Evening journal., 1913-10-09
THURSDAY OCT. 9. 1918,
THE PLAYHOUSE.


rT~HERE Is splendid promise for Wilmington play
i goers in the impending opening OF the Play
house, which is being built by the duPonts and viii
be under the general management of William A. Brady
and the shuberts and the direct management OF John
S. Hale an experienced theatrical man, who already
har won the golden opinion Of those Wilmingtonans
who hive been fortunate to meet him.
We a'-ead, have two well-conduced theatres in our
city. One is the Garrck IL Is a vaudeville house
that has conducted for years, and with signal
success, by William l.. Docksader. The other is the
Avenue, popular stock company house. 1t Is under
the personal mana cement of Luke Conness, who
has made host OF friends and wel-wishers among
Wilmingonians since he came to this city from New
York And to have the Playhouse whlch
is 10 he managed by who are known the world
over for their theatrical ee' ius, and who have sta
ioned here as their representative whose very
oresen. carries With It atmosphere of reciprocal
friendly feeling With three such men as Docksader,
Conness and Hale, named I'M the order of their COM
ing catering to the varying tastes of Wilmington the
atre-goers the pleasure and recreation OF our COM
muniiy assured.
Since the work OF building the Playhousc was begun,
the question frequently mas Aeen asked: what will
heoome of the carriek and the Avenue after II has
been hnisked.and is in operation We think the an
sWor that the present will give TO that ques-
tiop will be that in prorre-ous city Of 10000 in
habtants and in the surrounding country peoped by
many other Thousands there are enough playgoere
TO support all three houses they ought to be sup
ported and T. give the- managers thai
fair measure of proht which they are cAttled be-
cause Of the investments ey have made.
It must not be forgotten that theatre going begeta
theatre-gonz; that Wilmington. regarded by the
larger cities as a provincial town. Is becoming every
day more metropolitan in ite tastes and practices;
that the local standar s o. living higher; that
the business methods up-to-date and ag-
gressve and that the people disposed to
get something of life than working, eating
81 cnn ar tiou
that lid lave starved and died here live
and thrive today The Playhouse will serve
municipal stimulant Il not only Will build up its
own lutinef but also believe, in doing II will
build up the business of the two other houses by
intensyins and strengthening local interest IL all
things theatrical
There ia something else that the Playhouse will do
IN ts field rs the Garrick and the Avenue already
doing I'm their respective fields. Il will keep here
at home in local circulation many thousands OF
dollss that being carricl to Phiisde ph a
every and left in the box Offices Of he the
there Those who make IL practice to
so to Philadelphia in search of diversion not already
supplied by the Garrck and the Avenue longer will
have an excuse for doing II is the purpose Of
Mr. Brady and the Shuberts to bring to our city
the very best productions that show not only in Pha-
delphia but also in New York and many of which also
delight London audiences. In addition IL is their pur-
pose make Of this city rying-out centre for new
productions. Wilmington audiences will have the
usual advantage Of seeing such plays before they
produced elsewhere Upon the verdict of those
audiences the productions will be samended
strengthened toned down abandoned altogether. In
other words. if the policy OF making this hrstnight
town be persisted in by Mr.. Brady and the Shuberts
will not be long before shall have here. by rea-
son Of those frequent appeals to judgment and the
discern .lating process OF education that will attend
them, community Of theatrical critics the influence
of whose verdicts will be felt the length and breadth
Of the American stage.
It is the manifest duty Of Wimingtonians not only
to welcome and support the Playhouse and Mr.. Hale,
us resident manager, but also to be liberal in
their treatment of the Garrck and Mr. Dockstader
ana the Avenue and Mr. CONFESS to make them
iee that SO far as they affected the theatre
is benefit and not injury. There is room here
lot e 'nree houses If they be properly and popularity
conducted. and we feel sure the future will verify that
assertion.