New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-07

on any one in particular just by taking
tickets as for any other theatre; oIly we
must have numbers enough 20 comfortably
fill our theatre-to relieve me Of the posi-
hllty of loss, as | should shoulder the
financial responsibility Of the productions
Now, as to the plan OF these perform
ances: We propose TO give at first class
theatre in New York a series of four plays,
two old English comedies, one Shakespear-
ian comedy and one play TO be decided
upon later. / have uniformed but delightful
intentions of a performance Of three one
act plays an old English morality play
and two other lovely bits Of exquisteness,
which | think we can find somewhere In
literature-this series TO extend over pc
Rod OF nine weeks, beginning about No
vember Il: two weeks of each play, even
ing performances. and two matinees for
children on Fridays and Saturdays.
Now. as to the representations OF these
plays We should make a point OF the act
ing first Of all-that is TO say. Of the act
ing which will bring out the hest interpre-
tation Of the dram2tlst rather than mere
exploitation Of the personality of the chief
actor or star. and | may say TO YOU that
the actor who thinks the part Is greater
than the whole, as my friend Israel Gang
Will puts 1t, will have no place in our plan.
The whole effect IS what We shall try for
q we'll balanced company Of actors speak
ing with good dicton and cnuncIation. and
Intelligent appreciation OF the words OF the
dramatist We want TO infuse as much
charm and grace OF bearing and refine
ment and forceful acting as we can mo
our interpretations.
we have a very unusually we'll equipped
stage director in Mr. Oswald Yorke whose
training OF FIVE years In the company II
Mr.. Frank Benson. acknowledged 10 be the
hest shakespearian and old English COM
edy company in England. which for TWEEN
~ wears has played before the schools, the
universities and at the Shakespearian me-
mortal performances each year at STRAIT
ford -on-Ayon Mr.. Yorke brings rich
training and a ripe experience to our ola
and a knowledge. through pracucai WORK
OF the best traditions Of old English com
edy gained I'm the best London theatres. IL
YOU had suffered under incompetent. unedu-
Gated, uninspired stage managers, as l
have YOU would understand what 'rsra
avis in terrls' a really good stage man
ager IS, and how much It means for our
plan.
Il think could safely promise you per-
formances of quality that would appeal
to the highest ideals and which would Re
II real artistic value 10 girls and boys In
, their respective formative time OF impress
sions As for the scenic setting Of these
plays I NAV not promise you gorgeously
elaborate or expensive ones, they Will be
as charming as possible and always correct
as 10 period. and think, n they are arts
tic YOU will not miss the usual magnin-
cence which. let Us assume In this case, IS
often unnecessarily oyerdone and never
very convincing.
III YOU like our plan enough To indorse
II with your presence al the theatre shall
be able 10 work for It with so much happy
enthusiasm. All our experience. which has
been a very long one; all our Ideals, - long
denied fun expression by the demands OF
the commercial manager and the equally
commercial playgoer; all our taste Tor
tho choicest things in our art, a taste
formed. through knowledge Of the best
productions in the theatres Of the older
centres Of art in Europe and the best Of
our own: all the devotion Of great enthu-
s,asm for a cause close 10 ones heart-the
cause OF an ideal theatre whose motto
should be that OF Goethe on tse opera
House at Frankfort In Germany: Dem
Wahrcn-Sch0nen- the true, the
beautiful and the good Such an enthn'i-
asm ls yours. for this plan, II YOU so desire
f. / may not risk loss, / am perfectly
Willing IN risk gain so that | may work
along IN. lines Of the best endeavor In my
profession; and II we women can FORM
nucleus for the permanency OF theatre
OF the best type II Will. am sure oiing
an element into our lives-our national ives
which can only make for real delight and
potential good"