Show World (June 1907)

8 THE SHOW WORLD June 29, 1907, CHICAGO CRITICS BEST IN THE LAND Writers on Dramatic and Musical Topics on Chicago Press are Known all over the United States—Reviewers are Conscientious, Fair and Impartial. BY A STAFF WRITER T HE dramatic critics of Chicago rank among the highest to be found in any metropolitan city in the world. The importance 'theatric¬ ally of Chicago to which the eyes of the amusement public everywhere are turned as a producing center for big productions of every character, call for the best critical ability and the Chicago newspapers are supplying all that can be asked for in this regard. Many of the dramatic critics of the Chicago press have gained interna¬ tional reputation in the field of con¬ servative criticism. All of them, with¬ out exception, are men and women the theater going public and which is largely guided by his judgment. Mr. Bennett is a caustic writer and his imagery is brilliant. He is deep¬ ly versed in dramatic literature and his standards of criticism cover a wide range. He is a Shakesperian scholar and has an intimate acquaint¬ ance with the old dramatists whom he is fond of quoting. Being a stu- though young in years. He was for a long time press agent for the Grand Opera House, Chicago, and he is en rapport with all that pertains to the art. His criticisms are virile and his style is highly refreshing and con¬ vincing. Mantle an Authority. Burns Mantle, whose weekly dra¬ matic reviews in the Inter-Ocean are journal, in which particular field he stands without a peer. His knowledge of dramatic (literature of the past and the newer plays of the present is most extensive and as a result his reviews are both instructive an entertaining. Amy Leslie Brilliant Essayist. ■ Amy Leslie, the reviewer for the Chicago Daily News, is one of the foremost dramatic critics of her set in the United States. She writes most entertainingly and her style js marked by clearness, depth, thougM and high literary finish. Her judg¬ ment of plays is unerring. Her criticisms are strong in praise add kindly in censure so that when she deals a blow, it falls lightly and when she has occasion to commend, it is W'»°i FRANK X . FINNEGAN CHICAGO EXJLMINEFZJ BURNS MANTLS PERCY HAMMOND. THE T^OST- Chicago Daily News REPRESENTATIVE DRAMATIC CRITICS OF THE CHICAGO PRESS of, 'culture, with the critical faculty highly . trained and developed. When they pass judgment upon the merits of a production their dictum may be relied upon as being free from bias, competent and trustworthy. pities Ignore Box Office. The box office consideration which so often tempers criticism as to mis¬ lead the public into fancying a play is a howling success even though the audiences repudiate the attraction and it fails to draw, is totally lacking in the makeup of the Chicago critics. They are given free rein by the publishers and while none is need¬ lessly bitter when he condemns, all are frank in their expressions of praise or censure. A criticism that does not ring true fails of its mission, but the average Chicago criticism usually is sound and if favorable, be¬ comes a valuable asset to managers and players, and the open sesame to success elsewhere. Bennett a Caustic Writer. James O’Donnell Bennett, the critic for the Record-Herald, is a gentleman whose opinion of a play is of value to dent, he studies every branch of the higher dramatic art, and his knowl¬ edge crops out in all his writings. His dramatic page is eagerly read ev¬ ery Sunday by his admirers. Hall a Strong Reviewer. O. L. Hall, dramatic editor of the Chicago Journal, is a brilliant writer on dramatic and musical topics. He works with painstaking care and all his writings bear evidence of a vig¬ orous mentality and strong grasp of his subject. His reviews are a pow¬ erful arraignment of all that is false in dramatic art and he is quick to perceive and appreciate merit where- ever it may be found. He has more than average ability in his line and he is rapidly advancing to the front rank of American writers on the drama and, music. His daily dramatic column in'the Journal is a feature which long since has merited and won the commendation of the amuse¬ ment loving public. Hammond Knows the Game. Percy B. Hammond is dramatic ed¬ itor of the Evening Post and this is saying a great deal. He is an old newspaperman in experience, al- samples of fine writing and who is regarded as an authority in his special field, came to Chicago from the west several years ago and soon estab¬ lished himself as a critic of the first rank. He knows plays and players intimately and his extensive knowl¬ edge is evidenced in all his writings. He is himself an author of several meritorious plays and other works of high literary merit. Miclntire Sharp and Breezy. Warren Mclntire, dramatic editor of The Chicago American, writes with a trenchant pen and his criti¬ cisms are sharp, breezy and brilliant. He is well liked in the profession, with whom his criticisms rank high. Finnegan Man of Parts Frank X. Finnegan, known to the profession as Forest Arden, is a strong writer of dramatic reviews combining humor and pathos with no inconsiderable skill. He is connect¬ ed with The Examiner, in the col¬ umns of which his reviews are eager¬ ly sought after. During the summer seasons when most members of the theatrical profession are resting Mr. Finnegan reports baseball for his truly merited and appreciated. In private life, she is the wife of Frank Buck, of the Western Vaudeville -As¬ sociation. • I Hubbard Ranks High. Major W. L. Hubbard, the talent4 essayist of The Chicago Tribune, t one of the best known critics in the United States. He is highly distif guished as a writer on musical topi# as well as a reviewer of plays. He has made his department in the Tri¬ bune, one of the most talked of of any in the country and it ranks high with the theatrical and musical pro¬ fessions everywhere. He is a deep student and all his vacations are spent abroad in visiting points of in¬ terest on the continent and primiiffi himself afresh for the arduous tasks of the coming season. Puccini’s New Opera. Giacomo Puccini, composer of “MS dam Butterfly,” is now at work on hife new grand opera. The libretto t founded on the life of Marie Antoin ette.