New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-27
THE, YEAR AT THE COMEDY

4 T THE Comedy Theatre last night
"A the Washington Square Players
rang down the curtain on their regular
season. To be sure, they will present
another programme tomorrow, but so
far as their subscribers are concerned
, their season is over. lnasmuch as this
has been their first season on Broad
way (anything contiguous to that thor
oughfare is ION Broadway, it is per-
haps fitting to call attention to the fact
that the prophecies of those who fore
saw disaster for the troup at the Com
edy have been far from justified.
While the Washington Square Play
ers were not asked to open their books
for the purposes of this article, it can
be stated upon the most reliable au-
thority that their financial condition
has improved considerably since the
migration from the Bandbox just a
year ago. Not only have the plays
themselves, or a majority of them,
proven profitable, but the Players have
also found variety of other ways in
which to keep the wolf from the stage
door.
With the Washington Square Players
a season is five programmes. That is
to say, they are obligated to their sub
scribers TO make that number Of pro-
auctions during the year. Not quite
all of this years quintet Of programmes
were successful, to be sure, but these
semi-pros on Forty-frst Street have
nevertheless struck an average consid-
erably above that Of the regular COM
mercial producer. No less than three
of the bills were money makers-two
of them in huge qusntities-and only
one was a loser. The fifth was neither
one thing nor the other
The high mark at the Comedy was
reached three weeks ago. when the
Players produced Ibsen's Ghosts"
This play broke all records for Ibsen,
and not few for the Comedy, by play
ing to the absolute capacity Of the
theatre during its first week. Capacity
at the Comedy is something more than
$500, which figure is q bit more than
one-fifth Of the annual rental Of the
theatre. Wherefore it can be seen
that the success Of tho Players has
been decidedly substantial.
The amount paid for rental has been
cut down considerably by the canny
Washington Squarers renting the the
atre for musicals, special matinees and
what not. From the Washington
Square scenic studios they have ex-
tracted a tidy sum this season, which
has been their first. It is worthy OF
note. incidentally, that professional
producers are beginning to come to
this studio for scenery. The new Ray
mond Hitchcock revue, to be revealed
next week, will have fourteen sets de-
signed and painted in the Players
studio.
The Players have also conducted m
acting school, which, strangely enough,
has also shown a profit its first sea-
son. All of these activities, together
with the costume rooms, are housed in
a six story building just across from
the Comedy, which the Players rented
in toto. Mentioning one thing ~ we'll
as another, il must also be set down
that a share Of the years profits went
to finance a somewhat ill-advised tour
by second company. After proper
pioneer work and in conjunction with
the various drama leagues and associa-
tion.. a tour will be undertaken next
season which promises to show better
results.
Back in the early days 1t the Band.
box. when the sdnissien price was 50