Newspaper Page Text
BATUBDAY. SEPTEMBER 1, 1906.
THE ATLANTA GEORGIAN.
[WHAT THE THEATRIC AI. SEASON OF 1906-07 WILL BRING FORTH
By GEORGE HENRY PAYNE.
New York, Saturday, September 1.
O NE by one they have folded their tents, group by
group they are gathering at the ferry houses and
railway, stations, and over the strip of Broadway
that Is called the Hlalto—that White Light thoroughfare
that for a month they have made populous—there settles
an unwonted calm.
Twelve thousand strong, these hopeful representatives
of the histrionic art are prepared to fall upon the country
West. South nnrl Vnpth All dnsinA
West, South and North. All during
the hot month of August they have
worked unceasingly, learning new
steps, Inventing new tricks, studying
new and old roles, and today, the
official opening, one might say, of
the theatrical season of 1906-07, they
go forward prepared to reap their re
ward.
Be gentle with them, therefore, all
ye who live on the highways and by
ways of the theatrical country: give
them at least annlause for their poor
hut honest efforts, even If you give
them not that which they appreciate
even more.
Ye critics, who mark the passage
from East to West, from North to
South, try to be generous and under-
aUimllng ot all the preparation and
Inspiration that lies back of Violet
Sassafras when she says, "My lord,
the carriage waits,” and pass not
slightingly over the way Clarence
Orifkins declaims "The man who
would lay his hand on a woman ex
cept In the way of kindness,” etc.
Only an approximation can be made of the number of theatrical ven
tures that are starting out In this month of September with the hope of fur
nishing amusement to the 80,000,000 of the country. Those on record form
a comparatively small percentage of those that go unrecorded, playing one
night stands year In and year out. New York with Its slxty-flve theaters
in two boroughs—Manhattan and the Bronx—represents hut a very little
portion of what is going on In the theatrical world, although it assumes an
Importance that theatrical people of the country, rather than the theater
goers of the country, are inclined to Indorse.
"One reason why New York Is a great theatrical town," said a Southern
vlstor recently. "Is due to the fact that there is nothing to do In New York
hut go to the theater or go erase" and only 10 per cent of the population
go to the theater.
Theatrical managers throughout the country watching New Ybrk take
more stock In the verdicts that are passed here on theatrical productions
than do the people' to whose tastes they cater. That fetish—a long run In
New tYork city—Is lessening In potentiality for people throughout the coun
try and New York Is beginning to be blamed for the concoctions of man
agerial enterprise that the rest of the country has no taste for.
Producers of plays who have asked for a New York verdict and got It
—not exactly In the terms that they warned—point with some gratification
to the fact that many a good play that the New Yorker turns away from
can go Into other cities where there Is Jess pretense at theatrical expertness
and more genuine culture and be well received.
But if the judgments of New York on shows are wrong In many In
stances: If It laughs at and encourages what the rest of the country may
find vulgar and cheap; and If It condemns and sniffs at what other cities
find serious and Interesting, rather should It be pitied than condemned, for
with the nervous tension Incident to some slxty-flve theaters spawning
theatrical efforts weekly, there Is bound to arise more or less Intellectual
and critical astigmatism.
And however badly It may do It, standing at the Theatrical Gate of the .
nation, with a club In one hand and a hatchet In the other to protect the
country, It at least Is ever vigilant, and If all ye who condemn us for our
bad taste and worse manners find that our work Is not well done; If yo nro
angry and abusive over what Is approved and passed on, ye should also
think In Christian spirit how much we save you by the things that are not
passed on.
The number of new plays produced last year In this country was slxty-
two, thirty-nine of whloh were by American authors and the rest by for
eigners. About the same number 1s promised for the coming season, and
the same percentages will, In all probability, hold. There are about 100 first-
class companies—first-class In the financial sense—far be It from any one to
Insist that they are all first-class artistically. All of these are headed either
by a star of sufficient Importance or by a leading man or leading woman of
enough prominence to make the movements of these companies Interesting
generally. '■
In telling of their plans no attempt la made to make a roll of honor—
they are down simply In the groups Into which they are naturally divided
by managerial divisions.
