The Washington herald., 1911-08-06

When William Archer, the well-known
English dramatic critic, was in New York
recently, he fathered some remarks re-
Cardinsy the American drama which were
somewhat off the beaten track. This time
he played the part of the visiting pes
simiSt
He said, in effect, that five years had
made little appreciable difference in the
quality of the plays on Broadway, that
the American dramatist was not making
the consistent progress to be expected.
The quantity of plays presented rad in
creased greatly, but the quality OF the
general average was a disappointment
He refrained from any comparison with
the English drama. 1t is 20 be noted,
however, that while Sir Arthur Piuero
was represented in London with Pr
serving Mr.. Panmure,' Augustus Thorn
as was reaching his high water mark
with LAS d Man Thinks in New York;
that no London comedy possessed the
poignant quality Of The Concert
which was the Belasco piece de resist
ance of the past season, and which may
rightly be called an American play, even
though it was adapted from the Hun
garian.
It is not belttling the English drama
to show that Pinero, admittedly the best
Of the playwrights in the tight little
isle, Is losing MS nOlu Oh llS i<oAiu'iA
public preserving Mr.. Panmure" is an
indifferent comedy, which closed after
two months run during the coronation
season. In the same period. Augustus
Thomas, who holds the place in the
United States that Mr.. PinerO does
abroad has written two significant and
vital plays which have had an unqual-
fled critical and popular approval-'Ihe
WitChlng Hour and AS a Man Thinks,
MODn''
Il year ago.
In the past two years American play
wrights have established a supremacy
in melOdrama and farce which is frank
" conceded abroad. Avery Hopwood
Margaret Mayo, Paul Armstrong. a r
Thomas. and WincheIl Smith have all
added to the gayety of nations far more
than their English brethren in the same
period. Alias Jimmy Valentine" and
.'Baby Mine" have won substantial sue
cess in London, and there is every prob
ability that ''Get-RiCh-Quick WalltnS-
ford and ''Nobodys Widow will meet
the same happy fate the coming season.
While the American dramatist is maxi
ing progress abroad the English drama
tist is falling behind in America. The
native product is now preferred. When
London sends US such a delightful
comedy as Somerset Maughams smith,
or Parker'= "POmander Walk the
American playgoCr IS enthusiastic in his
praises. But the vast majority of the
imported article is now received indif-
ferently bath in New York and ''on the
road
An event which will interest many
Washingtonans will be the production
OF 1 new play by Mrs. Lionel Marks,
formerly Miss Josephine Preston Pea
body in Baltimore next month. Ii is
called The Chameleon" and is written in
the same felicitouS verse which made
The Piper so charming and delightful
Mrs Marks is well known socially in
the Capital. as she visited the city when
rhe Piper played at the BelasCO last
season, with Edith Wynne Matthison in
the title role.
\ surprising announcement has just
emanated from the offices OF David Be
lasco. 1t is TO the effect that Frances
Starr will be the star of The Woman
when that play is given a New York pre-
lnier this fall.
Helen Ware played the title role at the
National Theater last spring SO brilliant
ly that local playgoers will be reluctant
to believe that an adequate substitute
for her can be found. Miss Starr's tenn
permanent and technical equipment are
SO radically different from Miss Ware
that her Interpretation Of the part will
be wide departure from tnat establish
ed by the latter.
Miss Ware is under contract to appear
in George BrOadhursts play, The
Price" and regrets the necessity of say
ing farewell to the De Mile melodrama.