New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-12
NEWS OF PLAYS
And PLAYERS
Mr.. Barker and American
Art-Morosco's Play Blu
reau OyerWOrked.
BY HECTOR TURNBULL.


The announcement Of the plans OF
Granville barker for his forthcoming
productions at Wallack's Theatre
brought forth more comment yesterday
from the defenders of the American
players. In a letter received by tins
signed "A Few Patriots OF
the American Theatre" the writer con
denmned the New Theatre committee
for its support OF Mr.. Barker and
urges that the money and influence
offered TO aid the English players
should be devoted TO the cultivation OF
an all-American New Theatre move
ment. The letter is too long for publ
cation here. but II comes apparently
from a body Of theatrical men vitality
interested. who believe that Mr.. Barker
is here solely because there rs no
money in England" and that there IS
no good artistic reason why he should
be given preference over our American
producers and American players.
Henry Rogers Winthrop, the secre-
tary of the New Theatre, and Paul ID.
Cravath both made statements yester-
day TO the effect that the plan was not
q continuation OF the New Theatre
movement, but the result OF desire
Of some Of the committee to aid Mr..
Barker, and that the impulse was pure
~ artistic in purpose.
When Mr.. Barker opens at Wallack's
we shall all have opportunity to see II
he can give us the same galvanic slim
illus that his productions brought the
London stage. If he presents some
thing good or new or artistically true
every lover of the drama will give sup
port, for there should be no such thing
as consideration Of nationality IN
dramatic art. II. however, he offers US
something we can do much better our
selves or land this is quite possible)
something we cannot appreciate at
box office rates the affair will die with
that pathetic struggle so peculiar to
expiring repertory theatres. lie IS an
artist with a fine reputation and he
his attempt, at least.
Ethel Barrymore, who opens tonight
at Atlantic City in new play, "The
Shadow" stayed over after the COM
pany left yesterday to see her uncle,
John Drew, rehearse his role of Sir
Jasper in Rosemary" which opens to-
night at the Empire. Miss Barrymore
was launched as an actress sixteen
years ago in the role o. Priscilla in
Rosemary"
Since Oliver Morosco announced the
establishment of play reading bureau
on the first of the year he has been
forced to materially enlarge its hume
raj efficiency. The bureau was put in
operation at Morosco's Burbank Thea
tire, Los Angeles, January /, and dur
ing the first ten days more than two
hundred and fifty manuscripts were re-
ceived. coming from all parts OF the
United States. The supposedly suffi-
cient number of play readers was
swamped, temporarily, and Mr.. Morosco
has found it necessary to work his staff
overtime. Mr.. Morosco announces that
owing to the great number of plays
that accumulated prior to the opening
of his bureau he is unable to keep his
agreement. at present, TO return the
manuscripts not accepted TO their
authors within three weeks from the
time of their being sent TO Los Angeles.
A SPECIAL matinee of Watch Your
Step" is TO be given at the New Amster-
dam Theatre on Friday. January %.
complimentary to Montgomery and
Stone and the remainder of the COM
pany presenting Charles Dillingham;
other musical comedy, chin Chin"