New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-08
A.E.T. Horptua-p NJ. A.

the hard working provincial man and
woman shall not feel insulted when they
pay their 80 cents to see play. even II
IL be not a success, or play which they
thoroughly dislike These matters are
really matters Of taste, but rubbish IS an
insult 10 a man who goes 10 theatre
and who is burdened with brains.
II am the last person in the world to
be in favor OF putting the theatre into
the hands of the crank. 1t has been very
difficult 10 make people realize that had
no intention OF making a freak theatre
but | think that by this time ] have
proved, 10 the English people a any rate,
that II is possible with a catholic choice
OF plays, good acting. respectable mount
ing, no stars and, above all no sticks
TO make civilized theatre pay.
81 do not think that cultivated people
nowadays realize the enormous difference
in the drama they see at the average
theatre i'm London to-day from that OF
thirty or thirty-five years ago. In the 3Os
and early SOS the best orchestral con-
certs in London used TO be held on Sat
urday afternoons at the Crystal Palace
and these were performances which made
the public familiar with Beethoven, Mo-
Fart. Mendelssohn and even the then re-
volutionary Wagner. On other days IN
, the week they used TO 20 10 see East
Lynne. Joe from Bleak House Clan
carty,' Uncle Dicks Darling Our Boys
and the like, and al other times these
same people would go TO London 10 see
Claudian' and The Silver King
II have not a word 20 say against those
plays, but their literary merit is NIL and
the children OF those same people demand
something better I'm the theatre. Doubt
less there is an enormous amount Of rub
Dish still performed. | do not mean the
clean, honest melodrama, but the musical
comedies. | have such strong feelings on
this subject that my language is likely TO
become violent, so much so that It has
been stated in a newspaper that l was
obviously jealous Of more prosperous
managers.
II believe that the standard Of acting
Is rising. for the simple reason that the
standard of education is also rising ~
every direction
There is a common sense saying rhe
proof OF the pudding is in the eating and
the standard OF acting i'm the countries
where the actors get the chance 10 learn
their business thoroughly is much higher
than in England. where with few eXcep-
lions the actors become machines through
the long runs and the wearisome touring
month after month in the same parts.
very fortunately, have lived a good deai
In Munich. and my aim at the Galety
Theatre is 10 make a theatre where the
man from Munich or Vienna or Frank
fort will feel that it is good perform
ance
THE old stock companies practicalV
died out when the railways came anu
made 1t possible for the ordinary touring
system 10 begin / do not believe for
moment that the modern audience woulu
put up with the roughness OF the old STOCK
company shows Think OF the Merchant
of Venice, of Othello. Iago and Desoa-
mona coming down TO town as stars pS
coach and having only two rehearsaiS
with the stock company which was sup
porting them. That Is what used to hap
pen.
"The repertory system gives the actor
chance of learning his business, ana IN IL
have found that there is great amount
OF talent which has not yet had its op-
portunities. | have lost some of my peo-
pie TO London managers who can pay
higher salaries. but there is no cessatio" 2
to the applications which reach me IRON,
clever young people who are not atrai'
of terribly hard work and low SALARIES
and an opportunity of learning SONG
thing"
When Miss Horniman first went TO MAI
chester she was looked upon with a gooa
deal Of skepticism, but the people Oh ma
city afterward were glad to show the',
pride in her by giving her the Master o.
Arts degree from the University OF Man
chester.