Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-17

pies playhouse, the people
pla~yhouse-the term Is a shib.
49, boleth. isn't III"
Ben Greet, who has been lem,
S onstrating at the Garden the-
alter his ideas of what are the plays worth
while, smiles; and Mr.. Greet never looks
more serious han when he smiles. He has
been fairly caught in one corner Of the
vastnesses which are the stage Of the
peoples playhouse during rehearsal time,
whence he is watching the evolutions OF
certain little plnaforded dancing sprites
about to become wonder book creatures
translated from Hawthorne's pages to the
stage.
Thus discovered, he allows himself ia
explain what he thinks a peoples theater
Is and should be.
1T is hard to deflne,' he confesses.
Society transfuses so quickly; It is so in
London. The masses cannot be caught.
II would seem that the craving OF the peo-
pie to become so-cailed society Is second
only to the craving Of the theatrical man
ayers to cater to the people; he is lucky II
he catches them.
Il should say, however, that the New
York the~atergoing public might roughly
be divided into three classes. Those be-
longing to the first OF these may be seen
occupying seats at the two opera houses,
at the New theater, possibly In the houses
where Miss Barrymore and Miss Billie
Burke are playing"
At this point Mr.. Greet is compelled 10
abandon temporarily the realm Of ideals
and enter that practical world where de-
cision must be made as regards blue light
effects on a blue palace in process OF cree
ton. appropriate grotto and pavilion ae-
c~ompanying, This material matter hav-
ing been disposed Of he returns to the sub
Jeot Of theatergoers and their classified
tion.
TO this first class" says he, belong
sherry's and Observation-Disclosures OF
the theater and opera, II indeed the latter
are not but compliments OF the former.
Second Is that huge mass which at
home in England We call the middle class.
This includes the people who prefer the
orchestra to the balcony because Il costs
more, and who can pay for II. You will
find representatives of this class every
night at the New York theater, the Casino.
the Kniokerbocker, the Broadway, the
New Amsterdam, the Herald Square, pre-.
ferring TO be amused through their eyes,
after you will find them at Rector's. at the
Cafe Martin.
The third group Is composed OF whai
MT sothern and myself call the people
those who work hard in the daytime. bul
seem most Of all TO want good plays ano
20 prefer them to fashion shows and les
shows-why called leg shows now l really
don't know, for there is a lamentable
scarcity OF legs. Perhaps It would be more
polite to say musical shows, and agair
Mr.. Greet smiles the heavy seriousness OF
his smile.
These people are not star gazers-they
Just want a good play. When the theatei
Is over they so home, / SUPPOSE. / hay,
seen them from the Academy OF Musi,
rushing TO subway. elevated and surfso,
cars.
Here at the Garden we are OF the sam,
Hort-most unfashionable. We are not clos,
20 sherry's, you see; yet we are close 1,
the Cafe Martin. But they are thinkin,
more OF the play than OF what they ar,
coins to eat and whom they are going 1,
see afterwsrd,
yet It Is hard 70 find Just what il Il
that they'll may call them the third de
Eree-want. Shakespeare Is wanted: tina.
has been proved. To these performances
come those who have worked all day IN
stores and IN homes, students OF music
Of art, and from the schools, teachers and
most OF all, young folks. We might wei
eau this the young folks theater. And be
cause this IL so. ] am especially glad tina
this theater, though built some ffteel
years ago and not according 10 the iates
designs, is unsurpassed as 10 line Of sight
acoustics and the arrangement OF the or
chestra-
Location, as you know, is considere,
most important thlng as regards
rater, IL has been suggested that our
drawback. Yet when I see the enor
crowds coming 10 the Madison
Garden. from the society horsa
crowds to the East side circu
LIS, extending back 10 Fourth avenue
Ade that We are not inaccessible. A