irritations OF
the garish outside world You see the actresses
cressed in the latest fashions wearing their hats
and gowns the manner born. Isn't that educa-
ticnal2 You hear good story-a chapter from the
book Of life You learn how strong men and
women be when tempted and tested, and you
see their bleakest Of nights grow into the most
glorious or spiritual oays. You out Of the
shestre with wings &c your soul and feel the play
was q tonic a blessing and q sermon
Speaking Of conditions on the stage. at the pres
time, she said: In many things the theatre has
wonderfully advanced. an6 il have no
kembies, Garricks. Booths. Keans. Woflngtons.
cldhelds. Brecegirdles. Gives. FAUCETS. Terrys-we
shall have them! They are in the loom of time.
The defects of the stage of the past would not be
tolerated for week. The STIFF. mechanical stacy.
ynonotoncus 6eclamatory. formal measured, bel
lowing claptrap of the past is OF the irrevocable
past. To-day the standard Of taste is established
and the old conventions dead, are the
bloody gloomy. brutal tragedies and coarse come
dies If have mssterful genius on the stage
to-sier remember that have net had for
each OF the three hundred years that have gone
since Shskespeare's dag. Have We had one-tenth
three hundred?
Nothing is dramatic genius. not even
poetic One two great poets TO every
great drama5ist actor OF commanding powers.
And yet every child. every and woman is
actor We play acting when children and we acr
all oCr lives. of the stage. All of which
proves it seems 10 me, that acting is the most
1ificult OF all the arts. Whitehead wrote TO Gar
rick.
a nations taste depends you-perhaps
nations virtue, too
And Garrick might have sent it back headed
sTo the public The public must help the stage
TO help the public