Evening star., 1919-05-11
A11luSQnQQntS'
Music and Drama

= comedy which found ap-
last week There Is nothing bolshe-
vistic about THE Lady in Red" which
brings John P. Slocum once more
into prominent attention as a musical
producer. The regular season OF dra-
matte entertainment is melting slow
ly through a backward spring. Merri-
ment and music are the things chiefly
sought. and a serious play like Those
Who Walk in Darkness which
showed at the Shubert-Garrick, has
the benefit of contrast. Irene Fen
wick has always made a favorable
impression, her gift being that OF
close human sympathy with distinc-
tive types of humanity. The play
found warm appreciation.
X X X x
"Oh. Boy" which might properly
have been called "Oh. Girl" in view
of the buoyant femininity that ami
mates it's scenes. has had a remarka-
bly, long career. 1t has a group OF
dainty songs that people like to hear
again and again. long after they have
been learned we'll by heart 1t is
doubtful whether much of the musical
material now so abundantly placed on
hearing will reach the standard of
merit and popularity that "Oh. Boy"
represents Producers whose names
have not hitherto been very conspic-
orI ,
enterp.sses which look TO a liberal
supply q, merry music for the
coming season But with all the
! novelty that is in the air. attention
turns with Irresistible interest to the
solid classics such a will be interpret
ed by the San Carlo Opera Company.
an organization whose visits from |
season to season have advanced II to |
a place of confident regard. Americas |
love of music has expressed Itself |
heretofors in deep reverence for repu- !
= tations. and often in too much gener- !
osity toward reliance upon fame as an !
excuse for Indifferent and half-heart- |
ed performance. The San Carlo sing !
ers. regardless Of whether they have |
been previously renowned through the |
channels of expert and indefatigable |
publicity have never failed in con- /
science. in enthusiasm or in artistic |
intelligence.
* X X X /
Tor a long time the comment mas
been made that the theater in th1s
country was tending toward new con-
he canning Will VIII !
ness some radical changes in the al
ninistration of theatrical affairs The
severance of relationship OF Marc
Kfaw and a. L. Erlarger. even though
it is discussed by them in easy terms
implying natural tendency and deVel-
opment. cannot fail TO make great
change in matters theatrical. All sorts
of sensational rumors as to the cause
Of this separation of firm that mas
held a dominant position for over two
decades circulate inevitably. SUCH ru-
mers receive no encouragement from
any authoritative source! the New
York Sun gives Mr. Klaw as authority |
for the statement that the dissolu-
tion will function naturally. like
mahy other business arrangements
that have, in time. worn themselves
out II am not inclined to talk about
the reasons Of our severance" said
Mr.. KIaw "and ! certainly shall not
deny that it is about to take place
It In time il took place. The reasons
for II are personal. but quite satsfac-
tory to me- The firm. which was or
ganized in the fall of 1888. based its
career OF future success largely on
legitimate productions. 1t command
ed public interest with such names as
Fanny Davenport. Sardou. Augustln
Daily and others of the same legiti-
mate eminence. klaw Erlanger's most
notable attainment in drama was the
adaptation and production Of Gen. Lew
Wallace's masterpiece OF religious ro-
nance. "Ben-Hur." Though many years
have elapsed. Ben Hur'' remains one Of
the most potent appeals to popular in
tsrest that the theater has to offer.
+ + X +
This city was one Of the points Of
the amalgamation of forces which
brought into existence. in 1895, what
was known as "the Syndicate" 1t is
attributed to . chance meeting where
unsatisfactory business conditions
were discussed. Those who met at this
historic luncheon In New York were
Messrs Klaw, Erlanger. Hayman.
Charles Frohman. Nixon and thinner
man. 1t was decided that the only
way to avoid useless travelling ex-
to center the bookings Of as many
theaters as possible in one once.
Within . week It had been arranged
that all "the time" OF the theaters
r controlieo Dy tno mon VINO hao per
fected the gentlemen's agreement was
to be kept on file in the X. & e. omce.
Here the managers Of travelling COM
pAnies could come and arrange their
dates without the confusion and |
uncertainty OF bidding and bargain
ing in q general market. Every man
ager Immediately saw that this ar
rangement placed enormous power in
the hands of the booking Office. There
was Immediate protest. Francis Will
son was playing at the New National
Theater vhen the announcement Of !
the new arrangement was promul-
gated. He was indignant. as were !
many other players who resented
what they considered an assertion Of !!
overwhelming authority. in their de-
hance. The convenience and comfort,
however which the now scheme made !
possible gradually commended 1t to both
theaters and players. Francis Will
son. whether because of his deter
mined sentiment in the matter. or be-
cause of a doubt a. to whether comic |
opera was to retain Its vogue, has
not since that time put forward any |
Of the colossal musical productions |
in which he had figured with SO much
The night Of the so-called ,inde-
psndents against the syndicate is
we'll remembered. with Mr.. Bslasco !
n the champion Of the independents.
in . series of spirited clashes with !
Washington as the battle-ground. The |
Independent movement finally re- !,
solved itself into tho creation OF an ,
other syndicate. and practically all /
has been controlled by tho X. & E. |
0fiCAa or the Shubertg The moving P,