Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-28
A New Idea.

THE Professional Players, an organiza-
ton which. despite its name, Is
composed of patrons rather than play
erS of the spoken drama, new ele-
ment in the theatrical life Of America
that hopes to exert a strong influence
toward the artistic betterment Of the
stage as we'll as toward making more
agreeable the experience OF theater
going. is just announced
The machinery for attaining these
northumberland ends has already
been perfected and was, it is reported,
in successful operation in Philadelphia
all last season. This year it will be
established in 10 important cities, of
which Washington will be one.
Three years ago group of Phila-
delplians, enthusiastic lovers of the
drama, who felt that the plays sent
to them by the producing managers
were not, as a rule, of the high order
that the fine old traditions of Phila-
delphia public desired to patronize,
organized a society called 1.-THE Pro-
fesSional Players" with the purpose of
producing in Philadelphia only and
for limited runs, the best American
and foreign plays obtainable with pro-
fessional casts of the highest quality
that might be secured
Despite its almost impoSsibly ambi-
tious nature, the plan was carried
through to the extent of two produc-
tons, both of which were successful
financially as fell as artistically. It
was found, however, that the cost of
handsome productions was too great for
the brief periods of the local runs !:
that new plays by important drama
lists could not be obtained for produc-
ton in one city only, and that in the
midst of the theatrical season it was
impossible to secure actors of the first
rank. The organization now found It
self in the extremely unusual situation
of having an audienc, sully paid up
by subscription, but with no entertain
ment to offer.
The officers of the society then made
the move of approaching Mr.. Lee Shu-
bert a prolific producing manager,
with the proposal that they would
transfer their organized audiences (
presentations made by him and "a
associated managers at the Adelphia
Theater for period of "a weeks each
season, provided they should have full
choice of the plays to be presented and
that their subscribers should have first
choice of seats in any part of the house
at reduction of approximately rs per
cent from the regular box Office prices.
Mr. Shubert was favorably impressed
by the proposal, and not only did he
agree to give the organization an alb
solute choice Of plays controlled by
himself and his associates, but he fur
ther agreed to produce new plays
chosen by the Professional Players,
which in ordinary circumstances might
not be considered promising from a
purely commercial point of view.
Upon this amiable basis the arrange
ment was concluded, and under it the
following plays were presented:
Death Takes a Holiday" with Philip
Merivale; Thunder in the Air" with
Cecilia Lotus; Dear Old England, "
with Edward Rigby; THE Infinite Shoe
black" with Helen Menken and Leslie
Banks; THE Matriarch," with Con-
stance Collier; "Candlelight," with Eu-
genia Leontovitch and Reginald Owen,
and Meet Lady Clara" with Florence
Nash.
From among the following list will
be chosen the plays to be presented in
l930-31; "Everybody's Secret" by Atil-
la Van Orbok, a comedy adapted by
Frederic and Fanny Hatton; Grace
George in T. st. John Ervin's comedy
The First Mrs. Fraser" with A. E
Matthews and Lawrence Grossmith;
Topaz" from the French of Marcel
Pagnol, adapted by Bonn Levy, with
Michael and Mary" by A. A. Milne
with Madge Kennedy; THE Man in
Possession" by H. M. HARDWOOD, with
Leslie Banks and Isabelle Jeans; "Dr
| Harmer's Holiday" by Sir Arthur Wins
Pinero, with Philip Merivale: "A Sym.
phony in Two Flats" by and with Iyol
Novello; Success" by A. A. Milne
"As You Wish Me-" by Pirandello, and
| Curiosity" new play by Elmer
! Harris.
The subscription plan having proved
itself so satisfactory to the public and
the producers in Philadelphia, an or
ganization similar to the Professional
Players was formed in Chicago. This
then added to the territory, with a six
months series of plays to be given
this Winter at the Plymouth Theater