The Washington herald., 1911-09-03

of plays, new and old, by Louis \. Park
er which are to be produced. This
clever Englishman has demonstrated
anew the unfailing magic of that
''charm-m" which Maggie Wylie plain
lively asserted she didn't possess; he
lights the old fires of romance in an age
of Piueros and Walters and Sheldons
and nothing that he touches. since the
DAY of the IMMORTAL Rosemary" has
failed to yield a rich and enduring de-
light TO playgoers.
In the wake of "Pomander Walk, -
which shortly goes on the road, Parker's
''Disraeli'' will be produced, in New
York, with George Arliss in the title
role. The play was seen in Chicago dur
ing a considerable portion OF last sea-
son, and won high success. Mr.. Arliss
with his characteristic thoroughness,
added another picture to that splendid
gallery of stage portraits which includes
Cayley Drummle, the Marquis Of Steyne,
zakkuri, Raoul, and Septimus. AS might
be expected, he makes brilliant Bea-
cons1eld.
A new play of Parker's, based on the
legend of Lady Godiva, will be pro-
duced by Viola Allen this season; Rose
mary may be revived, and two new
plays, as yet unnamed, will be COM
pleted and presented later in the sea
Son.
The BIuebird" may be a visitor to
Washington this season; there is no more
than a chance that the Maeterlinck
drama will be seen here. 1t will be re-
vived at the Century formerly New)
Theater. in New York, September 25,
under Liebler auspices, and will be in
trusted to the tender mercies Of the
road when The Garden of Allah" is
produced.
Comedy of the type which has been
likened to the cracking of thorns un-
der q pot" which aims to sandbag the
IT B. O." broadway Phillips code"
for tired business mani, into merriment
by main force, is one thing which this
feverish stage world of ours is slowly
but surely drawing away from. OF
course, this statement can be disputed
from a number OF different angles.
One might cite the present vogue of
farce as sufficient evidence that the
public taste is unchanged; also that
liked and constant factor, one of the
Eurest assets in the theatrical business,
the popular appetite for vaudeville.
Nevertheless. the playwright's wiles
Tor drawing a laugh from his public are
vastly more subtle and complex to-day
than they were ten years ago. His cum
ming has kept pace with the demand
of his clientele. He must entertain us
by virtue of a native vivacity and
charm, not by crammng his lines with
spigrams or his action with high-pitched
absurdities. Even in a farce a blade
of far more highly tempered steel is
used, although we are still some way
behind the English in this respect.
Since the death of Fitch. the Amer
lean comedy of anna teuTs has all but dis
CrOSmanhas for years been without
suitable vehicle. why Miss Anglin, when
she turns to comedy. she has this
season. must needs seize upon the work
of an Englisnman: why Miss George
has not vet fully come into her own as
the most delightful Comedienne of the
period. Also, why John Drew has not
been seen in a homemade play since
Inflated days of Richard CarvelL'
We have no social satires on the
stage; only social criticisms. Mrs. Fiske
provided the only genuine satiric comedy
of last season in Mrs. Bumpstead-
Leigh" and that play was woven OF
such fimsy material that only mild sue
cess came 20 if. The Concert" OF
course. was a Viennese importation.
There IS a large reward in store for
the dramatist who will write a finely
tempered light comedy of American life.
The time is ripe, and it is coming be-
fore long. Mrs. Fiske may have it this
season in her new play by Langdon
Mitchell, The New Marriage" or her
Gertrude AthertOn comedy, Julia
France" It is quite possible also that
A. E. Thomas and Thompson Buchanan
will do something distinctly worth while
before many more moons have passed
So Richard Bennett is to star in
''Passers-by," the new play by Haddon
Chambers, built around the familiar
character in The Passing of the Third
Floor Back" Many worse fate might
befaH the actor who created the roles
Of John Shand and Leonard Wilmore
in this country.
In commenting upon the proposal to
raise the price of theater seats, a st.
Louis critic has the following caustic
remarks to offer:
Lee Shubert has been so good as to in
form the world that he quite expects to
ask that part of it which wishes to see
his theatrical performances that he ex-
poets from 81 to $3.50 for the exercise
Of the privilege of sitting in the best
seats in his theater.
Two dollars and three and one-half dol |
lars for what Mr.. Shubert?
For the privilege Of seeing Miss Maxine |
Elliotts undeniably classic people i'm a /
slim thing like THE Inferior Sex For |
the inestimable benefit of straining TO !
hear Miss Frances Starr in The Eas-
lest Way?" To hear Miss Mannering in |
"A Mans world?" Miss Charlotte |
Walker in Just a Wife" For watch |
ing Miss Burke make moues mutine and |
of visualizing Miss Marie Doro in such !
a masterpiece as Miss Electricity" |
Or for the great gift of hearing Blanche |
Ring sing ''Yip-I-Yaddy" and Rings on |
Her Fingers?'
If Mr.. Shubert considers one hour and |
fifteen minutes Of playing by an ane-
mis-, unfinished, and immature young /
actress in a tea-and-toast comedy worth /
s., just what does he deem three and one
half hours of Miss Marlowe as Juliet /
worth? Or three and One-half hours of |
Forbes Robertson in Hamlet worth?
Three hours of Mr.. Dixey? Two and 1
one-half hours Of Mr.. Skinner? An /
evening with Miss Adams or with Mrs.
Fiske?
IL Mr.. Shubert deems one set, four per-
sons, and dull play like The Fighting /
Hope worth s. seat for each perform
ance, Just what value does he place on
each seat to such a play as Mr.. Gals
worthys Strife, which divides a /
theater as bitterly as the debate on the |
abolition of the Lords veto divided the /
House Of Commons2 II one OF Mr.
Mangham's chocolate and chintz dramas
with Miss Burke in the cast is worth g /
for the best seats what value is at