The Washington herald., 1915-02-07

thors write me that it is impossible
| to work with real tragedy going or
! Immediately around them. So we must
! look for home work; it is the great.
! est opportunity the American play.
! wright has ever had
Il believe the war will have a spe.
cial effect on future processes OF
playwriting, and in this way: The
world has been terrifically charged
with rapid action. Peoples minds have
gotten into the way of digesting a
huge amount of complicated Incidents
Swift action piled upon swift action
has been the story of the present war
So, too, playwriting hereafter, even
when not concerned with war will
| have to be designed in the same way
swift action piled upon swift ac-
tion-more concrete deeds and less
psychology. That 1 am sure, for a long
time to come, will be the temper OF
playwriting as well as the craving
of people who go to see plays.
Among the New York artists and
plays that you are to see 1 am glad
to name Ethel Barrymore, who has
just achieved a great success in her
new play, called The Shadow This
piece has put her at the very fore
front of natural emotional actresses.
Elsie Ferguson has also achieved a
splendid success in Outcast' Both Of
my triple alliance companies will
reach Washington before the end of
the current season. In the dramatic
line you shall see William Gillette.
Blanche Bates, Marie Doro and their
companion players in Diplomacy In
the musical comedy line. Julia Sand
erson, Donald Brian. Joseph Caw-
thorn and others will soon come to
Washington in The Girl From Utah
/ am already planning a number of
productions for next season. pro-
pose going TO London just the same
this spring. war or no war, and in the
spring I shall Unite with David Be
lasco in an all-star manager and all
star actor company which will come to
Washington for one performance"
Cyril Maude, the English actor. who
VIII make his local debut at the New
National Theater tomorrow night Gr
what New York last season proclaimed
to be one of the finest characteriza-
tlons seen in America since England
sent us John Hare), began his theat-
rical career in this country-a FAC,
which is not generally known.
At the age of twenty Mr.. Maude was
suffering i'll health and decided to try
farming in Canada for his recovery
lie soon tired of the agricultural life
ard was able TO obtain a theatrical
engagement with Daniel Bandmann
at Denver, Colo, in the role of a sery-
ant in East Lynn" For two years
following this debut Mr.. MatIde con-
tinued in the West playing all sorts
of parts in all sorts of plays, after
which he returned to England. where
he constantly gained in reputation as
both manager and actor. He did not
return to America until last winter
when he began an enEagement in
New York with the performances of
several plays in his repertoire, pre-
senting THE Second in Command" and
Beauty and the Barge" with but
small financial success. When
Grumpy" was offered, however. the
scales were turned, and the English
man was unstintingly praised. THIS
play, unlike the two which had pre-
eeded II, was a novelty In this coun-
Try. and proved a rare theatrical treat. |
At once the fine character creation OF |
Mr.. Maude was recognized and ever
since, both in New York and London.
be has been vizuaIizIng the title role
of Grumpy" with such success thatI
We cannot but feel intense Interest In