New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-05
STAGE NOTES.

The fact that In the field Of the theatre
New York has become practically a road
town has been commented upon several
times In these pages. First, however.
among the theatrical managers TO give
words TO this condition. which has come
about I'm the last five years, Is Charles
Frohman. who a few days ago in the course
Of an Interview referred 10 New York and
It's relation 10 the American stage as fol-
lows:
"Theatrlcally speaking Paris Is France.
London is England. Berlin Is Germany. but
New York II not America.
This Is interesting. because II broadens
the opportunities for the theatrical man
aver. 1t increases intellectually the field OF
operation in which playwright. actor and
manager can achieve theatrical success.
Where New York Was once the chief centre
for producing plays. now :he manager. like
the public, can produce independently OF
New York. His workshop IS as large as the
country itself. As a result. the newspapers
through the country now employ real
critics and give real opinions. and this. ike
the Pulitzer fund, Is to the benefit Of fine
individual journalism Except for business
routine the oldtime advance agent. who
Grummed up trade for his attraction by
artificial means. is now thing Of the past.
The travelling attraction. whatever It's sue
cess in New York. has to live its fate all
over again whether its goes TO Scranton or
Chicago.
This fact has good results. IT keeps the
actor on his mettlc: II skills him I'm pleas
ing people Of different tastes: it gives his
work versatility and conscience. What has
thus taken place may bo called the nation
aliZing OF theatrical taste. Everywhere II
is different. but everywhere II IL distinct
New York is no longer the American Rome
OF plays and players. New York's inclin-
ing taste for the bizarre. for the novel,
whether It is true or not necessarily units
it as a sound Judge for the rest of the
country. which Is less sophisticated. more
eager for the true and less dependent upon
what merely stimulates.
"In the season rapidly drawing TO "A close
/ suppose New Yorks opinion on plays has
been more frequently reversed than in the
last ten years. That is healthy sign
Keeping that fact In mind. authors can
write. actc. n can act and managers can
produce W a thousand chances OF sue
cess to-day as against the single chance
they thought they had ten years ago. ana
the whole business OF the theatre ITSELF IN
fuenced by the entire country Instead OF
By one city, will take on an American
character It has never had before"
During the course OF the endless discus
sion In London over the problem OF whether
there should be pie" censor or nor Ed
ward Morton suggested that ministry OF
fine arts should be created as a govern
mont department and that the play censor
should be an Official Of the ministry
Nine. Lydia Yavorska, the well known
Russian actress, now playing In LONDON
recently gave some interesting information
regarding the standing OF the Russian
music halls. The music halls In Russia.
she states. ARE at a very low level; they
are even worse than those In France. They
are absolutely the lowest possible KIND OF
amusement for the public. Men go there
principally to drink. Russians VINO have
not been to England have no idea what