New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-20
NEW PRODUCTIONS
A Busy Week Promised for the First
Nighters.

At the Eltinge Theatre, Tuesday, De,
cember %, Manager A. II. Wood VIII
present "The Song Of Songs" five-act
plav by Edward Sheldon, based upon
Hermann Sudermann's famous novel OF
that name.
Mr.. Sheldon has departed widely IN
this play from all of his earlier dramat-
ic works. There is no semblance here
N his "Salvation Neh," "The High
PoadD or "Romance." "The Song OF
Songs" deals with contemporary life In
the metropolis, and the characters are
presented as creatures OF bone ana
blood, not as literary fctions.
Dionysios Kardos set "The Song or
Songs" to music and left it as his only
inheritance to his daughter Lily when
he deserted her and her mother. Lily,
forced to go out into the world at a
tender age, carried the manuscript
with her as an amulet against evil, but
evil beset her, for she was young,
beautiful and unprotected. Lovers
knelt at her feet. One married her;
one sought her ruin; one, again, sought
to give her the only happiness that life
seemed to offer; one, again, sought to
turn that happiness into everlasting
sorrow. In the end Lily found such
honor as another marriage could give
her before the world. She had found
her Song Of Songs, but TO her its
melody was short-liyed.
In presenting this remarkable play,
with justice to the author, it has been
found necessary to resort to dramatic
realism. II is a play of New York life
of to-day and the pictures are drawn
with fidelity. There are many Lilys in
real life, and they are surrounded by
just such men as Mr.. Sheldon has por-
trayed.
The production promises 10 be one
of the most elaborate seen here in years.
There are five different scenes. and
while the play is in no sense a musical
one, special incidental music has been
composed for it by William Furst. The
all-star cast includes John Mason,
Thomas A. Wise, Dorothy DonnelA
Irene Fenwick, Cyril Keightly, Ernest
Glendenning and other prominent ar
lists. There are more than twenty
speaking parts. The first matinee Of
The Song of Songs" will be given on
Christmas Day.
The New York Play Actors Company
will inaugurate its new season in the
BandboX Theatre, on East 57th ST., next
Tuesday night. The opening presen-
tation will be Jerome X. Jerome's COM
edy in four acts called Poor Little
Thing" The story was originally done
in French by Jules Lemaitre and pro-
duced in Paris by Guitry and his COM
pany.
The plan Of the Bandbox Theatre is
TO establish the New York Play Actors
Company there as a repertory organi-
cation. A new play viii be offered
every four weeks, and the current sea-
son will be given over TO five new pro-
auctions. For its clientele the COM
pany rs depending upon subscriptions
to a considerable extent, but the thea
tire is open to the public the same as
any other house. IL is a small house.
the capacity being limited to 299 seats
on the lower floor. Douglas j. Wood
Is the general director and Edward Els
ner is the general stage director. An
advisory board will assist Messrs. Wood
and Elsner in the detailed presentation
of plays. This board consists of John
w. Alexander, David Bispham, Hamlin
Garland, Walter Damrosch, Jules Cue
rim and Albert Steiner.
A number of ladies prominent i'm So
ciety have rendered their services as
patronesSes AID others of equal promi-
hence have subscribed for the season
10 furnish the financial nucleus of the
enterprise The company is composed
of Eric Blind, Frances Carson, Anita
Clarendon, Rider Davies, Amy Dennis
Janet Dunbar, Ernest A. Elton, Jean
nette Terrell, Helen Fulton, Ida JEFF
freys- Goodfriend, Agnes kemble, Will
lam LorenZ, Alma Mara, Dora Mavor
Lionel Pape, Irene Perels. William
Raymond, Celia Randolph, Elsie Ron
aid, Eleanor Russell, Edith Seabury,
Beverly Sitgreaves and Douglas j.
Wood. There are no leading men or
ladies and all members of the company
are upon the same footing and will be
utilized for their respective fitness 10
the parts to be played in the Judgment
OF the producers.
The aim of the new company is. to
give plays which do not entirely lend
themselves to the larger theatres Of
the city. but which can be kept in an
intimate atmosphere that increases
their charm. In the event that any
new production is pronounced success
that would warrant longer career in
town the same can be easily trans
ferred to some other theatre for a run.
The New York Play Actors will be kent
intact 20 produce new plays every
month. The Bandboy Theatre will be
their permanent home.
Joseph Physioc has built the scenery
and several artists interested in the
new theatre have given their expert
advice as TO the detail of the studio
scenes.
The BandboX Theatre has been made
into cosey and yet entirely practical
theatre for the presentation of most
any play the company shall decide
upon producing. 1t has been refur.
nished throughout, and while il has
not been deliberately decorated. there
is the intimacy maintained between
the theatre and the stage which fits in
with the purposes of the new organiza-
tion. The company has been thor
oughly rehearsed and everything is in
readiness for the formal opening on
Tuesday night. Preceding this there
will be an invitation dress rehearsal
on Monday night
Lydia Lopokova's appearance at The
Playhouse, beginning next Wednesday
evening, in Just Herself" promises to
be a genuine novelty Yet her appear
| ance as an English-speaking actress
can be no managerial attempt 10 capi-
talize the reputation that "winning
little Lydia" has gained as a premiere
danseuse of the Imperial Russian Bal
let
Hksoe