El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-03-13
War Plays Rather Too Grue-
some-War Cuts Into
the Receipts.

FEW YORK, March 1S.-What at
M titude should the American pub
= lie take towards plays on the
present melancholy struggle in EUROPE
Nv own is one OF suspicion at
least Sincere efforts to place the
intense feelings, the striving and
the sufferings, before US are entitled
TO consideration, but the people who
are keeping alive 10000, 600 hapless vic
time in Belgium and northern France
will not acclaim an attempt TO make
the greatest catastrophe in history
rnirthful. nor VIII it run to hear either
side play new symphonies OF hatred
and intolerance.
From time to time have commented
In these columns on these war plays
Some are simply ridiculous and others
slightly disgusting Now and then
noble note is struck
Il is not to be denied, however, that
there is certain craving for war
comedy at present Tt does little credit
10 this great neutral nation = musical
comedy founded on the crimes which
would shock any time and any clVIlza-
ton is too much like a juggler intro
duced at a funeral to do tricks with
the baked meats
Besides the war musical comedy
there is an act at another theater
called "a submarine dance IT is done
by a German and an English comedian,
more's the marvel
A third play house exploits several
play Belgian children. Some are mutt
lated
While the war has not affected the
souls Of some managers sufficiently to
bar martial plays in questionable taste,
II has Gghtened their pOcketbOOks-
There has been bad business ION the
road" and bad business along Broad
way. The result may be a profound
alteration Of producing conditions
Since the Shuberts and Klaw & En-
LANCER gave up their attempt TO formu-
late an agreement, mere nave Deen
threatening rumblings from the indie
pendents. An insurrectiOn seems i'm
pending
An outward sign was the statement
from William A. Brady that there
should be freer competition Instead
Of competition between two big sys-
TENS, he asserted, we should have com
petition for all
vile field, too. There is now lively
competition between Marcus LOeW and
the Keith interests, but fundamental
changes are predicted in responsible
quarters
There is a great PROBABILITY that the
New York HippOdrome. seating 5000
people and the largest place of amuse-
ment Of its kind in the world. viii be
dedicated to the god Of the movies
within two months.
The success of the big Strand theater
has attracted the attention Of the Shu-
berts and they are now contemplating
putting on film play with an orchestra
Of 40 pieces The position Of general
manager was offered 20 H. s ROthapfel,
manager Of the Strand. but 7 learn Mr..
Rothapfel reIsued TO leave his present
position. The Shuberts are now look
ing for competent man as manager
They have asked a prominent orchestra
leader TO direct the music.
The romantic comedy i'm costume.
+ Z. SOthern and Virginia Harmed as
the leading figures in this city Is years
90, is being presented again at Maxine
Elliotts theatre
Phyllis NeilsOn-Terry and Montague
Love attempted TO fill the shoes of their
distinguished predecessors This reViV-
al by Joseph Brooks gives New York
q form of entertainment far different
dramas and reviews TO which we are
accustomed
Lady Ursula" was Hopes first play
and II has much Of the romantic flour
ishes Of -Zenda" and the smart speech
Is Of The Dolly Dialogues"
Lady Ursula, if you remember that
Tar back, was q woman of SURPRISING
beauty in London, about the year l116-
In fact. she was the toast of all the
periwIgged blOOds Of the town. To save
her brother from a duel with a famous
Sir George who always killed his man.
she goes TO MS house IN male attire and
eNacts his promise not TO fight. She
goes in satin breeks and all because the
benighted Sir George has fOrsworn the
presence Of women. Of course she is
forced into a duel, and of course she is Z
discovered by the handsome Sir George
in the end. and after a series Of swag- !
gering. toasting. quarrellinE adventures. }
she is set to rights with the noble hero Z
and they live happily ever after
Montague Love made a most romantic [
figure as the handsome Sir George. and {
never have We seen a player comfort I
himself with better grace or a finer l
touch in a like role His work through
out was thoroughly i'm the spirit Of ro-
nance Miss Virginia FOX Brooks. the I
daughter Of the producer. made her /
first public appearance here as Dorothy /
Fenton, and, though il was small part 1
il presented many eXactiug demands I
upon the players skill.
An interesting feature Of the produc-