The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-05-18
The Theatrical season Ended.

There could be no more certain proc
lamation that the theatrical season has
reached It's end than this weeks failure
to bring forward a single novelty at the
playhOuses. Comment ON the seasons
characteristics Is limited by it, close
resemblance 20 it, immediate predeCes-
sors There have probably been more
plays offered to the public than ever
before, a. increased activity on the part
Of the providers Of theatrical entertain
ment is always to be observed. What.
ever the quality Of the dramatic output
may he. it, quantity increases steadily
year by year.
II is just this particular phase Of the
theatrical business that makes its opera
tons inComprehensible 10 the citizen.
With inevitable expense and trouble.
play after play is put forward that must
seem TO the least practised observer
possessed of but few chances II success
These theatrical long shots appear to
receive every year an increasingly large
share Of managerial attention. Il can
not be said that any large number Of
these plays present elements worthy o.
the most casual attention The swiftness
with which public rejeCtion sends them
to oblivion NAV have a beautiful aspect
Of poetic justice, but 1t seems to carry
no lesson.
There have been some notable C1a-
tributions 90 the dramatic literature Of
the age. however. and no season that
brings forward a drama from the pen
Of ARTHUR Wing PINERO can ever be
considered altogether barren. however
YOU may deplore his inclination 20
contemplate only the least happy and
smiling side Of existence Then there
were PLAYS by MAURICE MAETERLINCE,
HENR' BERNSTEIN and STEPPEN PHIL
LIPS 20 emphasize the contrast between
their works and the productions OF our
own dramatists. EDwlR SHELDON de-
monstrated that ne is a most prOmis-
ing force among the younger Of them.
although he remains a beginner. while
II would be a cruel injustice tn the fame
Il CLYDE Finch TO call his pOsthumous
play an exhibition o: his best powers.
II i in the existence Of the New Thea
ire that the Last season differed most
from its predecessors. II was an unpreC-
..ea.utaN f,.tsr a., s,ttr Nr.w,. L. ....s
into being with the promise 10 accom-
plish great artistic results. Probably
is directors understood a. well "a the
rest o. the world did what a difficult task
this was 4 playhouse with such char
acteristiCs a. the New Theatre claimed
must be a matter Of growth. The ordi-
nary commercial theatre into which any
company Of players may be dumped is
completely prepared for IL artistic iuno.
tons as soon as the mortar ard paint
Of the building are dry. but a theatre 10
that sense Of the term which comprises
the actors n veil A. the structure, they
forming with the repertory an integral
AalN W NllF NAHAAhNNARiAf ~ AAAAAkNl NuIif
BILE Of making the best use Of these forces
a theatre. 10 a word, such ~ the Come
die FRANCHISE or the Hofburg never
sprang fully armed from the brain Of
any board Of directors or millionaire
patrons Of art
The New Theatre did no. perhaps ac-
complish all that was promised for il in
advance. vet is achievements proved
that il Is well on the wsy 10 establish a
higher standard in dramatic enterprise
than this country has ever known before
The classic reylvals put to it, credit
and a. least four Of the modern PLAYS
introduced a. the New Theatre showed
that the institution possesses ample
artistic resources, high aims and able
dictatorship.