New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-11-08
THE DRAMA AGAIN
A Study of Present Day Ten
denotes of Public and Stage.

/ THE NEW AMERICAN DRAMA. By
! Richard Burton. l2mo. PIP VII, 2'a
Thomas Y. Crowel 4 60.
| OF the making OF many books about
/ the drama there is no end. Professor
/ Burton adds TO their number volume
which contains much that is sugSes-
| tive, more that is instructive his
| torically, If critically, one thinks,
somewhat over-optimistic, and many
| things to which one is inclined
to take exception, especially in the
matter OF the responsibilities OF TIE
Commercial" theatrical manager. one
grows somewhat weary of having con-
| tinental Europe held up as paradise
| OF the drama. peopled by multitudes Of
cultured, thoughtful theatregoers. AS
a matter Of fact, the playhouses Of
continental Europe where the tradi-
/ tons of the drama are upheld and new
| traditions are fostered to continue the
| old show an annual deficit, and are
: enabled to do their good work only by
! subsidies from city or state. Europe,
| and they, facing conditions similar 10
those confronting our own providers Of
/ entertainment, plus the competition Of
a subsidized stage solve them as best
they can in much the same manner.
| The solution for us lies not in berating
| the managers, but with the people. 1t
/ is a question OF subsidies granted by
popular vote. That our subsidized the
aires, once established, would show a
surplus at the end of the year instead
Of the customary European deficits is
an illusion Such institutions are run
for the fit but few, not for the general.
| Again. there is that. ever-abused in
dividual, the person who goes TO the
theatre only "for amusement" and his
choice Of entertainment. musical COM
edy. AS matter of fact. musical com
edy is steadily improving in quality,
especially so far as its music is con-
cerned. The orchestra has gradually
been raised to the level of the compos-
er's progressing achievements, and our
lighter music now reJoices in the leader
ship of number of conductors whose
sterling musicianship receives all too
seldom the recognition ii deserves. Our
productions Of such pieces are, more
over, pleasure to the eye in the mat
| ter of scenery and costumes, of the
harmonious blending OF many colors,
and In that of the groupings and evolu-
tons Of masses. Musical comedy is, in
fact, form Of theatrical entertainment
that deserves far more consideration
from our dramatic mentors than they
have thus far chosen to give it. Only
the libretto lags wofully behind in this
upward course. Professor Burton
might. without loss Of dignity TO the
drama, have spoken a word to the
| librettist, even as he might have spoken
far more pointedly to our young dram
atists in a hurry concerning their
supericiality, their lack Of real knowl-
| edge of the problems with which they
profess to deal. Never has the poverty
of intellectual content of our budding
drama Of ideas" been so badly shown
as in the new plays of the present
| season.
However, II one does not always
agree with Professor Burton, ii is be-
cause he makes one think. and, on the
other hand, much of what he says Is
as true as 1t is worth saying He may
over-emphasize the educational. as dis
tinct from the artistic, possibilities of