Probably the most Interesting phase of Charles .Frohman’s activity. Is
that which concerns Ills plans for his two leading stars—Maude Adams and
John Drew—and Ills most Interesting author, Mr. Augustus Thomas. Miss
Adams will continue to appear In Barrie’s wonderful play, "Peter Pan." She
will spend most of her year on tour, so that the country will see what Is
perhaps the greatest product of the genius of this uncanny Scot.
John Drew will nppear this season In New York and on tojir In the lat
est play of Arthur Wing Pinero, culled "His House In Order.’ It Is one of
the biggest things tmu the great English author has ever done. The present
writer saw It in London last spring, and afterward talked the play over with
Mr. Pinero, who admitted by Implication that he was willing to stand or fall
by "HI* House In Order.”
One of the most Intersting things that Mr. Frohman will do this season
will be the new play of Augustus Thomas, probably the first of America’s
dramatists. After having written three of the most successful American
comedies Mr. Thomns returns to the earlier style—“Alabama" and "Ari
zona.’’ The new play deals with the subject of psychic force, and Is said
to be the biggest play that Mr. Thomas has wrlten.
Ethel Barrymore will appear In Barrie's “AIIce-8lt-by-the-Flre until
the spring, when she will appear In a new play.
Otis Skinner will continue In Lavedan’s "The Duel.”
\V. It. Crane will apear In “The Prince of Money.”
William Gllette continues In "Clarice.”
Mrs. Clara Bloodgood Is to appear in Clyde Fitch's new play.
Miss Edith Wharton's "The House of Mirth” will bo presented by Miss
Fay Davis. . „ _
Sam Bernard will appear In "Mr. Hoggenheltrer,” and Francis W llson
continues In "The Mountain Climber.’*
Ida Conquest will be starred in "The Judge and the Jury.
For Miss Jessie Mllward, Henry Arthur Jones’ "The Hypocrite has
been choeen.
Wiliam A. Brady’s new productions Include "Clothes," a comedy by Av
ery Hapwood and Channing Pollock, and “The Richest Girl,” by Rupert
Hughes, both for. Miss Grace George; a dramtization of Corelli’s "Barab-
has” for Tyrone Power; a farce by Cosmo; a serious play by Frederick
Lawrence; "The Specimen,” by Frederick Donaghey; ’’Mulvaney and Ls,
a dramatisation from Kipling, and two musical farces, "The Love or a
O NE of the most successful plays the country has
known In probably ten years ls "The Lion and the
1 Mouse," which has had the extraordinary good
fortune of being able to play*ln‘ the hottest kind of weath
er all summer in New York. Three companies are now
appearing In this play, and a fourth will shortly be sent
out, so that nobody can escape It. Its wonderful popular
ity has beeft traced to many causes, but the fact that It
dramatizes crudely but forecfully the struggle between
capital and labor Is perhaps Its chief claim to attention,
Mr. Charles Klein, the author, is
himself authority for the statement
that his royalties come to very
near $3,000 a week. Mr. Klein has
completed another play, called
"The Daughters of Men," which
will be produced by Henry H.
Harris, the manager of "The Lion
and the Mouse.”
The same manager will also of
fer a new star, Hose Stahl, who
has made some success in vaude
ville, In a play by a new author,
James Forbes, hitherto a writer
of short stories and one act*plays.
It Is called "The Chorus Lady.”
"The Social Whirl,” a typical
Casino show, ufter running all
summer In New York. will.go on
tour. It Is a catch-as-catch-can
sort of entertainment that catches
a great many people.
Other companies on tour will be:
Guy Standing Jn'a new play en
titled "A Society Policeman.”
“A Midsummer’s Eve,” by Eve
lyn Greenleaf Sutherland and B.
M. Dlx. ■
"A Woman’s Way,” a drama by Edward Peple, author of "The Prince
Chap."
"The Blue Moon.” the English musical extravaganza one year at the
Apollo theater, London. James T. Powers, star.
"Lady Madcap,” one of George Kdwardes’ most successful English mu
sical comedies.
