New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-11-12
PLAYS AND PLAYERS
Some European and American
Notes Of Interest 10
TheatregQers.

era -bOune. ia ire nan VINO tnatters. IN E.
France NJ Antoine. the director Of the
Odeon ard the producer OF Julius Cesar"
is perhaps the greatest Intellectual force
in the theatre. In England Sir Herbert
Tree among the older men. and Mr.. Gran
vile Barker among the younger, are the
individuals Of most influence and virility.
The fact that there is now 50 Widespread
an interest IN tho work Of the producer
makes 1t worth while to discover exactly
what his function IN the theatre should b.
We have seen recently Herr Reinhsrdts
"Surnur1n" with its extraordinary real
ization OF the Eastern atmosphere. We
have seen Mr.. Asche's "Kismet." less CUB
| tie but quite beautiful and appropriate
We have seen Mr.. Granville Bakers
! Bonita" with its dainty pictures and It's
real live chorus. And we have seen Sir
J Herbert Trees Macbeth" with its haunt
ing gray mystery.
| How does the producer 60 10 workf
What is his objective7 What does he seek
TO d.? These are the questions that seemed
70 me 70 be worth asking. and Louis CAL
vert seemed the man TO answer them
Mr.. Calvert. who Is at present playing
Mercuto at The New Theatre. is q pro
Queer by heredty as we'll as by natural
talent. His father, Charles Calvert, was
responsible for a whole series OF splendid
Shakespearian productions In Manchester
lin the days when there was certainly no
great demand for artistic intelligence IN
the English theatre. Manchester to-day
has an enviable reputation for its appreca-
ton of the best in drama. and II owes It's
taste to the work OF Charles Calvert.
Louis Calvert himself was associated with
Sir Herbert Tree in his early Shake
spearan adventures at His Majestys He
was associated with Gordon CRAIG. most
daring of stage revolutionists in the mem.
cradle and most beautiful production OF
For Sword or Song" at the Shaftesbury.
He was for season producer at the Mill
ionaires' Theatre, In New York. and made
~ sens stional success with an entirely Sc
we're and unornate production OF The Win
ters Tale"
THE work Of the producer" said Mr..
Calvert lis simply and solely first TO DIS
cover by careful study the full meaning
of the 6ramatist and after 10 make that
Imeaning clear to the audience. The essen
tial thing is what Shakespeare meant. The
producer must dive into the mind OF the
characters to find exactly what they are.
There is no room for fantastic imasininss
and individual theories. Hamlet, for ex-
ample, is what Shakespeare said he Is. and
1t is only by an intelligent study OF the text
that he can be discovered.
THE producer. having taught himself
has then to teach the players the meaning
of the parts they have to impersonate. NO
man and no woman can play character
they do not completely understand. There
is lots of bad acting in England, as there
is lots OF bad acting everywhere else.
Many good actors occasionally act badly
and you will find that the reason Is that
they have failed to get an intellectual grip
on the part.
Then his chief work begins He has
somehow or other 10 get from each men,
Der of his cast the best work OF which ne
IS capable He must cajoie, explain. per-
suade. demonstrate. He must probably
treat a dozen individuals in dozen dlffer-
ent WAYS. He must have infinite patience
and the faith that moves mountains; But
given good will and talent II can always
be done
Coming to the n-discussed question
of gorgeous and elaborate scenes for
shakespearian plays Mr.. Calvert was en-
phatic.
81 believe" he said, "in putting drama
| on the stage as drama and not as spectacle
AS long as the scenery, the dresses and the
business make the dramatic appeal OF the
play clearer and stronger they are legiu-
mate and useful. but the moment the Drama
becomes overloaded with ornament and the
humanity becomes hidden beneath the
| scenery IT is all wrong.
IT am very anxious to produce, either IN
London or in New York. series OF snake
speare plays as they were intended. MY
productions would be simple. I should not
bother much about scenery. All my nina
! would be given TO the play. for. after all
the play remains the thing The Express
London
An interesting reflection from the local
stage comes back 70 us from The enron
icle." London, TO wit:
"Rumor emanatins from more or less
authoritative source, says that Mr. Lewis
Waller has made a sensational success III
America as Boris Androvsky in the dram
: atization by Nine. Navarro Miss Mary
= Anderson) and Robert Hchens OF the lat
8 ter, famous book, The Garden of Allah'
have been assured land all London would
v be glad to know that II is true) that the
, production was a great personal triumph
= for our popular romantic actor and ina.
at the close Of the performance the audi-
ence gave TO the English actor most OF the
flowers OF their praise obviously the u'e
. OF the piece should have been The Garden
OF wallah.'
For the fortnight preceding the opening
night The Garden OF Allah was re-
hearsed 'on the tiles Of the century
Theatre, so that for time II ran consd-
cradle risk OF being called The Roof Gar
den OF Allah Miss Mary Mannering was
A then shaping well Domini Mr.. Eoen
Plymptop was developing into an effective
=, Count Anteoni and Mr.. Arthur Lewis was
= promising great things as the Priest Nine.
= Navarro sailed from Liverpool early IN
the month to be present at the premiere
/. Referring TO the rehearsals, an American
= Journal remarked: Mr.. Lewis Waller mas
been producing manager for some years
and Il was with shadow of reluctancs
that he gave up his work TO return TO the
: ranks OF the everyday actor From wha'
: hear concerning the salary being paid oy
= Messrs Liebler & CO. 10 Mr.. Waller | 30
: not think the actor is likely to be worry
ing overmuch about having been relieved
of the responsibilities OF managing ana
5 producing The Garden OF Allah. TWO
c hundred pounds a week for heng IN he
ranks Of the everyday actor Is not oal
nay. And how many hundreds OF actor
! would give their ears 10 be everyday actors
instead OF every now -and.again or once-in'
away actors!"
Mas