The Washington herald., 1909-04-04

From the Chief European Correspondent; Of the
Laaan News Bureau.
London. April 3.-The movement 70 pro-
vide some worthy national memorial Of
Shakespeare began in 1906 Yesterday
some definite advance IN the project was
made at a meeting held IN the Mansion
House under the presidency OF the lord
mayor to consider the report Of the com
mittee which has been drawing Up plans
FOR the National Shakespeare Theater.
The objects OF the National Shakespeare
Theater as conceived by the committee
are:
To keep the plays Of Shakespeare in its roper
tOirc.
To revive whatever is vital in English classical
drama.
To prevent recent plays Of great merit from fau-
ing into tie oblivion % which the present theaui
cal system Is APT 10 oonsgn them
70 produce new PLAYS and % further the develop
meut OF the modern drama.
TO produce translations of representative works %
foreign drama. ancient and moderu
To stimulate the AT q acting through the varied
opportunities which it VII ocer % the Members of
is company.
The sum required to build. equip. and
endow such a national theater IS esti-
mated al 500. 600. allotted IN the follow
| ing manner: Site. 10000; building. sl00.-
coo: stage and equipment. $4,000. endow-
ment. E250.010.
The composition OF the governing body
IS. OF course. a vital point The commit
tee suggests that il should consist OF FIVE
governors appointed by the Crown. eight
governors TO hold Office for periods Of FIVE
years. appointed one each by the unlver-
bUrgh. Dublin, and Wales. and one each
BY the Royal Academy and the British
Academy. one 70 be nominated by the
London County Council, and one by the
Corporation OF London. who would hold
Office for three years: one governor also
20 hold Office FOR three years, 20 be NOM
mated by each OF the municipalities OF
Manchester. Liverpool, Leeds. Bristol.
Edinburgh. Glasgow. and Dublin.
Officials 10 Govern.
The high commissioners for Canada. for
Australia. and other federated colonies.
and the Ambassador OF the United States
would be ex-oficio governors. Other ex-
offieio governors would be the president
OF the board OF education. the chairman
Of the Shakespeare Memorial Association.
Stratford-on-Avon, and the president Of
the Academy OF Dramatic Art
The foregoing governors should then
choose additional governors in proportion
OF one 20 every three OF their number. 10
hold Office for three years one. at least.
OF these additional governors should be
a woman The services OF all governors
should be unremunerated.
The governors should have power 20
appoint q standard COmmlttee from their
own body. which should consist OF seven
members. OF whom al least one should
be a woman The administration Of the
theater should be placed IN the hands OF
g managing stan consisting OF q director.
a treasurer. and a literary manager nom
mated by the standing committee. sub
ject TO the confirmation Of the governors.
With regard 10 the production 0I plays
the committee declares that the theater
should be a repertoire theater. defining
that as meaning "a theater able 10 pre-
sent. and which should present. AT least
TWO different plays OF fun length az even
ing performances in each week. and al
least three different plays at evening per
formances and matinees taken together.
one az least Of such weekly performances
should be a performance OF an English
classical play: Shakespeare plays should
be given on an average Of at least one a
week. and the number OF plays presented
In a year should be not less than twenty
Eve plays Of fun length"
Music and pantOmime may be freely
used when necessary, but the reptoire
should consist OF pieces in which the
dramatic and not the musical element is
predominant
The committee also recommends the
giving Of performances in the towns Of
Great Britain and Ireland as well as IN
London. the establishment Of a pension
fund and the institution Of a reserve fund. Z
All artists and employees should have g
hxed salary and nXed payment for definite
services. but dramatic authors might be
remunerated by percentages on the gross
receipts OF their plays