The Washington herald., 1911-11-26

In the midst of all the spurious thea
trical sensationalism of the day there Is
more than one movement Of high signifl-
canoe being realized during this turbu-
lent season Of 1911-12. The so-caIled COM
mercial theater has never so completely
justified itself as in the past three months
in New York City. With the New Thea
ter movement temporarily suspended, for
reasons now well known to the world. it
might be supposed that the withdrawal
of its influence would be felt in the
world of the playhouse. That, however,
has not been the case. Never before
has there been a season so prosperous
in the artistic sense as the one now in
full swing, and there is a wealth OF
other attractions soon to be presented on
Broadway which will further emphasize
the fact that commercialism can serve
art on the stage in a most effective
fashion.
The presentation OF The Girl of the
Golden West at the Belasco the past
two days was at least a partial disap-
pointment to the host of Puccini admirers
in Washington. Those who looked for a
second Madam Butterfly" or La
Boheme" did not have their hearts de-
sire fulfilled. The score of la Fan
ciulla del West seemed singularly I'M
cratic composer Of the generation,
and the melodies were not what
were expected. But the dramatic ele-
ment in the opera, so skillfully pre-
served from the play through the CO.
operation Of David BeIasco last year,
made 1t a brilliant success, and Col.
Savage deserves the gratitude Of every
patron of the theater for the excellence
OF his production.
We have with US this week that
charming coincidence, Miss Elsie Fer
guson, who presents a dainty play OF
the Dolly Madison days in Washington
entitled The First Lady in the Land" "
Miss Ferguson has been a distinct IA
vorite with the local public for some
years. and will be accorded a warm
greeting at the Columbia this week.
Miss Grace La Rue will be seen at the
Belasco in a new musical comedy,
Betsy" which has met with favor in
the Middle West and is expected to
score a hit here.
The Twentieth Century Magazine for
November publishes the address of Will
lam Butler Yeats before the Drama
League of Boston. Mr.. Yeats explains
that the purpose of the Irish movement
has been to lift contemporary drama to
the level of other arts, for, as a whole,
he says, contemporary drama does not
take its place beside the best painting,
the best music, and the best books OF
Nour time"
/ With this aim the writers have sought
2haterial in the lowly peasant life, which
is the only thoroughly Irish life that is
Ift," and which is still endowed with
Aomeric simplicity and sincerity. This
way of thinking excited John NJ. Synge
Ito thFS point of dramatic composition. al
ough he was not a philosopher, a So
ialist, or a politician. Synge was just
d literary artist.
In these statements Mr.. Yeats is as
Stunning a big negation, but he makes his
meaning clear. Synge was perhaps con-
sciously only an artist, but every artist
is instinCtiVely a great many other things
in addition, although he does not stop to
analyze those other qualifications. Mr..
Yeats also remarks upon the gracious
atmosphere of Lady Gregorys plays, and
upon a few minor dramatists of the same
school.
The opening week of the new Imperial
Theater was highly successful. Its sue
cess seemed to prove that there is room
for one more vaudeville playhouse in
the city, and the bill II provided was of
a character to attract discriminating
theatergoers. The fact that the I'm
periaI is a local enterprise must increase
the satisfaction felt in its success on all
sides. A. NJ J.