New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-29
IT HEATRICAL wiseacres have i

n
i that Charles Dillingham; and
Florenz Ziegfeld, or somebody, is spend
ing considerably over a quarter OF
million on the remodelling of the
Century Theatre. The greater part of
this amount has gone and is going for
a new roof. It will be used TO support
another of those midnight shows, and
is larger than the celebrated garden
now adjoining the New Amsterdam.
Eventually, also, it is planned to make
il more gorgeous as well, although the
casual visitor who climbs over mortar
and tarpaulins to reach it these days
is confronted by no fairyland. In fact,
il is in such a state of undress that
the announced opening date-Novem-
Der 20 or thereabouts seems to be
based largely on optimism.
Practically the entire interior of the
theatre is being redecorated, despite
the fact that the infrequency OF pro-
ductions hitherto revealed at this play
house has kept the public from having
anv intimate knowledge of the previous
color scheme. Joseph Urban and his
blue paint now fit from foyer to foyer
if Mr.. Urban may be said to fit
and there is no wall so obscure and
inaccessible but what it is not sue
eumbing 20 the paints Of Mr.. Urban
and the decorations Of Mr.. Kitchener.
At present great gaps mark where MI
Kirchner's handiwork is 70 be IN
stalled. but assurance is given that
every last figure will be present for
the opening. Even the NanderoiiJ
room is being done over in the hope OF
achieving even greater beauties.
That part Of Broadway which con
Germs itself with the material side pro-
fesses to be not a little alarmed at
the extent of the Observation-Disclosures
preparations. The operating expenses
Of the Century, particularly with
cast such as has been assembled by
the new regime. will be tremendous
It is estimated that it will be necessary,
if disaster is to be averted, to play 10
capacity audiences at all times, and at
prices a bit above the fees ordinarily
demanded.
A flavor Of weberandfelds is to be
added to the Century performances By
series of burlesques of current at
fractions, each to be played for about
four weeks. The first play to be thus
treated will be Turn to the Right"
Granville Barker, writing in The
Manchester Guardian" discusses at
some length "The Promise of an Amer
lean Theatre" Mr.. Barker finds the
promise. not in New York, but in the
smaller centres and the universities.
He submits this estimate Of local con-
ditions:
How soon the American genius will
be found fully expressing itself IN an
American drama one cannot, OF
The curses of the theatre there are
its curses here-a cutthroat CONNER
cial policy and a debauched public.
The way of salvation there is in some
respects easier, because that public,
though debauched, is at least not
apathetic; it will still react quickly, II
uncertainty, to a new sensation. But
there again is the mischief; sensa-
ton must be provided, and the sensa-
ton must be sudden and strong. AS
an adventure, artistic or financial, the
theatre has as fair a chance IN Amer
lea as anywhere. AS an institution,
there, as in England, IL simply does
not exist. For a theatre, properly
considered, must not be place mere
ly for the production of new plays.
Does a library fulfil its purpose by
throwing 70 the public as many thou
sand copies of the latest novel as can
be absorbed? A theatre is place for
keeping plays and the cooperative art
of acting alive, and IL must be organ
lied with that end in view.
In America there is business or
ganization TO be found. IL is, on the
whole. expert and efficient. An en-
tire continent could not be supplied
land mostly from one centre. New
York; with elaborate and constantly
shifting entertainments If IL were
not. The booking stats of those big
New York exploiters of drama that
call themselves arrangements are az
their desks day by day, year in and
out. The treasurers and account
ants of separate theatres work in
touch with them; so that problems OF
travelling, printing and advertise
ment can be regulated to nicely.
You may even find "a permanent pro-
Queer or two who will drill a COM
pany in double-quick time and halve
the cost of carpentering your see
merry.
Valuable and valued people these;
for the worth OF their activities
spread over a hundred productions "A
year may in itself spell profit instead
of loss on "A final balance sheet. But
for artistic organization--fo a per
manent company, or studio OF de-
singers and painters, for finished
idea Of staging, or school of play