The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-02
~ LAWRENCE REAMER.

~
lack connected with the playhouse
which closed it's doors last night II
Is not easy to see. It was in this
house as a matter Of fact that the
glory Of the name was permanently
ex,inguished. Charles Burnham has
tod 10 an interesting account of the
theatre that only three productions
made there by Lester wallack ever
were financially successful. Attempts
BY the actor manager TO revive the old
comedies were attended with wretched
results. Who does not remember the
meagre audiences which sat in in
difference while such veterans as John
GiIbert and Nine. Ponisi along with
Osmond Tenrle, Rose Coghlan and
other admirable actors attempted to
interest a public which had drifted
altogether away from the traditions
Of the establishment. Probably Of all
the plays which Lester waliack acted
In this house II was THE Silver King"
which proved most popular.
The managers who came after
ward found little more prosperity.
Henry Abbey lost a fortune there in
4 year during which he acted various
plays intended to make his wife.
Florence Gerard. important. and Incl
dentally restore Rose Coghlan and
some Of the former actors Of the Wal
lack company to their places in the
theatre. Whether 1t were THE Mouse
trap OF Sydney Grundy or Liable
Constantin' Of Meilhac. the results
we're equally unimpressive to the pub
lie, although Mr.. Abbey did all that
was possible TO make these produc-
lions OF the highest artistic quality.
Ihen A. NJ. Palmer came along and
called the theatre after his own name
10 produce with his stock company
one failure after another. Even when
me original name was restored the
career Of the theatre was rather more
'heckered than that of most play
houses.
90 there seems no reason in the
world to regret its disappearance.
fsf' Of its lack Of popularity was due
70 the wretched acoustics Of the build
'ns and the poor sight lines. Granville
barker with his platform stage, bring
ING the actors we'll out into the audi
''r'um did more to make the spec
'A'ofs feel in touch with the perform
s"ee IMAM any OF the other managers
VINO were connected with the theatre.
Always seemed to the writer better
'1aP'ed 10 comic opera than 10 any
o'her form Of entertainment.
" khe" some notable first appear
dnces in this field Here was Marie
tempest introduced To American au-
p'e"ces' Here Judi" and Thco sang
''' the first time. Eut their humor
'"d 'neir music will never make the
''a'ro world forget that Wa.lack's
'' playhouse which gayc more
va" on" manager the coup dc grace.
" nrSt manager and founder. then 4.
o. rainier, succeeding Henry Abbey
'uu nnally George Tyler could tell
'"heuing about the share that this
p''house had in their own mis-
'oruhes. And did Charles Frohman
''h "Aristocrlcy.' Colorado" and
''hlIar plays have any cause to re-
"'en'oer Ire house with pleasure?
The last theatre that was in any
way representative OF the wallack
"ad't!ons In New York stood at
thirteenth street and Broadway and
en1ed its dayg as the Star.
"N nc' imoortant for ali Interested
''l'll licdlFP IN New J Ork TO
''''FniHe that the amiabc efforts Of
"lc."n Ronh~ur. who conducts the
Enterprise known ~ the Theatre
'ah'is on the roof of the Century
'"ea'ro' Is not in the least able to sup
p'E what French theatre should he II
u ~ hear that name? So long az Tho
"'u'n'ion was housed in one play
''uS" or another for its occasional
''''"nanccs 1t was quite possible
''r2i!e tho amat.urish and unprc-
''''n entertainments which were
"''"'''r offered ana indu'gcntly rc-
,'''a hy an audience which Yonld
nave mad difficulty in finding ANYTHING
.'' 10 do on sunday shts, But there
''u'' D" Improvement over the repre-
situations OF the past season II there
10 be French theatre worth the
lame N New York.