New-York tribune., 1912-02-11
THE PLAYGOER
Elsie Ferguson and the Public
Nine. Simone'S Acting, Speech
and PIay-Demand for
"A Story"

Elsie Ferguson's return to New York
tomorrow will be one of the most un-
usual events that have occurred IN the
records of stardom. Once player gets
out of New York and fairly started on
a successful road tour it is dIncult
thing to get back again. A return WITH
in a fortnight is probably without pre-
cedent Unusual as the event is, there
is also an unusual significance attach
ing TO it. In other words, there IS the
recognition of the great advance MISS
Ferguson has made as an artist, an
artist with a brilliant present and
great future. This recognition mas
come without flourishes of trumpets and
dazzling lights and displays of printers
ink. 1t has been earned only by the artist
herself, by hard work. constant work
constant study of the character she por-
trays, constant search for shades and
depths of meaning hitherto unexpressed
in the portrayal Since THE First Lady
in the Land" was first placed on the stage
Miss Ferguson has woven into it. by her
performance of Dolly Madison, many
effects which scarcely could have been
in the mind of the author or the man
ager. and which have so rounded out
the delineation of the character that the
latter has become a memorable figure
in the gallery of stage celebrities.
If Mr.. Henry B. Harris would devote
some of his abundant energy and re-
sources to the work of getting behind
his star and her delightful play and
pushing them into a prominent position
before the public gaze, large audiences
would be drawn into the Fulton The
atre, and Miss Ferguson would remain
there through the rest Of the season.
But Mr.. Harris does not.push. He leaves
the public to discover for itself the re-
markably fine quality Of the wares he
has for sale at the Fulton, Just as he
did when Miss Ferguson was next door,
at the Gaiety. No successful merchant
would hide his merchandise or conceal
from the public the fact that he has on
sale the best goods in the country. He
would proclaim his stock and the public
opportunity; he would bring the public
TO his doors.
The point is that In Elsie Ferguson
Mr.. Harris has the actress who is des-
tined to become the most distinguished
on tho American stage, and who al
ready is its finest and most attractive
comedienne. Why not make a persis-
tent, consistent and legitimate effort to
tell the public this? For, after all, the
public needs to be told, and to be told
repeatedly, new facts Of this kind, and
1t welcomes the telling when the right
method is taken. and when the facts
support the claim, as in this case they
would, and do, emphatically.
There are many theatres nowadays.
New York is overrun with them. The
public has so many entertainments to
choose from that in most cases the
choice is made at haphazard, and half
the theatres are half-full. But still the
theatres increase in number; a new one
will be opened next month, and half a
dozen new ones next autumn. In these
conditions any new bill must stand out
prominently before the public in order
to draw more than ordinary support.
But most of the plays and the actors.
even when they are more than ordinarily
meritorious, have, in these days. to be
sought out by the public, either by
scanning a large number Of absurdly
tiny daily advertisements, or by inquiry
among friends, il trying the luck at the
first theatre that comes to mind is not
the Office Of last resort. Amid this SUI
perfuous, 1t might almost be said ridic-
ulous. multiplicity Of theatres and plays
q new star is far less conspicuous than
would have been the case In former sea-
sons, and the public is. in the nature
OF things, slower to discover and sup
Port his art, or hers.
What is said here is not in criticism of
Mr.. Harris, who might very well retort
that he knows his business far better
than dramatic critic can know it. But
IL becomes more and more obvious to
persons whose business 1t is to observe
from the front what goes on Ia the the.
aires that there are conditions rapidly
growing up which many managers,
judged by their works, seem only family
TO realize-at any rate, to deal with. Mr.
Harris really deserves the thanks Of
ytheatregoers for bringing Miss Ferguson
ito New York for a second time this sea-
Son. But there are many thousands Of
l.