New-York tribune., 1909-11-13
THE DRAMA
THE NEW THEATRES NEW PLAY.
Edward Knoblauch's Comedy, "The
Cottage In the Air.


stage. is charming play. cleverly acted by
players who make themselves not only
heard. hut understood. AS the theatre has
rot been rebuilt altered during the week
its acoustic properties remain what they
were. The statement can be put I'm another
form. Those actors whose speech is hes,
employed tn the coiloquisl form made them
selves heard and understood on Thursday
evening without the slightest difficulty
while those whose delivery OF blank verse
in Antony and Cleopatra" was heard 90
hest advantage in the Shakespeare play
v ere. of course. perfectly heard and under
stood on Thursday. when they spoke in the
ordinary terms OF to-day: whereas those
members of the cast who did not appear in
what VAS left Of the ''most wonderful OF
Shakespesne's historical plays" and who
by the way. are, as every one knows. among
the most accomplished members OF the mod
ern stsge-Miss Rose Coghlan. for example.
and Mrs. Sol Smith. and Mr.. Louis Calvert
find it easy enough 10 he heard and per-
foctlv understood when they speak in their
gtrtlest tones. All OF which confirms what
these columns have asserted. and what they
viii continue 10 declare while the need lasts.
that the art and standards OF stage speech
a-c comprchended and observed by but a
small and sadly decreasing number Of con-
temporary actors. Thursday nights per-
Torrance proved what for the general pub
lic needed proof. that IN the vast spaces Of
The New Theatre actors who understand
and practise the first fundamental necessity
81 their art-clear, clean diction-can with
ease send their slightest utterance 10 or
chestra, boxes, stalls. upper circle and the
remote gallery and have no need 10 shelter
themselves behind tine excuse OF alleged
scoustical defects.
The new play, the first of tho new plays
20 be produced by The New Theatre. 3
pleasing but IL can be Improved by prun-
INK. The action consumed almost three
hours on Thursday evening. three hours all
hut five minutes and the intervals between
tho acts we're so long that the play ended
only hve minutes before midnight The
Impressions which first night audiences
carry away with them go far toward max
iug marring the fortunes Of a play or
playhouse. The New Theatre is incur-
rins tho risk ~ boring its first might audi
enoss. it drags out the performances 20
tedious lengths Audiences cannot seek
lodgings i'm tho theatre, nor are they likely
&C. seek them in the immediate vicinity for
tho sake Of visiting this sumptuous dra-
matte fane. The people who support the
atres have other occupatio and even
other smusements. and they viii not regard
with favor the habit Of wearying delay and
long drawn performances IL this is TO he
fhs habit At theatre which the public has
bccn asked 10 regard and which IL is eager
~ regard. tho most perfect in the coun-
r1y- The first night presentation OF The
cottage in The Air" began some ten minutes.
later than tho advertised time The inter
mission between the first and second acts
proved 10 be nearly thirty minutes. The
interval between the second and third acts
was a quarter Of an hour. The first act
occupied ffty-fve minutes. the second and
third acts forty-Ave minutes each. and the
fourth act twenty minutes. The third and
fourth acts could easily he condensed into
ono act 20 the betternent Of the play
If. I'm reply 10 the criticisms which have
been passed upon the time consumed in the
presentation of the two plays which the
week has seen at The New Theatre IL he
said that the admirable establishment ~
not yef I'm complete working order. and that
FIST night delays are inevitable the re-
loinder must be that months postpone
inent ~ tho opening Of the house Voula
have bcen preferred to the strain upon the
patience of the public. and that PLAYS should
Dc 50 thoroughly rehearsed in every detail
ghat their first presentation need not be
Unduly long nor betray imperfections Of
scenic arrs ngement. At any rate. such
flaws should not he characteristic OF Thn
Ncw Theatre. But il may be suspected
that tho authorities of this splendid temple
- tho drama have been too much concerned
With opening their doors AT a specified date
and with keeping 10 their proclaimed cal
cndar Of productions than with having
'Herg-thing ready before the raising Of the
curtain
In the second act OF The Cottage in the
Air tho hack cloth is supposed 10 rep
resent the sky, but il too plainly reveals
long vertical rows Of stitching: and the
somersetshire hills are palpably erections
80 fat canvas. In the third act the scenery
old not join. and one Of the doors stuck
sNkWandlv. Ia is the part of friendliness
go tho most important theatrical undertak-
ing this country has ever known 10 carl
Tho msnagement's attention 10 the draw
hacks here narrated. Audiences 10 away
and talk about these things. and convey
an impression 10 which The New Theatre
would not willingly lend itself IL is in the
hope that only impressions Of the most
favorable nature VIII hereafter be carried
home by The New Theatres first night au-
oiences, ana passed around among their
friends and acquaintance. that these COM
lnents are published.
Mr. Nnoblauch's play. The Cottage in
rHe Air." is Winsome piece Of work.
some strong compression viii make il thor
ouElly delightful Every one has built "a
oastie IN the air; the Princess Priscilla
81 Lothen- Kunitz built a cottage i'm the air
because sic was wearied with the fOrmsli-
ties and luNuries of a royal German court.
Moreover, she haG been betrOthed against
Ter viii And SO she took flight 10 Eng
land. accompanied by her venerable tutor.
q dreamy. impractical. dear old man, and
thefe. in Somersetshire. she finds a pretty
rIatched-roof -rose-cOKered cottage. where
size enters upon the simple life and pro-
poses 10 help the poor and 90 live like
them. Everything goes wrong in a week
'rhe Princess spoils the poor, retains her
loyal airs and ways. even when her money
yes out and she has. instead OF break
FAST pounds worth OF unpaid bills. Then
Ter Prince appears; she discovers that she
las been a selfish. although very charm
ing person and. OF course everything
ends happily.
Miss Olive Wyndham Is the Princess. ana
SIZE reminds one Of Miss Elsie Ferguson
ithout, however. ecualling the art ana
ctalIn Of the latter's delightful impersona-
tion in q similar part AZ another theatre
Several Of the characters IN Mr.. Knob