New-York tribune., 1910-04-10

Theatre.
American. Knoblsuch end sheldon; four
are English. Besier Gslsvorthy, Fem
and Prvce: two Scandinavian. Michselis
and Thsen: one Belgian. Mseteilinck'
and one a Frenchmsn Rene Fsuchois.
One Of the Americans Knoblauch. wrote
his plsv. The Cottage in the Air, on a
foreign theme. and translated IN part
piay by one or the foreign drsmatlsts-
Sister Beatrice" one of the English PLAYS.
Strife was adapted to American set
ting. an unnecessary effort which was also
made upon one Of the scsndins Wan plays
The witch For some inscr1tsbls rea-
son a similar sea change did not betah
Don" or sister Beatrice" or Brand
Hsppilv. the strange passion for "sdspta-
fion" spared these. And IL is quite obvious
that the scene of Beethoven" could not be
laid in The Bronx. the Buckeye State or
the mississippi Valley. no matter how
hercely the passion may have ragged. OF
the modern authors. then, representing
Eve nationslities. two we're American. and
one or them. Mr. Sheldon, produced an
American piay-"The Niger" q strong
truthful. interesting play, American II ever
= plsv we're American. II is natural enough
20 wish that there might have been at
less, on. more: that the energies engaged
upon the production OF ''IAZ.' The Witch
and the fragment OF Brand" and even on
The Cottage In the Air" could have
brought forth from the mountain OF manu-
scripts thrown up az the doors Of The New
Theatre one more good American play. II
is not the business OF the manssement TO
write plays. and the answer would probably
be- n the question we're put that excsve-
ton. in the mountain revealed no other
American play worth while. In that case.
or in any case. ve must possess our souls
in patience and await another season.
The acting at The Neu Theatre has i'm
proved from the beginning. AND IL needed
Improvement. for the beginning was poor
enough Antony snd Cleopatra" was a
vet blanket which took a long time TO dry
of II was not the uisest selection for the
opening OF SO important an undertaking.
/ but. having been selected, IL was boggled
all round And the worst OF Il was she de-
I pressing effect produced by undertaking
and faulty speech. People went away en-
pressing harsh verdicts. which the house
I had 10 live down. When The Cottage"
! csrse sIens H was demonstrated that actors
! who knew how 20 speak could make them
selves heard with ease. though even now
! YOU will find folk 70 whom this truth is as
a darkness OF course, the house is too
large: the bulk of the audience Is too dis
tant 70 detect facial expression and fine
points And Vhstever is done 20 remedy
this condition during the summer cannot
/ in the nature OF things, amend IL alto
gether.
The bringing in of outside players TO
] fn ha
al this house has with two notable e1cep-
tions been a mistake. in my opinion. Others
are free 20 nurture & different belief But
the course has served 20 emphasize the fact
that The New Theatres company OF play
ers is unable Of i,s,f 20 supply competent
cast FOR all the characters in any play yet
produced there, with tuo exceptions, and IL
has. so far as outward evidence goes, hin
dered not helped, the building up OF com
psnv. Many years ago the stars OF the
American stage travelled about the land,
finding their supporting casts In the thea
tres which they visited. stars now play
New York engagements az The New Thea
ire. aided by the company, costumes.
scenery and properties OF that house. Mr..
Sothern and Miss Marlowe opened their
season here in this way with Antony and
Cleopatra" Mr.. Guy Bates Post came
there 10 play the principal part in The
Niger" Miss Annie Russell came there
for the same play, and remained for
Liz" Twelfth Night and the fourth
act Of Brand" Miss Grace George
came there for The School for Scan
dsL" and so did Mr.. Mstheson Lang,
who also played in Don and Twelfth
Night" coming from England for the pur-
pose on his way 20 a starring tour in
Australia Nine KRlich came for The
Witch" Miss Edith wynne Mstthison
came for Sister Beatrice" and The Win
ter's Tale" Mr.. John Mason came, with
his own company. 10 produce a Son Of the
People" while Sister Beatrice" was in
preparation. In season OF thirteen plays
(..Beethoven' is not here iacluded) eight
stars have appeared in eleven plays. Only
two plays were enacted by The New Thea
ire company alone To be sure, the pro
srsmmes have included the names Of the
stars among the members OF the company
Of players bot the point is that they were
members only FOR the time being, not
permanent ''member mot even mem
bers" for a season they were prominent
playe-s hning a New York engagement ~
The New Theatre. The experiment with
Mr. Sothern Miss MarloNe. Miss Russell
and Mr Lang was not successful. With
Miss Grace George and Mr.. Post IL was
justified by their acting. In the case OF
Nine Kaiich a is believed 10 have earned
her a permanent place In the organization.
In the case OF Mise Edith wynne Mstthi-
son IL has proved 60 be the best achieve
ment OF The New Theatfe. For it is un-
derstood that this delightful artist is 20
remain here ~ she remains. The New
Theatre will have the distinction OF employ
ms the most delightful English-spesking e
actress-neIt 20 Ellen TeTy-on the stage
to-day.
N 10 s1ven out that tho permanent com
psny" will be somewhat changed next sea