The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-08-29
CLEAN PLAYS
DEMANDED NOW,
SAYS FROHMAN

Daniel Frohman who arrived in
town this morning and who will pro-
duce to night at The Park Theatre
a new play entitled "Thy Neighbor's
Wife" which was written for him
by Elmer Harris, was seen this morn
ing by a representative of this jour-
nal. Though not an old man, Mr.
Frohman is one of the oldest man
ayers in New York. Many of the
stars now playing throughout the
country have been developed under
his auspices, and direction. MY first
man, was about thirty years ago,
when I managed public reading
given in hall. After that I used to
come here with one of the famous
Haverly Companies. Then, when I
became manager of my own in New
York, I came here occasionally with
my old Lyceum Theatre Stock Co..
which I maintained SO many years in
New York. The play which / am
producing tonight is to open the sea-
son in New York next Tuesday night
at my New Lyceum theatre"
What is the outlook for the drama
this season." he was asked.
From my point of view said Mr.
Frohman, cit is bigger than ever.
When say bigger I mean more ex-
tensive. Formerly there were but few
producing managers in New York. Now
every manager is a producing man.
ager. He presents plays, musical
comedies, burlesques, etc. There have
been so many theatre built throughout
the country that they need this sup
ply. 1t may not be the best for the
drama, but it at least encourages
more new writer's for the stage, be-
cause they are more likely to get an
opening. America is one of the great
est theatregoing nations in the world
the immoral play?" IAN objection to
this kind of play has always existed,
but in a few large cities plays with
suggestive subjects always find an
audience. But the general theatregoing
audiences shun them. The American
theatre audiences are an audience OF
families, and the play is successful
only when the subject can be discuss
ed around the family circle. The
theme of Thy Neighbours Wife,
which is to be produced tonight is
on such subject, and the plot con-
tanned in this story is a plot which
is reflection of every household, or
nearly every household in America.
It's theme is universal" In referring
to some of the stars he made, Mr.
Frohman said, "yes, a great many of
the young men and woman who used
to be in my company in New York are
now the great stars of America. With
me and my company first began e. H
Sothern, Maude Adams, Margaret
Anglin Mary Mannering, Annie Rus
sell, Viola Allen, James K Hackett
William Faversham and dozens of
others. I have several members in my
company, who will equally be heard
of in the near future. But the pre-
disposition of audiences for dramatic
word is toward the clean and whole
some plays Maude Adams has be-
come a national figurehead because
she has always been identified with
clean and wholesome plays, and my
old Lyceum Theatre was regarded as
a family house because the works 1
produced there, such as ''The Prisoner
of Zenda," ''Trelawney of the Wells"
1.-THE Wife," 1.-THE Charity Ball." ETC.
were plays that were good for fireside
family Consumption. Neither in Lon
don nor in Paris are there r DIV such
attractive plays as some that will be
offered to the American public this
coming season. Some of them, of
course, may fail, but when the season
closes, the American stage will have
moved pleasantly along another por-
ton to the path of progress