"Lew” Fields’ nil star musical comedy company at the Herald Square
theater In a new, play. Cast includes Edna Wallace Hopper, Ellta Proctor
Otis, Louise Allen Collier, Louise Dresser, Coralle Blythe, Edna Luby. Ce
celia Brown, George Orossmith, Joseph Herbert, Jr.; George Beban, Harry
Flshdr and I*e\v Fields.
De Wolf Hopper, In "Happyland," with Marguerite Clark.
Eddie Voy In "The Earl and the Girl.”
"Veronlque," with Louise Gunning and Louis Harrison.
Peter F. Dailey In "The Press Agent.”
"Fontana.”
Camille D’Arvllle In a new comic opera.
"The Snow Man,” a new musical comedy.
The .
Charles J. Ross and Mabel Fenton In
i Jolly Host.”
YJol2>v J*'
Lady” and "The Intense Irene;’’ Robert Mantell In Shakesperlan repertory
and Gilbert’s "Rosencranz and Gullderstern,” and Othelo with Mr. H. B.
Irving, who also appears under Nixon & Zimmerman's management In
Philips’ "Paolo and Francesca;" Mr. Wilton Lackcye In "The Law and the
Man,’ adapted from "Les Mlserables,” in ‘The Jungle” and in "The Pil
lars of Society.”
• ••••••••••••••
Mr. E. A. Braden’s productions Include L. E. Shipman's "On Parole,”
Stanley Dark’s "Man and His Angel" and a comedy by J. A. Mitchell.
Tho firm of Sam & Lee Shubert announce that they will have twen
ty-three companies on the road, nearly all of which either havA made their
appearance In New York or will In the course of the season. They are as
follows:
E. H. Sothern and Julia Marlowe (appearing for the first time under
the Shubert management), who will produce their new plays, "Eric Mack-
aye,” "Joan of Arc,’’ D'Annunzio's "La Jorla” and a play on tho subject of
John of Baptist. They will also appear In a half dozen ShakespeAre plays.
"The Tourist,” a musical comedy by R. H. Burnside and Gustave Ker-
ker.
Mrs. Patrick Campbell, who returns to this country to make a tour In a
new play.
Miss Lena Ashwell, a well known English actress, who will make her
first tour In America In a play tliut has already been seen In London, called
"The Hhualmite."
Margaret Anglin, who will open at the Princess Theater, October 1, In a
new play by William Vaughan Moody, called "The Great Divide." She will
also be seen In a, revival of "The School for Scandal.”
Virginia Harned, in a dramatization of a novel, "The Girl In Waiting.’’
Arnold Daly, In a series of one-act plays and his repertoire of plays by
George Bernard Shaw, with the exception of that unpalatable drama, "Mrs.
Warren’s Profession.” >
Louis .Mann and Clara Lippman will appear In MIrs Llppman’s comedy,
"Julie Bon-Bon,” a play that ran u good part of the season here last year.
From the office of Charles B. Dillingham there will emanate nine companies,
all of which are headed by more or leas well known stars. Probably the most Ini*
portnnt of these from the point of view of public Interest will Ih» the nppearance
of Mrs. !,cK)le Carter, whose sensational break with her former manager, David Be*
lasco, has caused so much talk. She will ujipenr in a piny tho name of which baa
not yet been announced. Frltzl Bclieff, In Victor, !Ierl*ert a tuneful and high class
E rn, "M'llc Modiste." will, after a short engagement at the New York theater, I**-
her road tour In Brooklyn, ending In tho spring In Montreal. Miss Blanche
g will pnpear In another of Victor Herbert s operas. “Miss Dolly Dollars.” An
Interesting venture will be the production of the latest of Victor Herbert's operas,
called "The Hod Mill." Montgomery and Stone, of “Wlsard of Ox” fame. Iielng the
co-stars of .the enterprise. Frank Daniel* In “Sergeant Ilrue,” will tour the country
until early spring, when he will nppear In a new comic operti entitled “Omar/’
Ooorgp Bernard Shaw's clever and Interesting play, “Man and Superman," will spend
the sea amt on the road. Kyrle Betlew will he seen (u n play by Sir Conan lioylo
called “The Brigadier Gernd." Miss Paula Kdwardes, a new star under the Dil
lingham management, will appear In “The Princess Beggar,” a comic opera by Kd-
ward Pa ill ton and Alfred Hohyii. who wrote the music for "Tile Yankee Consul.”
