The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-30

w THAT Is tho verdict OF tho hrst
M audience that witnesses
W play in reality really WORTH
Jurk what bearing has 1t on the
anal success Of the play? Does
the gathering which applauds 1t there
BY assure lasting success or the audi
sncs which shows its disapproval con-
dssnn the piece to failureT
One Ia accustomed to hear that the
ffrst night will tell the tale. But does
itf The critical story ofton bears lit
de relation to the fate OF the play.
Experienced and cultivated opinion
may altogether reject what satisfies
oumpletely the popular taste. The
man In the street when he comes into
the theatre often finds a pleasure In
sdnple Joys that are too inhpid for the
professional playgoer, who Is compeheo
% M in Judgment on 30 much that IL
'exptic and unusual. The highest crit
1cai commentator does not always
find the same popular appreciation.
n the manager who Is accustomed to
oxpress more or less contempt TO- the
written opinion is, nevertheless. likely
n lend ear to the expression OF first
audience.
Hut there are often audiences which
manifest every kind Of approval over
psrformanoes that meet with no en-
during success. II IL incredible to any
person familiar with the present make
up of first night audiences In this city
20 understand the confidence OF man
employment. moving picture masnaseS
and stars, theatre hangers on or evory
description, women friends OF the ctis-
mess stan Of the theatre, or the ticket
speculator who could not dispose OF
his stock and gives them away. second
rate costumers and wig makers actors
without jobs. this or that friend OF
some player in the company. with
CASUAL sprinkling of men and women
who make It a habit to attend these
performances, although in no profess
sional way connected with the theatre
these are the elements OF every frst
night in New York now. The think
ing piaygoer. II there be such a thing,
AZ ell eyerts, thF Intelligent locking
and presentable playgoer-he seems
20 shun a first performance as II II
+ were the plague.
The First Night Lineup.
n matters little how eminent the
actor may be or the author OF the play
the makeup OF this audience Ia about
the same. After a while the regular
public X q play succeeds begins very
promptly to patronize the theatre. But
Il never comes 20 a first performance
Anything like social lustre long age
departed from these gatherings. but
Intellectual characteristics had already
lied. So It is this remarkable gather
ing which has 1t In its power TO decide
the local fate OF a masterpiece. The
average first night audience would not
be different in its social and menta
makeup II instead OF selling tickets
the manager should stand in front OF
his theatre and invite In as his guests
the first 500 or 500 men and womer
that he met walking up Broadway.
It Is interesting to hear the opinions
as to the Judgment Of this first jury
Some managers have faith in its in
Saliibility. Others do not believe 81
implicitly In the verdict OF the frs-
gathering. A characteristic explana
ton concerning this gathering " sup
Piled here by every one OF the mana
gers. IT might be said as the conclu
sion OF an outsider that II is unbeliev'
able that any manager should put tn,
slightest faith In the Judgment OF thu
average gang that comes to a theatr'
on a first night.
Marc Klaw. who has long had ,