The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-21

During the past week for the first
time LOS Intereses Creados," the great
masterpiece OF Jacinto Benavente, the
founder Of the modern school Of Spanish
drama, who. It is said. has been the most
vital force both as a litsrateur and man
Of affairs which Spain has known for the
past 400 years, was presented on the
English speaking stage in New York.
Wednesday night a special perform
ance was given for the Latin American
colony in New York. A great many
prominent people were there, among
them being the Coneuls-General OF Ar
gentina, Chile, Peru and Nicaragua.
The Bonds OF Interest" as II Is called
by John Garrett Underhill. who has
translated Benavente into English and
10 the American and Canadian represen-
tative OF the Spanish Society of Authors.
is described by the author as a farce IN
a prologue and three acts. but 1t varies
all the way from buffoonery to the keen
est satire.
There Is great rejoicing among cul-
tured Spaniards and Latin Americans
In this country over the production. since
it has been the consensus that the intro
theatre would rebound to the mutual
benefit of both the United States and
the Spanish speaking countries as a
whole. insufficient knowledge regarding
the Spanish arts, particularly that OF
the theatre, has resulted in a lack Of
interest on the part of the American
people. One thing is absolutely certain
when we shall know the drama of a
country we shall be helped TO better
understanding Of It's people.
The difficulty OF presenting THE
Bonds of Interest in the American
Theatre Is undoubtedly one of the rea-
sons why its production has been so long
delayed. Columbine, Harlequin and
Punch, the puppets whom Benavente
brings to life in LOS Intereses Creados.' "
are still very unfamiliar in the Ameri-
can Theatre. They are born of ira
dition which is not ours, and inasmuch
as the understanding Of the young
American actor regarding things Latin
is necessarily somewhat limited. particu-
larly when that understanding, in this
instance, depends, to a large extent. or
an English translation from the origi
nal. it will be realized that the Theatre
Guild, the newly formed organization
which made the presentation at the Gar
rick Theatre. undertook no easy task
Also It must be admitted that, Judging
according to the standards which gener-
ally prevail on Broadway, II requires
courage in abundance for a new organi-
zation to present the works of one who
like Benavente. declares, ~ do not make
my plays for the public. I make the
public for my plays"
Scribner published the first volume Of
Benavente's plays in 1917. translated
into English by John Garrett Underhill
in the introduction to which Benavente II
quoted as saying, Let us have done with
all counterfeits. OF which the most com
mon in the theatre are these: The con
fusion Of the vapid with the literary. Of
the dull with the profound, Of the ex
travagant with the new. the banal with
the poetic, the gross with the courageous
and bold. All these equivocations inva
riably end In one other--an empty house
| which is explained by saying that thu
| play failed because It was art and tht
| public was unable to appreciate art
| But the true art of the theatre is TO d.
good business. and TO do good business
you must do good art. Shakespeare ant
Moliere were both managers and Al
| managers both made great deal o
| money"
| And there are those who have smiled
| tolerantly. OF course. as theories went
this was very good logic. but between
theory and practice there is great Of
| ference. So the wiseacres predicted
that, while 1t was possible that the pres
entatlon might prove TO be success
from the artistic point of view, It woult
never meet with popular appreciation
| Nothing speaks louder than results. An,
I In this instance the results show tina
| Benavente Is right and the wiseacres ar
| wrong.
The costumIng and settings, which d
much to enhance the production, are IN
work OF Rollo Peters, who Is rapid
winning recognition rs one whose talent
are not only of a new and different order
but are OF unsurpassing beauty. tn
| play presents a series OF beautiful an
brilliant pictures such as have not bee
present on the New York stage in man
a day.
Stopping at the Endicott Hotel
Guillermo Andreve OF Panama, who afte
making a short visit TO Washington wi
proceed to London to fulfil his duties a
Minister from Panama.
Mr.. Andreve was born in the city O
Panama in the year 1879. He wa
brought up amid poor surroundings, an
on account OF the conditions OF his nativ
country at that time his studies wer
very limited. 90 that he only wer
through the primary school and locs
college. His real education was under
taken by himself through reading an
observation. His inclination led him I
literature and to newspaper work Never
theless he abandoned his literary pun
suits within n short time almost er
tirely and devoted himself fully to POI
tics. In the year 1904 he established III
first illustrated literary magazine in III
Republic OF Panama, in which he pub
l!shed criticisms which made a very goo
impression.
In the year 1908 he founded a newsps
per called La PrcnSd, through which /
! helped his political party in a very tho