Mr. Dillingham also announces that In the spring he will proliably produce new
plays by Iladdon Chambers, IMdii Johnson Young, the author of “Brown of Har
vard," and Henry Blossom.
David Bela sco Is working on a new piny. DhVld Warfield, who lias l»een play
ing to crowded houses for two years In “The Music Master,” will go on tour, tray-
• cling as far west ns Knnsns City, ns far south na I<otil*vllle. Mlsa Blanche Bates.
In Belnseo's very Interesting play of California life In the mining days, “The Girl
from the Golden West,” will also visit most of the large rifles.
Of recent prominence In the managerial field U the firm of Coban it Harris.
The head of the firm Is George M. Cohan, the versatile young man who writes his
own plsys, writes-his own music, nets In them, sings In them, dnnees In them and
owns them. He Is even more versatile—he has hi* family art with him. He hlin)ielf
will go on tour In Ids most recent play railed "Oporge Washington. Jr.” Fay Tem
pleton will hend one company with another Cohan piny, “Forty-Five Minutes from
Hrondwny," while furlnnil Will
S
iiMNiiinuj, wiiui’ i.unuun mu head another III the same i
Cohan called “Popularity" will Introduce Thomns Boss, wl
"Checkers.” This play will lie Mr. Cohan's first effort at writing wnnr is Known as
a straight piny; that is, ono In which nobody Is moved nt the climatic period to
burst Into .mug. loiter In the season, Colmu A Harris, In conjunction with Klaw it
Krlnngor, will present Lulu Glaser In n new play by Mr. Cohan. Mr. Cohan says
lie can write u piny while you wait for nuylHsly that Is worth while. Nat C. Good
win does uot agree with 1dm.
Walter N. laiwrence announces for the beginning of the season six ventures,
as follows:
Henry K. Dixey In "The Man on the Box/’ a play that has been successful In
New York and on tour, loiter on In the scmoui, Mr. Dixey will In* seen In s dramati
zation of Cyrus Townsend Brady's novel. “Hlchnrd the Brazen," by Edward Peple.
Harry Connor will go on tour In “Mrs. Temple's Telegram." The principal cities
cast of the Missouri will Ik* visited. Cyril Scott will Imgln Ids second season In
"The Prince Chop," playing In the prlnelpal cities of the west and south. Miss
Hilda Hjmng will visit nil the large cities of the east and middle west Iii a three-
act comedy called “Lady 41m,” njr Harold Heaton, In which she o|H*ncd Wcbor’a
theater for the season. William F. Ilawtrey. a brother of Charles Hnwtrey, a
well known Kngllsh actor, began a starring tour nt the Madison Square theater In
St. John Hankin'* play, “The Two Mr. West her by s.“ C'arlottn Nlllson will be starred
In Kachacl Crotliors* western comedy. “The Three of Us.’’ She opens at the Mad
ison Square thenter lute In Sc|(tctnlM*r. Sin* will afterward go on tour. “Tile Great
er Love,” a scima'Inna I piny htdit around the life of Mnzurl, goes on tour.
Prominent among the IJehter attractions use Miss Kbde Janl* In “The Vander
bilt Cup." a musical comedy, which serves to display the young actress In her
clever Imitations of prominent actors. A second company will l»e headed by “Bar
ney” Clover. William Favershnm Iii Kdwlu Milton Boyle's western drama, “The
Squaw Man.” A second company will present the same play headed by Henry Jew
ett. A dramatization of Sally Pratt Maclean's novel of r *Cape Cod Fblks. jIIm
Klcnnor Hobson will be seen In a repertory of plays. Including a new version of
Kostand's “La Prllicense Isilntalnc." Mute. Yvette Gullbert and Albert Chevalier
in n new play. Miss Kills Jeffreys In “The Dear, Unquiet Sex.” Mlsa Jessie Bus-
Icy In “The Bishop's Carriage.”
