Show RUSSIAN THEA TRESi I OPEN CAMPAiGN r 1 I H ON CRITICS I I By ey Universal Service PARIS PARIS Oct D 23 Dramatic 23 23 Dramatic critics cannot kill klU a a. play neither neither- can they assure its success I This statement uttered by Alphonse I II I Franck president of the Association of or I Theatrical Directors has caused ll ti-i ti P enormous sensation in theatrical and newspaper circles in Paris t 4 Representatives of or New York theatrical theatrical theatrical theat theat- managers who remember the fight over the rights of critics that raged afew a afew afew few years ago in New York are re wat watch h- h i ing the situation with absorbing inter est If It Franck succeeds in his c campaign campaign cam cam- m- m mI I to take all privileges away from I newspaper critics It is probable that a similar experiment may be tried in New NewYork York York- 4 I HOW HOW TROUBLE AROSE f fI The trouble arose over dress rehearsals rehears rehears- j t I all als which in France are aie always given I the the day before the premiere or of the piece I so so that critics and members of the profession profession profession pro pro- ma may have a chance to view the play before it is presented to the general I Ire public Franck became n tl the S storm center r of a re recent rc meeting e r of f the e association cl r when e ehe he denounced the dress drets rehearsal and said the theatre was not beholden to critics They come to a dress rehearsal and andare andare andare are surrounded b by a lot of ot pseudo pseudo- experts who haven't paid for fot their seats and who cynically condemn a play be before before before be- be I fore I it t is half haIr over said Franck The critics hear these people talking and nd mold their own accounts of the play on onI their neighbors' neighbors opinions In nine cases out of ten the audience at a dress re rehearsal rehearsal rehearsal re- re I Is wrong in its Judgment ADMITS THIS MUCH I r admit that newspapers have hae a aright aright right to publish accounts of plays if they want to but I tail fall to s see see e why a I special performance should be given for their benefit or br even that they should be given free seats Let them come as members of the I ILet ordinary public on the regular first first night They can tell then whether the i play pleases and write accordingly I Has a critic a right to denounce a i I play when a majority of the theatregoing theatregoing theatre- theatre I going goin public approves it Franck does not think so 50 and favors a law which would allow a theatre to sue any Journal journal journal Jour jour- nal knocking a play without good reason This was the kernel kerne of the discussion discussion discussion dis dis- dis- dis which raged in New York pt popular Meanwhile successes c Franck s support alleges t that his Cis st present theory h soe 1 Phi I at the which has broken all French records for I continuous success was ryas sever severely Iy conI condemned condemned con con- by the press when wIlen it opened I I nearly two VO years ago Another play I which was universally praised has re reI recently re- re I Gently proved ed a dismal |