New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-24
NEWS OF PLAYS
AND PLAYERS
The Modern Stage Makes
First Production
Other Notes.
By HECTOR TURNBULL.

/
addition to the rapidly growing list Of
/ "little" or repertory theatre organiza-
tions in this city. made its first public
production last night at the Garrick
| Theatre under the direction of the
/ founder, Emanuel Reicher. Haupt-
manns dream play "Elga" was chosen,
and I'VE are judging from the special
performance given Monday night) the
/ selection could hardly be called for
/ tunate. Whether it was due TO the
wretchedly unsuitable translation or
| the woefully incapable acting of the
! players, the finer qualities of the work
missed fire entirely and the perform
ance resolved itself into an amateurish
attempt too dismal 10 warrant more
than passing notice.
We cannot believe that this IS Herr
Reicher's fault or that it in any way
stands as an example Of his purposes
in organizing the Modern Stage. He
has a splendid record for artistic
achievement in the theatre abroad, and
he has found support here enough to
warrant his best efforts. Monday
nights performance can only have
been the result of a mistake in selec-
ton of play and a momentary inability
to provide a suitable cast.
1t is quite impossible to discuss the
play from an acquaintance made un-
der such unfortunate circumstances.
/ The authors purpose, which was to
present a symbolic interlude in fan
tastic setting was utterly obscured by
the manner of its exposition. Dream
plays are essentially delicate in
texture, and must, to find sympathy
with an audience, be played with in
| telligence, lightness and such finish as
to allow no distracting note to Jar the
mind from the fanciful illusion in proc
| ess of construction. "Elga" was lit
| orally murdered by every one in the
cast except one player, Mirzah Cheslir,
! who, with a comparatively unimportant
| role, made the work of the rest of the
| company appear crude, overdOne and
/ amateurish. Miss Hedwig Reicher, the
! leading woman, who has done good
/ things on our stage, was quite out Of
key with the spirit Of Elga. The next
/ play of the subscription series will be
lbsen's John Gabriel Borkman."
A dress rehearsal of "The Adventure
| OF Lady Ursula" by Anthony Hope,
| in which Phyllis NeilsonTerry is to
| appear, was held at midnight last
night. The company will go TO New
! Haven tomorrow, where three per-
formances will be given at the Shu-
| bert Theatre. The comedy will begin
an engagement at the Maxine Elliott
/ Theatre here next Monday.
Owing to the illness Of Mrs. Vivian,
| the mother of Mrs. Charles Hopkins
! and Linda Bolton, of the Punch and
Judy Theatre, the first meeting Of
/ "Only Their Understudies' Club
scheduled for Saturday, has been post
poned.
A. Paul Keith, Z. F. Albee and Mar
tin Beck are busy selecting the names
of prominent vaudeville stars who e
10 appear for the benefit of the Actors
Fund ut the Century Theatre on Sun
day evening, March 7. Among the
names so far selected are May Irwin,
David Bispham, Nan Halperin, Grace
La Rue, Villa Holt Wakefield, Ferne
Rogers, Belle Baker, Mile. Dazzle, Trixie
! Friganza, James Thornton, Frank Fo-
garty, Tom Penfold and twenty-five vo-
cal soloists in a big ensemble number.
Muriel Hudson and her Tango Girls,
from the Ziegfeld Midnight Follies, will
appear.
without giving away any state Sc
crets, or stage secrets, it may be stated
that there is a love story in the plot
of "The Peasant Girl" the new operetta
which comes to the Forty-fourth Street
Theatre next Monday night, with Emma
, Trentini and Clifton Crawford adorn-
ing the cast. Clifton Crawford is not
one of the lovers. He has the tragic
role Of an also-ran, a part which gives
him the chance 10 be forlornly funny.
Headed by AL Jolson, twenty-five
members OF the Dancing Aroud" com
many. playing in Philadelphia this week,
attended the matinee performance yes.
terdsy at the Winter Garden OF maid
| in America"