Henry W. Savage's productions fall Into two groups, dramatic and musical.
play,
rno a
b/ Mr.
isfnl in
ytti
Facts About Our Twenty Leading Actors
The following ptvea data about the lending
nctors nml actresses In this order: Stage
name, real name; married or unmarried:
chlbtreu: their greatest success; reported
weekly Income; uml manager.
Maude Adams—Maude Adams Kisksdden.
unmarried: “Peter Pan" nml Little Minis-
Ister:” $1,000; Charles F rob ms It.
Kthel Barrymore—Kthel Barrymore; un
married; “Cousin Kate;" $1,000; Charles
Frohman.
Julia Marlowe—Sarah Frances Frost;
married; no children; •"Juliet;" $1,000;
Shubert Brothers.
I^slle Carter— Louise Dudley; married;
son; “Zann;” *1.000: C. B. Dillingham.
Fay Templeton—Fay Templeton; three
times; no children; ‘Thet;Mascot;” $750;
Klnw '
tom”
Fritxl Seheff—Frltzl Rcheff- married; no
children; "Mile. Modiste;” $1,009: C. B. Dill-
Inaham.
Blanche Bates—Blanche Bates; unmar
ried: "The Girl of the Golden West;" $300;
Du rId Rein SCO.
Mrs. Flake— Minnie Msddern: married: no
children; “Becky Sharp;" $760; Ilarrisou
Grey Fluke.
ilnw A Krlnnger.
Blnnche King—Blanche King; twice*
•hlMren; “Dolly Dollars;" $750; C. II. 1
Viola Allen—Viola Allen; married; no chil
dren; “Glory Quayle;" $1,200; Nixon a Zim
merman.
Lillian Russell—Helen Louise Leonard;
three times; daughter; “l.a Clgnlc; $*00;
Klaw A Krlnnger.
Hlebnnl Mansfield—Itlehard Mansfield;
married; son; “Beau IJrummcl; $4,Q0u; Rich
ard Mansfield.
John Drew—John Drew; married; daugh
ter; - ; $1,200: Charles Frohman.
Robert Mantell—Robert Mantell; three
times; sou and daughter; “King I.ear;'' $!,-
200: w. A. Ilrady.
David Warfield—David Warfield: married:
no children; •'Music Master;" $1,400; David
Belaern,
K. II. Sothern—K. If. Sothern: married;
.. i children; “Hamlet;" $1,000; ShulH*rt
Brothers.
Edmund Breese—Kdmnnd Breese; mar
ried; no children; “The Lion olid the
Mouse;" $200: W. If. Harris.
Otis Skinner—tills Skinner; married;
daughter; “The Duel;" $1,000; Charles Ffoh-
ran a.
William Favershnm—Will In m Fnvcrsham;
two times; son; “The Squaw Man;" #750;
Lfebler it Co.
Wilton Lsckaye—Wilton Lacks re; mar
ried; son; “Svengall;” $WW; W. A. Brady.
burton on <)cto!»er 15, and afterwards In various cities. Musical plays In lighter
vein Include “Tin* Man from .Now,” by John Kendrick Bangs and Vincent Bryan,
with music by Manuel Klein; the Plxley-Luders opera. “The Prince of Pllsen," now
In Its sixth year, with Jess Dandy as the brewer, linns Waguer; “The student
King," by Reginald DcKoven, an opera which has .already been seen In Chi
cago
the
The Klnw A Krlnnger productions are headed by their well-known production of
dramatization of Lew Wallace's “Ben-Hur.” Another production of similar na-
has now liceti made by them of the same author’s “The Prlnee.of India.”
>°Ml
fare ... _ .
Forties Holx-rtson Is to ap
trade Klllott,,in Bernard I _
saklng the lyric stage, niitHMirs as a legitimate net'ross in “Barbara’s Million*." Mc
Intyre and Heath, the old minstrels, continue In the musical melange, "The Ham
Tree." while Joseph
Sousa’s “The Free Uott,”
appear In the same piece.
go to -London to
T&j-le. Doror”
. J
Si
C?>.rloti2.Ni 1 Iso - ..
Mk-tfaj-eVDede..
Ert^othera.
rnu,i,3chefr-.
f7fie7Jha,nacia.
KranciiSVlbon:
.9