Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-25
THE THEATRE
Is a Theatrical
Shake-nn Coming2


the managers. The amalgamatlon OF
booking interests which failed to ma
teralIze didn't please many Of the In
dependent producers. And now one OF
these gentlemen is saying in print that
present conditions are no better than
atrustifcaton" would be Asked II he
vas in favor of one controlling booking
agency, Mr.. Brady said: mo, I am not,
because it forms monopoly and is a
trust idea such as Is or should be pro-
hiblted by law" and continued: "The
nresent system prevents competition ex-
cent by a few. I am In favor OF free and
omen competition At the same time, how
aver. the solution will not be effected by
pooling of the interests OF the inde-
pendent producers to regulate booking
arrangements as now dictated by those
In control"
The New York Sun is very sure that
tbe 'show business''-as theatrical art
4 called in the United States-is in for
great many readJustments. II has
found n prominent theatrical man. who
saws: "You cannot keep theatrical pro-
ducers from lighting one another, but
there ia bound to be one of the greatest
shake-ups in years, and 1t is coming
soon
Just what all this means is a matter
for pretty large conjecture. Perhaps it is
only a question Of the dissatisfaction of
certain smaller producers with their
booking agencies Perhaps the increasing
hardships of the managers In this war
ridden season are taking this direction Of
complaint. Perhaps, on the other hand,
It may be the sign for very wide modi-
hcatons of our producing system
The two-dollar scale may be lowered
with the hope of drawing some of the
huge crowds that fill movies, vaudeville
theatres and popula--priced houses. But
that must mean large reductions in the
exorbltant salaries of the better players;
for even with the two-dollar scale 1t is
only genuine success that can show a
big enough profit to pay for the man.
ayers failures.
or things may drift along pretty much
assthey are with the risks getting bigger
and bigger and real financial crisis
looming up. Under these circumstances,
however, there will undoubtedly be a
few astute managers to see, a way out
by catering to particular clienteles with
some such secure and elastic organiza-
ton as Granville Barker Is demonstrat-
ing at Wallack's Theatre, New York,
with his repertory season.
Scenic Realism in Philadelphia
Two productions now on view demon
strate the entire practicability of a
minute realism-under certain conditions.
Given an interior scene and no change of
setting, the scenic designer can build q
solid room on the stage, room that
even the actors might take for the real
thing. Peg o. My Heart" at the Adel-
phi, and "a Girl of Today" at the Gar
rick have just such Elusive settings.
Both scenes show a good deal of |
wooden wainscoting, doorjambs and |
holdings. Indeed, these solid sections |
occupy so much of the wall space that |
upper portions where joints ordinarily |
divide the canvas walls can be made in |
very large single pieces, Joining only |
W "a
but solid doors. glass windows and the |
Usual fiat ceiling piece, all that the rooms |
lack is fourth wall.
OF course, there Is opportunity here for
something more than >alism, even II
the Imagination of Gordon Craig is un-
called for. There is room for architec-
tural design and decorative art, which
both rooms have. And there Is space,
too for a suggestion of the sort of peo-
pie that live within. The setting for "A
Girl of Today" in its rich touches of
gold and red upon the fluted wood and
In its hangings, suggests a tasteful opu-
lence which fits the millionaire Gordon
Blake. The room at the Adelphi is sol
ider and more seemly and suggests In the
dark browns and general air of refined
restraint the true habitation of the Chi
chesters of England.
"Good Night, Nurse!"
Apparently, there hasn't been enough
comedy in these newspaper accounts Of
prominent hnancers prevented from tes-
tifying before Government commissions
because of sudden sickness. Ethel Watts
DIumford has dramatized one of these
famous physicians certificates In Good
Night, Nurse"
The comedy was acted In Albany this |
week at that theatre of premieres which
goes by the edifying name of Harmanus
Blocker Hall. Hale Hamilton, last seen
hara IL, EaiH nf tad |
patient. His complaint was the usual
one, investigation by the Interstate Com
merce Commission. So he stalled off with
the aid of two doctor friends and a pretty
nurse. Complications ensued-a young re-
porter out for scoop" and visit from
medical specialist sent by the commits
sion. Getting rid of the first involved
farce; getting rid OF the latter, doping"
by the doctor friends.
Mr.. Hamilton does his usual excellent
bit, and most of the farce moves swiftly
and amusingly. But the Albany Evening
Journal oplnes that the last act needs an
Injection of stimulant
News Notes
*. and E." are taking no chances with
the large amount of cash already invested
In "Fads and Fancles." Before the piece
VIII add Tom McNaughton to the cast
In place of Doc oNeil, and Madge Lesslng
and Frank Doane for good measure.
one of the desperate methods of stem
ming the hard times tide in the thea
tres is the project by which a company
or actors is presenting "The Sins of the
Fathers" on the commonwealth" plan.
And that means that every player gets
t25O day for hotel expenses before the
rest OF the proceeds are divided on the
been
The Harvard Dramatic Club has sprung
a coup on the Legitimate" by hiring Pro-
ressor Ordynsld, of Max Reinhardts stan,
10 put on it's spring bill OF original short
plays. ordynslSi superintended the pro-
duetion of~"Sumurun" in America.
Al Jolson and 25 members OF Dancing
Around" trotted over 10 New York one
day this week to witness a matinee OF
the new Winter Garden show. Maid In
America"
The Playwright's Mother Goose
Motivation is vexation.
Exposition is as bad.
Unities Three.