... THE PLAY QUESTION. SIR,--I notice that the question of plays has again been revived, and wish to say that I am entirely in accord with Mr. Martin S. Dobson upon the only solution--viz.. a Society of Dramatic Authors. This is the only remedy for the present chaotic state of affairs. Why not a Society of Dramatic Authors, formed upon the lines of the Society of Authors (literary)? This is a ...

... . HOW TO GET PLAYS. SIR,-- The question of the supply of plays is ono of intense personal interest to would-be dramatists. An instance of unintelligible and in defensible treatment of an u known writer's play seems to me to call for (lie dignity of print, that one may r,?ad it set forth as a story to ho wondered at. An unknown writer loved tho theatre, and, after some years of, he hoped, ...

... Sir,--I have read with a great deal of interest the editorials and the letters of vour correspondents on the lack of interest and the decrease in attendance of the provincial publio. The beginner, the touring manager, and the local manager have all receivtd their share of blame. May I point to another probable cause--the actor? Disengaged for the first time in two years, 1 had the unusual ...

... THE ACTORS' CHURCH UNION. Sir,--Will you allow me to correct one or two errors in a paragraph which appeared in your columns last week, referring to the formation of the Actors' Church Union. The A.C.U. is already formed, and has commenced its work. The Bishop of Rochester is as yet in no way connected with the Union nor has he given his sanction to the work he is at present on the ...

... LITERARY DRAMAS. SIR,-- The recent correspondence in tho Daily Chronicle respecting the literary drama has once more called attention to the most conspicuous of all the deficiencies of the modem stage. The dramatists and managers of the day give us capable work on the lower and middle planes, but on the higher plane neither managors, actors, nor as far as tho public know, authors dare to ...

... BOYS' PARTS. Sir, I see that your Wolverhampton correspondent last weok commends the wisdom of Messrs. Lytton and Cooke in choosing a real boy to act a boy's part in their new play. Ho adds that 44 No girl could havo looked so well, or played the character better. This is as it should bo and I should like to say how cordially I approve of tho grow ing tendoncy to allow boy-actors to play lioy ...

... INGENIOUS FRAUD. Sir, An ingeniut fraud has been prac tised in Hull, and your ready publication of thin letter may have tho effect of making it impracticable elsewhere. A young woman purporting to be one of a oouplo styling themselves the Siators Burness, calls upon a solicitor with a forged oon- tract engaging them for pantomime at a salary of £8 weekly, and woro successful in obtaining a ...

... . NATIONAL OPERA. SIR,--The London County Council have replied to the petition in favour of a National Opera which was presented by us to them last year. After careful investigation they have issued a report, in which they state their opinion that The encouragement of the highest forms of musical art is greatly needed in London, and, if accorded wisely, either by the State or by the ...

... HARTE'S THEATRE FIRE FUND. LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. m I Mr. Edgar Bagley, Grey Mare Hotel, Openshaw, informs us that he has received or been promised the following amounts To the Editor of THE STAGE. Sib, You were kind enough to publiah I our appeal in your valuable issue of January 12, and in juBticd to ourselves wo think it only right to inform you that tho money colleotod by Mr. Edgar Bagley, ...

... THE STAGE AND SLANDER. Sir. On reading Mr. Frank Curzon' s speech, given at the Playgoers' Club last Sunday, I folt pained and surprised. That any gentleman who belongs to an honour able profession should go out of his way so to cruelly degrade it in the eyes of the world passes one s understanding. I am not going to plead tho cause of provincial managers (Air. Curzon belonged to our body), ...

... OH! SUSANNAH! Sir.-- Many unfounded rumours havo ob tained in certain quarters to the effect that Mr. H. J. Leslie was the owner of the entire provincial rights of Oh! Susannah! during the past year. As this report is calculated to injure us on our forthcoming tour, owinp to managers and others oeliov- ing the existing company to be under dif ferent auspices, we beg to state that wo have ...

... . Queries and letters for publication must be tuthenticated tcith names and addresses of tenders. Those correspondents i rho write to urrect any errors that appear in our columns elativs to names or parts are informed that a all cases programmes or bills must bs en- losed for our guidance.) Fra JTCK9 Hakd.-- (1) From Cliarles Dickens's Tale of Two Cities. (2) The lat* John Clayton played the ...