New-York tribune., 1909-04-04
SHAKESPEARE THEATRE
Il Memorial of High CIoss-RePer-
forg Management.
London, March "a

London March Il
Fven Shakespeare is reduced to the lowest
terms BY the use Of naval denomination me
general committee which has been reconcilng
two projects for d national memorial has asked
for 100000 for building and endowing ma
tional theatre. That seems an immense sum To-
obtain nv subscription in these hard times, when
everybody is bled by taxation for imperial de-
fence and social reform. but the optinlists hob
nobbins with the Lord Mayor at the Mansion
House make little Of IL 1t is only a third ot
the cost of a Dreadnought,' they eNclalm
cheerfuIly. They are well within the mark Tor
a Dreadnought already costs ISo,oE', ana as
every new one is stronger, more formidable ana
faster than the last one, the investment Of ma
tionaI capital may run up TO f2oSiooa as the
Anglo-German rivalry wakes hotter. Surely II
ought not q be impossible 10 obtain third or
g ouarter Of the outlay for a single Dread
-nougft in an undertaking honor in prac-
tical way the memory Of Shakespeare That
would be d work for coming generations and
for the worlds art and literature, whereas the
life Of battleship, according 10 the scientific
German standard, is only twenty years, after
which it becomes obsolete and is condemned TO
the old iron scrap heap.
The projectors Of the national memorial have
not only devised an effective basis of comparl-
son but they have also made start with sub
scrip1ions The Hon. Mrs. Alfred Lyttelton has
reported a gift Of fT0000 from an anonymous
benefactor, and with the subscriptions already
in hand there is financial foundation OF TO
coo for the unique enterprise One-seventh Of
the money required for site, building and en-
dowraent is covered at the outset, and the
projectors are so elated over their success that
they are naming date for the opening Of the
theatre-1916, the tercentenary Of Shakespeare's
death Their confidence does not appear unduly
inflated when it is remembered that suitable
site is included in the estimate OF cost, and that
this may be provided by the London County
Council when the bulk of the fund for the
building and the endowment is in hand. Be that
as II may. controversy over the form and scope
OF the memorial has ceased The original pro-
posaI for the architectural monument and statue
at the top OF Portland Place was condemned by
men Of letters and actors as soon as it
broached The rival project Of an endowed the
atre commanded such enthusiastic support that
conferences became necessary, and Lord
Plymouth's and Lord Lyt1ons committees were
smaigamated. All chickering's are at an end,
and there is hearty cooperation In the
joint undertaking Of converting the "archi-
tectural and scuptural monument into ma
tional theatre.
The report Of the executive committee roughly
allOts one-half Of the capital for site building
AMI stage equipment, and reserves the re-
4NdAllucI d oil tildONlIl6IL IuIlu IoT Keeping
the national theatre in operation. This fund
will be liberal enough 10 prevent the sacrifice
of artistic policy for commercial ends. and 10
secure a true repertoTy system comprehensive
in scope. Shakespeare's plays will be produced
regularly and srtistically. and English classical
drama will be revived periodically. New works
Of exceptional merit viii be taken up when they
do not receive adequate popular support. Trans
lations Of representative foreign drama, ancient
which unavailable for ordinary theatres will
be presented. A more elastic plan Of operations
could hardly have been devised. Shakespeare
VIII be honored not only by the production of
his own works with simplicity, beauty and
power, but also by direct and systematic en-
couragement Of his own arts-dramatic author
ship and acting. There will be repertory svs-
TEN which viii enable ambitious playwrights to
witness the production Of their plays and to i'm
prove the construction and phrasine It cannot
be doubted that this viii be a great gain for
dramatic authorship and for public taste There
will also be varied opportunities for securing
versatility in the art of acting and this will be
highly advantageous to the profession and to
audiences An institution stimulating zeal and
ardor for better drama, more effective acting
and more cultivated taste than are now known
IN the ordinary theatres will be an ideal Shake
speare memorial.
The management Of so unique theatre will
be a most difficult enterprise The executive
committee instead Of leaving It open ques-
zion has thought out a plan in detail There
will be large body Of governors appointed by
the Crown. universities. various municipalities
and learned bodies. and including representa-
tives Of sef-governing colonies and America
They viii choose a standing committee of seven
which viii be responsible for the enpIoynent
of a generaI-staff. This will consist Of q d.
rector, a literary manager and treasurer who
will conduct the theatre. Unity Of rnanagement
will be possible, since the director will engage
and dismiss artists, make business contracts,
arrange programmes and superintend produc-
uons His relations with the literary manager
and the treasurer can be readily ordered but
safeguards will be requisite against nneddle-
some activity on the part Of the standing COM
nnittee, which Will reserve the privilege Of an
proving the selection OF plays, the dismissal OF
artists and the arrangement or programmes
The director will not be allowed to be an actor
manager. to accept any fee for the practice ~
his art or TO do any stage work Nobody now
IN sight in any London theatre has the ouali-
ties. authority and character requisite for tbe
ideal director Of an endowed national theatre
He viii have TO be evolved and trained by cir
cumstances has been done at the ComAdia
FrancsIse- Mr.. William Archer and AIr Gran
vile Barker agree that there VIII be no diff
Guilty in discovering him. and there may not be.
The actor-manager. the star performer and