The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-06-12
SHAW ON REPEUHOUY THEATRE
FROHNIN FORCED 10 GIIE TP
SERIOTS FOR PlIING DRAuI.
HE American SplrH q NdNcRIure Net
rsAteai with Modest CcFtalRtles u
flassle Art BaFrie. NAughan,. satire
and Ilaslaioa G'hambers NeNI Near.

,pssa ClbIs Ds'asrh % ruE ST'N.
l.ONDON. June %. The conspicuous al.
ssnoe from Mr. Frohman's programmes
for bis second season of the RePertoTy
Theatre % tho names Of the authors who
were the chief contribution Tor his first
season. such a. shaw. Barker and Gals.
worthy. caused the ObprrT 10 SEEK en-
lightenmsn' from Mr. shaw HseHplaiasi
that Il meant that Mr. FrOhman, having
tried tho above trio. inisads 20 try aHain
with Ofhsr authors For this reason Mr.
shaw referred the interyisWer TO Mr..
FrOhman, warning him thAi Mr. Frohman
Was In no wav bound 10 answer.
Ths interviewer pointed out that the
public was certain to infer that the higher
drama does not paw. Mr. shaw replied
The public does not know enough Of
economics 10 understand what paying
means The higher drama paid a. the
Court Theatre in the sense that everybody
20, living u anybody suPpOses the
higher drama pays from % 10 100 per
cent night they little know the condition
Of public taste. Yet. % LONG ~ such
profits ara possible. PLAYS requiring some
nursing through a period of public In
difference and violent press hostility bslOrs
they return humdrum 10 OF 70 per cent
will he regarded as failures
Mr. shaw fully recognized that the frat
rule OF modern commercial management
10 10 scrap failures until . success 10 struck
You must never argue with the public OF
prsss was Mr. Shaw's dictum.
After some Of his Oft repeated Gibes al
critics Mr. shaw returned 20 AIR Frohman.
saying He ALWAYS has a more lucrative
alternative than plays bv me and Barker.
aud a. every one who understands modern
competitive business knows he 10 nut
really free 10 l1ss opportunities Unlike
VsdFenne aud Barker FrOhman will never
~ without a handful II plavs that viii
produce IA couple OF months a. all
events bigger profit than either Of tho
others will Esf in the same period Grasp
this fact and you will understand how.
although Bakers aud mine did ~ we'll
a. our old Court Showcases Frohman was
forced 60 drop them like hot potatoes
the moment he rraliy-d what h. was Nd
against
'The catastrophe 10 perfectly friendly
I foretold u FrOhman was tar too
sahg,Iine and friendly TO admit the pousi
biliiy of failure until u was forced ON him
by hard facts urged him to look 81 tho
figures Of past enterprises You might
a. we'll Offer figures 10 don Quixoie.
American bouvAhoy IL proof against all
iigtIres
What an American wants is adventure
with huge risks Wild possibilities. not
the sober. modest CeTtGinties ~ classic
art People believed where Nedrenns
and Barker made = moderate success q
great commercial manager like Frohman
made triumphant one FrOhman did
he hest and was knocked out IN a week
He - going on. hut With plays by Rarne.
Jones Vaughan and all the most popular
II the day
The inevitable result Is that an PLAYS
hat are popular succepes must run
o. separate theatres or
Use I'll that draw GO less than the most
popular must be strapped a. MIsalliance'
md Madras HOUSE Il II likely these
authors will consent to take such a chance !
with INV awful example staring them in
he faoe. he scheme ~ commercially /
impossible Only Frohman does not
snow when he - beaten
Charles Frohman has deci1ed 10 close
he Tepertory theatre zeCson next week
i will be reopenei At Christmas With new
flaws by Barrie Vaughan. Jones Suro .
md Hatdon chambers Mr. Frohman .
oppressed the hyehest satisfaction over .
he success Of rho preliminary rsnertory
season.
The brief partnership between Mr.
FrOhman and Gerald Du Maurier ter.
ninatei with the run ~ Alias Jimmy
Yale tirs theatrical people we're SIR.
.rtaaH ~ fkafr