Life — October 3, 1895 — page 16: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE ATTENUATION OF THINNESS. “ H, hang a_ play Flike that” (Lire has heard many an estimable citizen say.) “When I go to the theatre I want to laugh and enjoy myself. I don’t want to hear a lot of yowling and crying “Yowling and crying” to the estimable citizen mean anything and everything that contains a tinge of seriousness. He must laugh or he won't grow fat. He may know more about the manufacture of ready-made clothing or about the hardware trade than he does about the stage, but in things dramatic he and his daughter, the matinee girl, have more influence than the artist or the critic. He is responsible for the reducing of one section of the stage to the farce-comedy level, and his daughter for the “ sex against sex" drama, which together make most of our theatrical attractions cither drivel or gush. Mr. Henry Guy Carleton is a dramatic writer whose career is an excellent illustration of the commercial influence which govern matters theatrical, He wrote two or three good plays, that is to say, plays of literary excellence. Asa result he seemed to have a perpetual reserved seat in the lap of poverty. Then, guided by the hand of the astute and far-secing manager, his pen glided in other directions with the result that it could occasionally be used for the purpose of making out deposit tickets and signing checks. A direct outcome of these influences is * That Imprudent Young Couple,” a play written to suit the notions of Mr. Charles Frohman and the abilities of Mr. John Drew, with a slight leaning towards Miss Maud Adams on the side. Mr. Carleton seems to have suc- ceeded in accomplishing that difficult task, and in doing it his literary abilities never turned a hair, His dramatic carpentership, was severely strained, and the entire contraption has good deal the appearance of the installment plan furniture which furnishes the material for some of his jests. Like that, however, it will probably last long enough to enable Mr. Frohman to collect his installments from the estimable citizen, which is really the one thing needful in the play of to-day. Mr. John Drew also shows the benign influence of Mr. Charles Frohman. A vehicle has been provided for him which puts him back rather than advances him artistically. His work shows a boisterousness and lack of finish not usual in other days. To be politely funny is not easy, and amid the influences which surround him Mr. Drew must wear a very strong air-brake indeed, or he will run into coarseness. He may be aware that he is being offered up a sacrifice to the estimable citizen, but he is entitled to make one or two ntle s before his artisticality finally expires on the altar of greed. ONE OF THOSE MEN Wilo CANNOT TAKE A HINT. comicbooks.com