New-York tribune., 1922-01-29
ANGUS FlRST-NIGHTS AL LONG THE WHITE WAY
.HE hrst night of . new play or \ nsv
star or the metropolitan debut Of a
Il famous player from abroad arc events

"HE nrSt night az . new play or nev
star or the metropolitan debut Of
- famous player from abroad arc events
Of significant interest because ono en-
tevs the thcater not knowing what may hap
pen that night en- the stage
The AFFAIR may prove tame. as 1t often docs,
It may become an occasion Of such scn.a-
tonsl success rs to take . permanent place in
;hs chronicles Of the thea.er. 1t may reveal
new dramatist or q new actor In such q
favorable light that In later years those who
assisted at tho first performance win be
abla to talk nuently In sentences beginning
L remember him when.'
think all gray-haired playgocrs will ad-
nj. that tho "arst nights" OF the past ar.
among tho most agreeable Of the many dc
lightfu memories that bring cheer to the
years in which tho grasshoppcr has become
burden and tho grinders have ceased be-
Cause they are few.
I hope that when I shall have reached scni-
jiy I shall still recall those interesting and
often exciting events with which the annals
Of our theater punctuated, and I can say
IN all truth that to this day the first night Of
new production IS occasion to which I
look forward with the same lively anticipation
that did when I first became professional
plsygoer in 1879.
ut that time each one OF tho stock theaters
7ad its distinctive following and "Wallack
IN audience was something quite apart
rom the others In elegance and soliduy 1t
- true that Wallack had very large free
list which embraced the names Of many per
sons Of fashion through whose presence be
securcd the atmosphere Of refinement that
was the delight Of his soul, but these visitors
attracted others of their Kind who gladly paid
'heir Way and a still greater multitude WHO
liked to he "in tho swim" Consequently III
drst-rlght curtain never roso on half-cmpty
rouse. In view Of present theatrical condI-
CONS il seems incredible that there way as
much interest in the production CT an old
Eagsl comedy that had becu given thcrc
jo~cns of TINES bcforc as if it had been al,
entirely new play by distinguished au.h
It may have been simpler age, that Of which
am now writing, but it was cuc that boastcG
of Al Intelligent and critical paygoin,. puhjc
that could enjoy and appreciate fo- tho tenth
tiae "Fhc Schccl for Scandal' as we'll a.
$,c Stoops to Conqucr,' with Mr. Wajlack
e'.o eis as Young Marlowc, Harry Beckett
y TORY Lumpllln aud such artists as John
'ehcrt, Nine. Ponai and Ada pyas in The
ca'. wish | could sce that u-~formancc
-ean.
'ut the day came when TIC distinguished
actor-managcr said sadly: IL don't know what
hss come over the New Nori, public Time VA
when the old comedies and q lcN play ROW
ard thcn 10y John or p.on (mcanm% .Eoha
Hroughau and Dion BoucicaulN would I'll .ho
cd ovt nicely. bu: now oVcryloGy5 clam
"rn~ for something fresh.
ln Gcs spar he turned to British ncolraN2
als witnessed The FIRST performance of "I'nc
World" With thrills that csa feel t, this day.
Ncjl do recall The raft on tho surface of the
n..tori and the delight OF tho audience when
tho .omic man. Harry Beckett, scrambled
aboard.
Anottor Waacl.is ian first night Of an earlier
ds.c. Tas ;iat Of he 5hauehraun." denounced
fcr It's 'acl. Of originality BY TIC critics, but
..i playing, lclssYc. in remote thc;.tcrs.
ad.e the embryo playwright to purchase the
ra9crco1 cred copy Of this pla: and read the
.jyz' rasc thereof in ogeier 10 sec the amount
e aeucu shat tho marys!ouslv s'sjilfu! dra-
matt . l'on Soue cauit managed 20 crowd into
cry fcn' ac.tcuccs. The gallery that night
- flied Win Eoucicault's !o:ai irish follow
NJ. snd the .:r.t g.cat shout OF spontaneous
laughter can'e Nhen A1a D.'as. in nc ponsc 10
'rc admission q Harry 1Iontaguc. the hand
9ac young british officer tina. he was Eng
i'sa sad: "E remarked your mis- sfortune.
The Union Square Thcater. under Mr. Pal
MGR management. had it's own following,
aHa' stcofd'ng 10 M. memory, the plays given
fnrse were followed with a tense quiet that
did not prevail elsewhere. This was due not
only to the fact that Palmer produced such
tense dramas as "The Two Orphans and "A
celebrated Case but also to what is