The Washington herald., 1916-05-14
7A[AT[R- -gORS TALL BACK ON Old D[P[NDA3L[S
By JULIA CHANDLER.


A. H. Woods stirred the dying en-
bers OF the dramatic year of I9I5-It
into something of brilliant flare
with his production Of the new farce
in which the Dolly Sisters appeared
at the Belasco Theater last week,
and Mr. L. Stoddard Taylor de-
clares it possible that even so late
as the first of June an experimental
production Of one or two new pieces
may be made in the theater Of which
he is the popular manager. Even
so the year is practically ended as
far as the regular dramatic season
is concerned, and we must turn
now to stock and vaudeville, the
old dependables Of summer, for what
measure OF amusement we may en-
joy.
Looking across the months that
have come and gone since the cur
rent theatrical season began last
September we are bound to admit
that there has been no such pros
perity in the theater since 1907,
Every year has enjoyed its long
runs" but New York managers con-
fess a greater number of plays this
season enjoying lengthy stays in
the metropolis, and a better road
business" than has been experienced
in a decade.
For the first time since the film
drama began to spar with the
Legitimate" production the passing
year finds an acknowledged advan-
tagc to the producing theater
through its heretofore deplored
rival Since the inception of NOV
ing-picturc art managers all over
the country have complained that
the movie houses were emptying
the balconies and galleries of the
so-called legiti ate house.
There has been this year, how
ever, no rumble of such a complaint
The upper parts of playhouses
everywhere have been so we'll pa
tronized that their managers are
walking around at the close of the
season wearing a yard-wide grin of
satisfaction, and admitting that they
doubtless owe the return of the
gallery god to the movie" craze.
The most striking example of
balcony attendance has been at the
Hippodromc where, the management
declares, out Of I,675,ooo people who
have seen the performance of Hip,
Hip, Hooray' during its eight
months run in New York almost a
million have Occupied balcony and
family circle seats.
Aside from this satisfactory ad-
justmcnt Of the movie" nuisance
to the Legitimate" house, there
have been many points of unusual
interest in the season now passing
into history. 1t has offered US an
unusual number Of new pieces which,
on the whole, have been above the
average, with musical comedy tax
ing the palm, as far as New York
has been concerned, and comedy
running a close second.
The season has also Offered us
numerous surprises, none greater
than the reception of Sir Herbert
Trees New York engagement in
Shakcspearcan productions. The re-
vivals were originally intended as a
celebration OF the Shakespeare ter
centenary without expectation of
financial returns. In fact, Sir Her
>bert's commcmoration of Shake
spearcs death was secured for
America only through an unusual
combination OF circumstances. Eng
land was in no mood for the proper
celebration of the occasion. Sir
Herbert was in America, but con-
sented to undertake the revivals
only alter being insured against
loss by a group of public-spirited
men including William X. Wander
biIt, Clarence H. Mackay, and Otto
II. Kahn who subscribed to the
undertaking the sum of $4,000.
And nobody has been more
amazed at the drawing power Of
Shakespeare than the famous Eng
lish actor-manager, and these gen
tlemen financially insuring his un-
dertaking. The success of the ven
turc has been such that, in all
probability, the original subscrip-
tions of the guarantors will be re-
turned to them intact at the close of
the season.
Such an event is unprecedented
in the history OF the theater.
With the entire country doi0o o.