The Washington herald., 1909-05-23

ture- The conduct Of the audience was
6isgTaceful. while Miss Elliott has writ
ten to friends in town that she felt so
Inundated she wishes never TO appear
before a London audience again.
All doubt as 10 the choice Of an artistic
producer for the New Theater has been
set at rest by the news that Mr. Louis
Calvert, the English actor. has been
chosen for that position Mr.. Calvert
starts operations in August in anticipa-
ton OF the opening OF the thester on
November , He himself viii appear IN
four roles IN standard plays two Of
which are Sir Peter Teazie and Caliban
in The Tempest He is one Of the
most experienced producing managers Of
standard plays in England. and for years
acted with Irving and Tree. whom he
assisted in stage directions. He has pro-
duced with his own company such novel
ties as Browning's Blot on the ScUtch-
con IbseEs -'Rosmersholm' and An
Enemy OF the People and GOethe's
"Clavigo." He has made hits as Fal-
staff and the waiter in You Never Can
Tell" Calvert IS about fifty years Of
age He was offered two-year con-
tract. but requested that It be made only
one year
The New Theater. by the way. is max
ing progress. as represented by the mag
nlicent pile that Is to house the new art.
It's situation facing Central Park is Ons
OF the most delightful 0f any public
building IN New York II Is seldom. In
fact. that one sees a building so eIigfbly
located as this one. The fact that Lee
Shubert was made the business manager
OF the enterprise has been thorn in the
side Of several theatrical magnates ever
since the choice Of the directors fell
upon the head OF the Shubert clan. Re
peated attempts have been made to dis
credit the enterprise which have become.
particularly active since the theeter mas
assumed its present structural magni-
tude. Many believed it existed only in
the Imagination OF certain mysterious
and intangible spirits who had a way
Of filing the papers with their artistic
vagaries. But now that il is obvious
that another movement such as created
the Metropolitan Opera House IS behind
the New Theater, the alarm over its
possible influence IS spreading
The latest rumOr is that Charles FrOh-
man and Oscar Hammerstein have com
bined during their stay in Europe 70
counteract the New Theater scheme
with a similar enterprise TO be con-
Quoted by them jointly. This may and
may not be true. but il IS vOUched for.
and Mr.. Fr0hman announced but recent
~ that he had a similar plan in view
with the Empire Theater. intending TO
revert TO HIS former policy OF producing
repertoire. II it IS true Il Is evidence OF
the new alignment tnat has been created
by the recent shake-up by which Be
laseO and Fiske nOmInalIy joined the
syndicate. Down 70 that tine Hammer
stein was always counted on the side Of
the independents.
But the arrangement with Beiasco and
Fiske is said 10 have left some loop
holes. and while BelascO viii be playing
more generally in houses controlled by
the trust than he has FOR six Or seven
years. FisiSe Is said to maintain a dig
nified independence. Instead OF booking
exclusively with the trust, he VIII book
Mrs. Fisks and whatever other attrac-
tons he may control next season
indiscriminately al Shubert and syu6i-
cate houses. and II IS said that he Is
able 20 do this because neither side IS IN
position 20 refuse any legitimate at
traction. The outlook for new prOduc-
tiOns next season is very much less en-
cOuraging than It has been IN years, and
both sides viii be hard put 70 il 20 ind
plays 20 Eli time
q Z