Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-04-06

GLO-SAXONDOM is developing a gen.
"A uine fondness for theatrical research
In other words, the stage in England and
America is going in for revivals OF once
popular plays. 1t Is easy to account Tor the
eight specimens view in London:
the depression of the war. But something
else must explain our steadily growing
fondness for revslting the histrionic scenes
of our childhood.
An "all-star" spring revival has been COM
mon in New York, II not always profitable
But by the end OF this week Broadway VIII
see three familiar plays. 'Trilby" has been
revived, with Wilton Lackaye, Leo Ditrich-
stein, Taylor Holmes, Brandon lyman and
Phyllis Neilson-Terry. "A Celebrated Case
is to be presented tomorrow night by an "all-
star" management David Belasco and
Charles Frohman), with Otis Skinner, Nat
Goodwin, Ann Murdoch, Helen Ware and
Florence Reed. Last night Arnold DAILY re-
vived Shaws you Never Can Tell" with
wel-balanced cast that will probably outact
its luminary laden competitors.
RevivaIs on the Road
"The road" has had more than its quota
this season. Grace George brought Clyde
Fitch's best play, THE Truth" to Philadel-
phia in the early fall About the same time
came Margaret Anglin in Lady Winder-
meres Fam" and, later, Blanche Bates, Will
lam Gillette and Marie Doro in Diplomacy"
The Little Theatre has supplied many
Classics" Maude Adams revived equality
Street" at matinee, and next year she
expects to present a whole repertory of the
plays by Barrie in which she has appeared.
Within a month we have had Shakespeare
and Bulwer- Lytton from Robert Mantell
and Gilbert and Sullivan from De Wolf
Hopper
Such a record means something. 1t seems,
on the one hand, real desire to recall
pleasant hours of other years, and, on the
other, an eagerness to see what an older
generation valued, to learn from it and to
rejoice both In the present and past. The
plays of the past serve a double purpose;
they give double perspective In them we
see the life the morals and the artistic
standards of another day: in them we find
much to admire, much to guide us toward
Improvement. 1t is pleasant to find life rich
and full wherever we touch It. Long-gone
evenings come back pungent with
membrance and the sense of fine tradition.
And these gImpses at the art of another day
give us new courage In our own. We note
technical improvement and newer. a
fresher outlook, kindlier. more healthful We
feel our own day strong again with the
humanity of the past and push of the pres
ent It is a sickly theatre that cannot give
us this, 1t is a purblind theatre that doesn't
make constant provision for It,
Our American theatre system answers the
need but only haltingly. Signs of change
are in that catalogue of reviva's this season,
but except for the Shakespeare, the Gilbert and
Sullivan and the promised Barrie the choice
and number of standard pieces are only mat
ters of luck The production of any new
play is gamble enough. The revival OF an
old piece is buttressed with much less secur-
ity 1t may be the piece people will care to
see; 1t may come at the time when they feel
an urge toward recollection. But 1t is a good
deal safer to depend on piquing interest with
an "all-star" cast. Even that involves a
large salary investment and necessitates
Limited engagements" to crowd in the dol
lars.
On the average, producer and public are
both at the mercy of chance. diplomacy"
for instance, ran through a whole London
season year ago. while revival of 1t over
here with three stars in the cast did poorly
on Broadway and only fair business on the
road Miss Anglin revived Wilde's Lady
Windermere'sFa Fan" with surprising success in
New York. but found the cities outside it
cold. II was a gamble whether the public
would manifest sudden interest In the past
at just the right time. and the public may
have felt yearning for playgoing memories
OF childhood just when there was nothing at
hand to satisfy 1t.
Plsygoing Before the War
Before the great war began an inhabitant
OF any Continental city would have been
amused and puzzled at this situation IN
America Revivals were nothing 10 hs
decorated with stars Indeed he would
hardly have thought Of calling hem re-
vlxala 1t alli Ihsy Hsrs toe much aith hin