New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-07
ANNIE RUSSELL TALKS
Of Plan to Foster Best Traditions
of Her Art.

The trouble with America is that it is too
| large Being too large IT tries TO do every
thing on too large a scale When il gets
an idea II is always the biggest idea ever
conceived. With its gigantic strength Amer
lea promptly proceeds to carry out the idea
on the grandest scale ever attempted In
most cases the inevitable happens. The idea
either collapses Of its own weight or lum.
hers along like a mastodon, too unwieldy 10
retain Its place in the race OF the ages.
few years ago a group Of Americans
conceived the idea Of building theatre
which should be dedicated TO the greatest
dramas Of all centuries. They rushed 10
the construction Of a playhouse which should
exceed anything vet seen on this side OF the
water in size and masnfcence. II failed.
1t did not fail because II was dedicated to
the greatest drama, but because its founders
were obsessed for the moment with the
typical American delusion that greatest
aud largest" were synonymous.
Americans. however. are not too big to
learn their lessons. They frankly admitted
their obsession, ami one Of them undertook
10 retrieve the failure Ne succeeded. and
the best proof OF his success is that another
s about to follow his lead When the fall
season reached It's height New York VIII
have two playhouses cultivating the Ideals
which The New Theatre was designed to up
hold-the Little Theatre and the new Prin-
cess Theatre, in West S9th street. opposite
Maxine Elllott's Theatre.
The credit for the new home Of intimate
dramatic art is largely TO be DIVIDED be-
tween Annie Russell and the Shuberts. The
latter built the playhouse, with its 2s9 seats
in the pit and its twelve boxes FOR pal
cony Miss Russell developed the IDEA 81
using the playhouse 20 produce nine weeks
Of old English comedy, with the emphasis
on the comedy rather than on the prodnc-
ton The outlook IS hopeful. The more
little theatres there are the more VIII De
required. Education will get in It's WORK.
and IL one Is an optimist he may even look
| forward 10 the time when an American
playwright will learn the lesson OF the little
| theatre and write a play worthy 70 be pre-
scented in the same bill with Shakespeare
and Moliere and Ibsen.
How the new New Theatre idea came into
existence has been told during the last week
Briefly II was az follows Miss Russell, at
tending a luncheon OF women In this CITY
VAS asked TO formulate plan by "hicr
I their children and other children could ne
shown the drama which they studied IN
school The actress pointed out that such
plavs could only be produced in smai
! theatre. with the unqualified support or an
intelligent public. The support was pledged
the theatre secured and Mss Russell went
about arranging n repertory. The course
uill onen on November II with "She Sioops
! 10 Conouer." 10 be followed AZ reasonable
intervals by Much Ado About Nothing
"ThA Rivals" and a piece vet to be selected
peatrice Herford will play Mrs. Hardcastle
and Mrs. Malaprop. and oswald Yorke VIII
hiring his Shakespearian experience TO the
etare management Of the productions
TbAre was something TO be done, OF
| course before the subscriptions amounted
20 enough to establish the project on
Arm footing. Miss Russell did much OF II
| hy .xnoun6,ns her Ideas 10 women's clubs
ana before well known schools. Through
,ns courtesy of Samuel Freedman, her
business manager The Tribune IL able 70
mini an exclusive account Of Miss Rus
sells talk, which she has delivered In the
las, few months at Miss Capin's School,
IN. 81. Bernard, the Veltin and other
schools, and before number OF women
| clubs in this city and elsewhere II fol-
lows:
When a group OF women first disclosed
10 me their very interesting and adml-
! rable plan for matinee performances lot
| children OF old English comedies ana
shakespearean plays, 10 be given without
too great straining after scenic effect ana
a very great regard for scholarly inter-
probation and asked for my professional
| cooperation, | felt an instant response OF
| sympathetic delight in the Idea, but re-
greet to say quickly reactonary one "f
| skepticism OF the real desire for such plays