Evening star., 1913-11-23

IlOIeQ. buI DIV Ine1T very 1ldlult lltN die
earnest enthusiastic, and-all takers. When
they go to the theater they are sandwiched
in among average auditors, and are notorious
for expressing their opinions in audible tones.
Unless they have seriously considered the
question of the effect upon the people about
them, they are likely to create an atmoS-
phere of criticism and hostility toward the
performance and performers.
One prominent firm of managers in New
York has drawn upon itself the condemna-
ton of actors and playwrights by cancelling
all free passes to these two classes. This IS
drastic measure and very humiliating to
these men; but it would seem that in its
essence it is just. They have abused the
courtesy extended to them. When not ap-
proving of play, they are active agents in
the theater and out, among persons who are
influenced by the fact that they are authori-
ties on the subject. 1t can be proved that
they do absolute harm to the reputation of
the play.
Some managers who give free passes to
actors and playwrights absolutely refuse to
give them box, since in a good many cases
where they are well known they attract
much attention. Instead of eliminating
themselves, they are prone to revel in per-
sonal publicity and use it for all it IS worth,
to the detriment Of the performance on the
stage.
TT seems nowadays to be in the mind of
everybody who comes IN contact with
social conditions that it is possible to use the
theater and pay nothing for it. All the
charitable organizations, the philanthropic
bodies all the budding literary societies, and
people of such ilk have devised ways and
means of getting free seats. Even SO insig-
nihcant and unimportant things as ladies'
bridge whist clubs will write over some
prominent woman's name and ask if seats
or boxes for euchre or bridge prizes can be
given to them. When manager has play
such as | have described, for which he is en-
deavoring to secure New York run, he will
sometimes make the great mistake of in
Guiding some of these in his list of free
ticketers. Directly one such request is
granted, without regard to the popularity
of succeeding plays, down comes shower
of similar requests upon him from all sorts
of clubs
One of the leading managers of New York
gave box to a personal friend who applied
for it as prize at a progressive euchre. The
woman who got the prize went to the box
Office of the theater and requested box for
a certain evening, which was given to her.
On the night of the performance she ap-
peared with nine persons, and was about to
enter the box when she was informed by an
usher that it contained only six seats. She
unconcernedly replied, @Very well, you can
bring three more chairs The bewildered
usher, who had never, even when the box
was sold for twenty-five dollars, heard a
similar request, was nonplussed. He went
to the boxoffice for Instructions In the
light of the fact that the box had been a
gift, they told him to say that they had no
extra chairs.
Whereupon, the champion euchre player
appeared in front Of the window where the
patient, contented people were filing up pay
ing good money for their seats, and glad to
get them, and began to berate the ticket
seller She told all her business in loud
voice. how she had won this box at prize
euchre; how no one had told her that she
could have only six seats; how she was not
a mind reader and could not possibly know
there were only that many in a box; how
she had invited her friends and they must
be provided for; and how if there was any
more talk on the subject she would @make it
hot for the manager. Rather than have
the original mistake of the manager Civ
ing the box at all-shown up to an interested
public in the foyer, the helpless ticket seller
directed the usher to take three seats from
the box above and supply the demand
The next day the mandate went forth
that never in any circumstances or under
any mental alteration whatsoever should