El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-05-28

company The opera is the work OF
Oscar Strauss and the story is based
on Bernard Shaw's ARMS and the Wo-
man." The music possesses real meriG,
and is so far above the ordinary variety
that there is no comparison
The Arcadians," The Jolly Bache-
Iors," and The Dollar Princess have
all proved very popular and deserve
favorable mention recent musical
production Of some merit is "a Mat
nee Idol" De Wolf Hopper's new play
The New Theater.
Before any opinion Is expressed on
the work accomplished by the New
theater. it might be well to glance over
the number of presentations In "a
weeks the management produced Il
plays AS the majority of these were
performed by one stock company. 1t re-
quired great deal Of work in rehears-
ing, and naturally the principals were
not as well drilled as they should have
been
Financially, Of course, it was not ex-
pected to be a success and as II is an
endowed Institution. THIS question needs
no consideration.
It's location-which is a considerable
distance from the theater districts
partly responsible for the lack of pop
ular interest but 1t is believed that this
will matter little few years hence.
Another handicap is the size Of the
auditorium IT is well-fitted for opera,
but entirely too large for the produce
ton OF dramas, as the acoustic PROP
critics are none too good This defect
however, will be remedied. this summer
as the whole interior is to be torn out
and rebuilt
The alliance of the new institution
with the Metropolitan Opera House
was another thing that was not likely
TO win public favor. Two and some
Il
duced by the Metropolitan company. It
is announced that this relationship has
been severed, and no operas will be pro-
duced at the playhouse next year.
Popular Old Plays.
According to the box office receipts,
the revivals Of The School for Scan
dal" and The Twelfth Night" proved
the most popular. and in this they were
deserving, and neither play has ever
been seen 10 better advantage.
Antony and CIeopatra''-the play
which opened the New theater, proved
a dismal failure. Julia Marlowe and E
H. Sothern had been specially engaged
to interpret the leading roles, but their
work was far below the creditable
standard which these artists have es-
tabliShed. Other Shaksperean produc-
tiOns were Twelfth Night" and "a
Winters Tale" The former. proved
very popular, and the latter, which was
was exceedingly artistic, and would
have undoubtedly proved successful, had
1t been produced earlier in the season
~ Two Modern Plays
''The Niger" and Strife" which
dealt with two modern subjects, failed
TO arouse any unusual interest The
Witch" was altogether too dreary, and
Madame Bertha Aa4ich,- who was espe-
cially engaged for this performance.
failed to come up to the expectations of
the management.
Sister Beatrice a play produced to-
wards the close Of the season. showed
true merit, and its success was largely
due to the work Of Miss Edith Wynne
MatthisOn, who proved one OF the most
valuable acquisitions Of the New thea
ter company. She also achieved a per-
sonal success in "a Winters Tale"
On the whole, the showing was very
creditable. The establishment OF an in
Stitution Of this character cannot be
accomplished in one season nor in two.
It requires four or five years Of hard
work before results are apparent The
management has accomplished wonders
under the circumstances. Many defects
have been uncovered and these win be
remedies before the opening in the fall.
With the experienc gained during the
past season, and little more public
favor. the prospects for the coming sea
son look much brighter.