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Show DRAMA11C NEWS AND COMMEN1 Canon James Owen Hannay, the author of, "General John Regan," Just before he sailed on the Lusltanla on Tuesday, December De-cember ', made a plea for a closer understanding un-derstanding between the clergy and the actors In the theater. He said: ' I think that while, perhaps, thero is some basis for the religious prejudice preju-dice against the stage, and whllo there may be a good deal of reason for it In some plays, that this ought not to be extended to such plays as, for Instance, your society recommends its members to go and SCc. I look forward to an approach to a closer relationship between tho church and thc stage; I look forward to it as I something certainly good for both; good for the church and good for tho stage. Not for. one single moment would I venture to suggest that tho clergy should act in any way at all as censors of thc drama. I hate all censors, and I think If there is a censor whom I should hate more than any other it would be a clerical censor. cen-sor. Tho clergy aro, as a class, less capable of Judging a matter like a play than almost any other class in the community, and I should look forward for-ward with positive dread to tho church exercising any kind of censorship cen-sorship over the drama. Nor whon I spealc of tho increasing friendly relations re-lations between tho two, should I venture for n moment to suggest that sermons should be put on the stage. I know that Mr. Fay has reminded re-minded us that sermons, or a kind of sermons, were put on tho stage in tho middle ages as miracle plays. I should bo exceedingly sorry to see that revived. I do not know of many, nor havo I seen very many, but when 1 do come across one I generally find It one that is intolerably intoler-ably dull. And that Is really the caso if the putting of these on the stage should increase. I do think that where the churchmen and the actor3 can approach each other more closely close-ly Is In tho matter of personal friendship friend-ship between the members. There is In England a Boclety called tho Actors' Ac-tors' Church union, and a similar society so-ciety exists, I understand, In Iho Roman Ro-man Catholic church. With the work of the Actors' Church union I am entirely en-tirely familiar, but of the details of Us work I havo no time to speak, nor do I suppose theso details would be particularly interesting. But I should hope that a considerable number num-ber of thc clergy get Into closer personal per-sonal touch with actors; that thoy get on the ono luxnd to realize the fact that actors and actresses ai-e not necessarily disreputable, or necessarily nec-essarily or often Immoral; that there Is a Bohemlanlsm about tholr life, and that this Is a Bohemlanlsm entirely en-tirely virtuous and right, and that on the other band tho actors and actresses ac-tresses get into closer personal touch with thc clergy and como to regard us loss as a kind of horrid or ethori-nllzed ethori-nllzed Mrs. Grundv. and that at all events wo havo at least potentialities of friendship In us. Margaret Illlngton, announcement of whoso appearance at the Salt Lake theater thea-ter Christmas wdek has already arousod local theatergoers to pleasurable anticipation, antici-pation, established somo remarkable records rec-ords for theatrical popularity during hor phonomenally prosperous run In Chicago recontly as thc heroine of Bayard Vcll-Ier'S Vcll-Ier'S sensationally successful underworld molbdrama. "Within tho Law," In which sho Is credited with having achieved one of tho most notable triumphs of recent years. Although, during her unparalleled Chicago engagement, Miss Illlngton plaved more extra, or added, performances perform-ances than any other attraction In the. history of that city, because of the unprecedented un-precedented demand for seats, it was Alphonse Daudet's Masterful Story, "Sapho" ffiH Told in Motion Picture by Florence Roberts WM Scene from "Sapho," as presented by Floronco Roberts and the Broad- Wm& way players, a six-part motion picturo which comes to tho American theater IfiM tho first three days of Ohriatmas weok, commencing Monday, December 22. mmu finally found necessary tho final month of her stay to give a matinee every day, a feat not hitherto attempted by a dramatic dra-matic attraction. Crowded houses were the Invariable rule at all these extra matinees. The real climax came, however, on Miss Illlngton's last day in the Illinois metropolis when sho signalized her departure de-parture by throe farewell performances of "Within the Law," which were given within twelve hours to tho largest number num-ber of porsons that evor entered the theater in one day. The curtain rose upon the first, or special morning, matinee mati-nee at 10:45 o'clock, tho afternoon performance per-formance began at 3 and that in the evening at thc usual time of S o'clock. Because of the exacting demands of her role, it was not possible for Miss Illlngton Illlng-ton to leavo tho theater from the time she arrived until after the close of the evening performance, her meals being sent in from a nearby restaurant. An amazing demonstration marked tho fall of the final curtain at night, thc largo audience arising en mass and cheering for flvo minutes until Miss Illlngton reappeared re-appeared and made a brief speech. Tho feat of giving threo performances of a drama in. one day is ono that has never before boon recorded even in the fifty theaters