New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-17

ferguson" 1t won the highest prais Z
ran at an'uptown theater for almost q
year and finally was sent on the road
though not sent out by the guild. This
season the guild revived it for three
weeks and at the end of that time tn,
New York Repertory Company. con
sisting largely Of the ferguson" com.
pany, took it over. It made enouct
money that first season to start the
guild on second and furnished capitaI
for the next three productions, "The
Dance of DEATH" "The Faithful" anj
The Power of Darkness" Once more
the guild was back where it began. on
basis of courage and energy with
next to no funds.
Took on a PLAY
That Had Failed Abroad
undaunted by what would make any
other management look around for a
past success, sure fire for the future,
the guild chose St. John Ervine's play
Jane Clegg." This play had been pre-
sented eight years before in Manchester
and had failed. 1t was a triumph for
the guild and established the Art The
inter- once for all in New York.
Last season the guild presented etrik-
lngly "The Treasure" the first English
production of play by David Pinski,
the Yiddish dramatist. Shaw's Heart
break House" followed, bringing special
glory to Dudley Digges for his acting
and his direction, to Lee Simonson for
the settings, to Henry Travers for his
never-to-be-forgotten burglar, to Albert
Perry, who played Captain Shotover,
and to Elisabeth Risdon, Fife Shannon
and Lucille Watson. Perhaps not least
TO Theresa Helburn, who does all the
casting for the guild, "John Hawthorne"
followed briefly in brave attempt by
the guild to give an American drama.
Mr.. PIN Passes By" A. A. Mines light
and delightful comedy Of bigamy and
conservatism, gave Laura Hope Crews
the chance Of lifetime and she has
made the most Of it. AS finale to a
rich season came "Liliom," Molnar's
comedy of life, directed masterfully by
Frank Reicher, beautifully mounted by
Lee Simonson ard acted by cast headed
by Eva LIE Gallienne and Joseph Schild
kraut, balanced by Helen Wesley, Dud-
ley Digges, Henry Travers and Hortense
Alden, and whose smallest parts, no.
tably those taken by Philip Wood and
Edgar Stehli, show the artistry that has
come to be expected from the guild.
ENTER Madame" by Gilda Varesi,
which won it's success at the Garrick,
was not produced by the guild, but by
Brock Pemberton.
How the Guilds
Productions Are Cast
In view Of the attention the splendid
casts at the guild have aroused, word
may be said for the guild policy of
having regular company of real act
crs, capable of playing more than one
type character, who make of each role
something apart from anything else
they have done. In this company are
Helen Wesley, Erskine Sanford, Dud-
ley Digges, Henry Travers, Walter
Geer and Joseph Schildkraut. For each
play guest players are invited. Thus
Margaret Wycherley created "Jane
Clegg'; Ef1e Shannon, Lucille Watson
end Elisabeth Risdon were lured from
Broadway for the run Of "Heartbreak
House." Laura Hope Crews carries
"Mr. PIN Passes By" on the point OF
her needle, and Eva lie Gallienne
shares the honors of "Liliom."
Since it's inception the guild has
carried out its policies unbrokenly. 1t
still has a board Of directors who run
the guild like small republic: Helen
Wesley, Lee Simonson, Theresa Hell
burn, Lawrence Langner, Maurice
Wertheim and Philip Moeller. 1t still
works on the principle Of cooperation.
Still gives five plays a year, and, hav-
ing subscribing membership, gives
them an extra performance, one night
only, at the end Of the season. This
subscribing membership, which buys
its tickets in advance for the Ave plays
for the privilege of having reserved
seats set aside and to witness the
special performance, has grown from
tho initial one hundred to more than
fifteen hundred.
The plans Of the guild for next
year include, besides ambush" and
"The DEVILS Disciple" which start the
regular season of five productions, a
special Shaw festival ut some uptown
thcater Of Back to Methuselah," the
latest five-in-one product. If after all
this there is any doubt about the
guilds success, just ask William the
carriage man who bows you into the
Galrick O. nights.
"Succeed?" says William. "Yas, sab,
day comes in here in a barrel and dey
gees out in a limousine!"
New Comedy for Coldwyn
The screen rights to "Hs Back
Against the WALL" farce comedy by
Frederick Faust, have been secured by
O. 1dwvp opd Uus1i oo ;pto oroJ,,.t;o.