The Washington herald., 1911-10-01


seems that the dramatic productions of
real worth along Broadway are in in
verse ratio to the feverish and accelerat-
ing activities of angels" theater build
ers, scene painters, and new playwrights.
The more drama we have the less we
find that is really worth seeing. That
is, some persons seem to believe this, al
though an analysis of the facts is far
from bearing them out.
The New York season is scarcely be-
gun, yet there are at least ten plays on
view in the metropolis which will run
until the holidays, and probably five Of
them will remain in the dazzle of the
white light until spring. Not all of these
productions deserve serious consideration
from the artistic point of view: the fact
that they have struck the popular favor
is sufficient evidence that they possess
positive and vital qualities The sea-
son so far furnishes no cause for pessi-
mism, even If the great American drama
seems as far away as ever and plays
which are more than merely entertaining
are as rare as they were ten years ago.
"A Million is i farce which should. IL
the fates are kind survive all technical
deficiencies and reach success because Of
its sheer fun-making possibilities 1t will
never evoke such spontaneous and bois-
. ferrous laughter as farces which deal with
such stock theatrical properties as
mother-in-law. susceptible husbands. &C
but II furnishes, with the exception Of
an astonishing and utterly gratuitous
error Of sound judgment in the fourth
act, an excellent evenings entertainment
The autumn season in Washington re-
vivals promises to be lively. Although
the Belasco has cast its fortunes with
revivals Of last years successes for the
next four weeks, that playhouse might
easily fare worse than to have such
pieces as The Chocolate Soldier"
Madame "" and The Passing of the
Third Floor Back" on its boards. The
lnimitable Harry Lauder will also be
seen at the Belasco for two performances
on October 16.
At the Columbia The Girl in the Taxi
will be followed by The Old Home
stead" The Fortune Hunter" and
others.
1t is a matter of great satisfaction to
all playgoers that Miss Ethel Barry
more, according to good report. has an
other play worthy of her powers in
The Witness for the Defense" the A.
E. w. Mason drama The new piece
displays the maturer elements of Miss
Barrymore's art, just as id-Channel''
did, and it is not calculated to win high
favor with her matinee following. There
is good reason to believe that the actress
apprenticeship in dramatic frippery and
fustian is over
The Irish players from the famous
Abbey Theater. OF Dublin. opened their !
American season in Boston last week, |
playing in The Shadow of the Glen" |
''Birthright," "Hyacinth HaIvey," The |
Well of the Saints" and The Work |
house Ward great deal of local in
terest has been manifested in the visit
OF this company to American shores, and |
1t is to be hoped that a Washington |
engagement will be booked
The Shubert press sheet assures Wash
ington that the Drama Players, Of Chi
cago. will play a weeks engagement at
the Belasco Theater this winter. While
m one sense a Windy City, counterpart
Of the New Theater movement in New
York, the plans OF the organization are
different. and the following
outline Of them may be Of interest:
The Drama Players will appear under
he auspices of the Chicago Theater So
aety. This will be strictly the case
'nly when the organization is in Chi
ago. but nevertheless this association of
90 members has been so closely identified
With the conception and maturing of
he entire plan that their activities are
Il special influence in the protect as
Vhole, and they are endowed with special
lights. Mrs. Harold Mccormick is the
resident of the Chicago Theater So
iety, Ira Nelson is vice president, Frank
logan the treasurer, and Hamlin Garland
s the secretary. The board Of directors
Includes these four and also Jane
adams, H. ChatfeId ChatfeId-Taylor.
1orado Taft, Arthur Bissell, and J. c.
Ichaeffer.
This Chicago Theater Society has un-
erwritten or guaranteed the receipts of
he company for season OF ten weeks
the Lyric Theater in Chicago. There
J. therefore, absolutely no risk whatever
the company meeting with financial
allure.
Societies similar TO the Chicago The
ter Society are being established by
rominent people in all the other cities !
ne company is to visit, including New |
ork In St Louis, where another sim
ar organization is already complete and :
he receipts guaranteed. the company
Ill appear for three weeks. Engage
tents Of a week each will also be PLAYED
Baltimore. Washington. Cincinnati, In
!anapolis, Cleveland, Detroit, Minneap-
lis, and Milwaukee. One week will be Z
Ivided between Omaha and Topeka. The ,
x weeks engagement in New York
ity. scheduled for Easter, has already 7
cen mentioned.
The different theater societies in these e
artous cities are established not only to I
nance the engagements of the Drama y
layers, but also as representing the best Z,
Lste of the most refined people
The repertoire Of the Drama Players $
III include ten different plays-seven by 6
'reign authors and three by American s
lthors. It is not the intention of the O
rama Players to present American plays
IMPLY because they were written by q
mericans, but to present the best plays
lat can be obtained from all nations =
1d from all periods of dramatic writing. =
ne seven foreign plays are The Upstart .
enueman' Gle Bourgeois Gentil- :,
omme'D, by Mnllere, translated by Cur =
3 Hidden Paige; The Coffee House"
: Goldoni, the so-calIed Italian Moliere. =
anslated by Henry Fuller and H. Chat I
I'D Chatheld-Taylor; The Thunderbolt,"
? Pinero; THE Stronger" by Gia- =
'ssa; The Lady from the Sea-" by Ib- u
n; The Tribune" by Paul Bourget, and =
rhe Voysey Inheritance" by Granville x x
arker. The three American plays are q
1w under consideration and are to be "
lnounced in the immediate future. e
A. NJ. J. =
Paul Ker. who was imported from Ber- = Z
q 10 DiaV fha narY Of e. =