of New York. Some actresses aro born great; somo acqulro greatness; and some have a shrewd manager thrust upon them. The most Injured Individual In tho world is a man who sees a poor show on a puss. Every Actor has talent, but not all of them can prove it. An Actress who is thin and refuses to appear In tights has two very good reasons rea-sons for refusing. Tho Manager who seeks to enlarge the scope of the Drama opens a Lltlle Theater. What is rarer than a day in June? An Actor without a grievance. Troupes venture where Angels fear to troad. A Manager is known by thc company he keeps out. Some Vnudevillo Actors work them-solves them-solves Into a sweat to keep from getting a cold reception. What has become of the Old-fashloncd Prude, who used to rail so about scantily scant-ily dressed women on the stage? More than likely she's at home, selling her petticoat to thc rag man. Get down to business, if you would got up in the business. The man who said "Life is one grand sweet song" never had to listen to aomo of tho Vaudeville Prima Donnas. When an Actor puts his heart into his work he generally gets diamonds In return. re-turn. Often-times an Actor has cleverness that you'd never suspect If ho hadn't told you. , ... When a man begins to abuso his own profession It's time for him to got out fTh'e Actor who Is always pralslnc himself him-self Is never asked to play a Return Engagement. The only place where men wcro very particular about their honor was In tho old-stylo melodrama. Applause shows which way your act g0esBy Edward Abbott, In tho January Janu-ary Green Book Magazine. One night during the rehearsals of "Tante," Miss Ethel Barrymore's present pres-ent plav. she, Haddon Chambers and Charles "Frohman were sitting out In the half-lighted auditorium of the Empire theater, New York, waiting for the scene3 Will of tho next act to bo set- The little IllJtM group star, playwright and manager njlf) just as a game, were coining sentences fflilBil that would strike off thc play, "Tante," XlHUj to a nicety. mVm "Let's seo If we can hit off 'Tante' in mnk one Sentence," began Haddon Chambers. luill "She's a woman who does not want mfm what she wants when she gets it," was lljjEj Charles Frohman's contribution. injj "No, not exactly," answered Mr. Cham- Mm bers. "'Tante' Is thc tragedy that hap- mm pens to six women out or ten the trag- 1)1 ! edy of insincere sincerity." Ift Then both men looked at Miss Barry- Dnh more; for it was her turn next. "Polite- nH ness tells me to agree with both of you; H and so I do: you are both right so far as mm you go. But do you go far enough? mm 'Tante' Is a superb artiste; she Is not tiim qulto so superb a woman. Isn't this m the solution of her unhupplness every UW time nature creates a fine artiste she Jl 11 spoils a fine woman. No woman can keep fmWl her natural womanhood and arllflciallzc It at the same tlmo. An unspoiled moth- (ft, Mi er bv thc fireside Is worth all the artls- Hit tic ludlcs the fickle world chooses to 3Lt applaud. Unhapplncss of all kinds Is thc . Wd whirlwind Inevitably reaped by thc worn- jg: B an who goes In for a life of artistic en- 21' If dcavor. A roving artiste always comes 9j; home to roast," 1 i "Silenced by a woman," was Mr. Froh- !( man's laconic response. . Ijfl "Rather I should say by an artiste," l1! Mr. Chambers gallantly rejoined. One of the neatest proofs that there 1 ;$ ' Is more In tho law of heredity than Is 11 dreamed of in Its philosophy is Ethel SJSJ Barrymore's lively faculty for phrase- jg K making of which the above are -only Mis random specimens. It was Miss Barry- St.w more's father who was going down fj H Broadway one day with a celebrated Eng- m a llsh actor an actor of great distinction BUI and excellence, but a man of absurd mWl pomposity and an egregious egotism. As ulSi Mr. Barrymore and the English actor Wtu. neared thc corner of Broadway and Thlr- mK ty-fourth street. New York, within half glfjjl a block of where the Lambs club for- BIB merly stood, both men were Jostled by III an old blind beggar, on whose breast j!n was tho usual sign. "I am bllng," and In II n whose hand wns the Inevitable tin cup. la Striking a magnificent attitude tho Sng- 1,1 llsh nctor stopped, held up his left hand fl:Jr for Mr. Barrymore to stop also, and with u u his right dug very deep In his overcoat ra pocket, drew forth thc smallest coin ever 91 I minted by the national government and IitI then, dropping the coin into tho blind M man's tin cup as noisily as ho could. M M turned to Mr.' Barrymore and said, "I 9fl J always take a great delight In extending VII charity to blind people." HjrM "So do I." answered Maurice Barry- 9joi more, quick as a flash, "It makes It so Mm handy; because they can't see what you Mtm give them." fj The plays yot to bo produced In New 9fl York this season by Charles Frohman. JJ71 unless that manager unexpectedly In- Bil creases tho list, are J. M. Barrio's "Tho fil Legend of Leonora," with Miss Maudo iff! Adams in tho chief Part: Miss BUHo K j Burke, In Yi. S. Maugham s modern play IjLf of North American frontier life, "Tho mm Lund of Prime"; a musical operotta en- liU titled "The Laughing Husband"; a now III plav now being written In collaboration jff by "Harrison Rhodes and Thomas Wise: 1(1 a dramatization of Sudermann's "Thc MjB Song of Songs," by Edward Sheldon: and IU a new farco entitled "A Little Water on jijtt thc Side." acted in and written by WI1- WU Ham Collier nnd Grant Stewart. HI |
