Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-29
Renewing the New Theatre


wallack's old theatre, way down Broad
ts the scene of test for a new New
Thsatre" movement in New York. There
granville Barker, the distinguished Eng
,.b manager and playwright, Is be-
staining a season upon the outcome of
.h,ob rests the re-establishment in
nerlca of n repertory theatre on the
finest lines.
-, Central Park was first opened. Gram
siite BARKER was offered the dictatorship.
Tie came to America, gave one look Mt
no mammoth auditorium and took the
rsxt boat back. His judgment was vim
dicated. The house drew what were
fsirlv good audiences for so new a ven
ture. but they were lost In the immense
distances Of the place, and the cost of
Soening up the huge building ate into the
giarantee fund so rapidly that the whole
thing was given up.
some of the men who backed tho first
vehture are still interested I'm giving and
seeing good plays with the best Of acting
and setting. They have co-operated with
the New York Stage Society In bringing
Mr.. Barker to New York for a season of
modern and S~hakespearean plays. If the
response from the public seems to Justify
n. they are ready to put MIR. Barker in
charge next. fall OF n Recommendations
seating no more than 1900, and equipped
for the work he wants to do. Success in
New York means a tour each season,
from which Philadelphia must profit.
Here and in London
1t is more than likely that Mr.. Barker
will be able to conduct the American
theatre in conjunction with a similar
venture in London. When tho war broke
out he had the funds and tho plans for
such a playhouse. Within a year condi-
tons may be ripe for 1t. Certainly, the
linking up of the two ventures would
argue for success for each.
still more promising. however, is the
ability of Mr.. Barker himself. He is not
alone the pla ywright that gave London
such remarkable dramas as THE Noysey
Inheritance" Waste" and THE Madras
House, He started the present English
theatre movement-from which have
sprung Shaw, Galsworthy. Bennett-with
his management of the Court Theatre 10
years back. OF late he has progressed
from the financial triumph of "Fanny's
First Play" to remarkable productions Of
Shakespeare along the new lines so imag-
inatively developed in Germany and
Russia.
ohA nv III "a AOo O.
Wednesday evening Mr.. Barker made
his first production, a double bill of Shaw
and Anatole France. The contributions
were no less distinguished than the con-
trlbutors. "Androcles and tho Lion
proved as delightful to see as It had been
10 read in n past number of E~verybody's
Magazine. "The Man who Married a
Dumb Wife" was overshadowed i'm the
morning-after reviews by tho excellence
OF the Shaw satire, but it, too, is well
commended.
~overshadowing the plays themselves,
however, was the method of production.
The New York critics rightly judged that
the important part of Mr.. BarSer's con-
tribution to our stage. The Herald gives
what is a clear enough description of the
changes in the usual stage management:
Mr.. Barker Is known here by reputa-
ton as an i%nnovator in matters of stage,
and last evening he lived up to his repu-
tation, for the familiar old Wallack's
interior presented Il strange sight. The
two lower stage boxes have disappeared
and in their places are stage entrances
and exits, the actors nearly all making
their entrances by these routes. The
stage apron has been built far out to
meet the first row of the orchestra chairs.
A second proscenium arch has been built
back of the first one and footlights have
entirely disappeared.
THE lighting is nearly all from above,
except hat the front platform of the
stage Is Illuminated by n battery of
strong lights ranged in the first bal
cony. The players by no means confne
themselves to that portion of the stage
baek OF tho first proscenium arch, but
literally romp n play out on the plat
Iorm' almost within touch of the audi
ence-giving a strange air of both in
umacy and freedom, and putting the
listeners in close rapport with actors
and action"
Commanding "Androcles"
So much has already been written in
England and reprinted in America con-
corning Shaw's drama of the early
Christian martyrs that a critical con
sideratlon of it may better be saved for
a personal visit to Wallack's within the
next few days. The reviewers seem we'll
pleased. The Times writes: 1.-The plays
are neither p%retentlous nor precious.
Ihey are simply good run, we'll done. Mr..
Barker Is welcome to New York" And
lne rest are of the same mind,
Their praise OF Mr.. Bankers work it.
self Is as hearty. The Tribune says:
bis Interpretation of Shaw's 'Androcles'
vas as fine a thing as we nave seen in
a long time. The treatment of the scenes
and the splendid cast Mr.. Barker has as
semoled transforms Shaw's play in
a fashion impossible for one who has
merely read the published edition to
imagine. Mr.. Rothstein, who designed
me scenery for 'Androcles' as we'll as for
anna Pavlowa's 'Chopiniana,' seen here
iast week, gets his words of commenda-
ton"
Anatole Frances Comedy
Anatole Frances Mar Who Married
: Dumb Wife" suggests Rabelais. Its
moral complexion isn't that sort, but 1t
Is a very broadly amusing comedy in