The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-07
ruth ON the staye.

The disturbance over the production of
'.Sapho'' in New York has finally culmi-
mated in its suppression. The managers
were notified on Monday night that the
police would take action if there was any
attempt TO put the play on; and it was not
put on.
This incident in significant in the his
tory of the drama in New York, and pos
sibly in that of American plays. Il proves
that a play can be SO Objectionable TO the
moral sense of the community that its
production will be forbidden, though it
be given in a theatre known as first-class
and by actors of undoubted ability. 1t has
seemed to many lovers of the drama dur
ing the last year or two that there was abb
solutely no limit to the audacity of I'M
scrupuleus managers and the federation Of
the public. and IL the Nethersole Incident
proves that there is, il will be very use
full precedent. Apparently, there is a
point at which the law will interfere with
salacious productions. and when it does, it
appears that the managers will not press
the point so far as to create an open and
sensational scene. For these things, at
any rate, people of decent instincts can
be thankful.
1t may be commended that ''Sapho' is no
worse than a dozen other plays which have
been given in the last two years without
police interference. That, as Washington
has reason to know, Is true. 1t only
proves, however. that there was an i'm
peratiye need for protest, and that tie
protest should have included all the plays
of this class instead of only one. We have
had quite enough OF indecency on the
stage, whether in the form of mere sug-
gestiveness or out and out impurity of mo-
tive; and 1t is emphatically time TO call a
halt. Several of the plays which are now
polluting the stage OF New York with their
malodorous atmosphere had their first trial
here-the audience also enduring trial. it
may be added-and after they have staid
as long as possible in New York they viii
be sent on the road. Therefore. Washing
ton. and all the other cities in the country,
have an interest in this "Sapho" affair,
and il is probable that the action of the
New York police will be in some sort a
precedent for the authorities OF o. her
towns
The public has a responsibility in this
matter, the managers claim. That is quite
true. 1t has also rights. The theatre
going people of this country have shown.
in no uncertain fashion, that they approve
Of clean, wholesome. well-acted plays, and
sSill support them in every possible way.
The majority of the record breaking pro-
auctions for the last three years have been
clean ones. But there is, unfortunately,
another element which makes up the audi
ence ct such play as "Sapho." 1t has had
so great an influence of late upon the plans
and actions of theatrical managers that
they seem to have fallen into the error of
thinking it the only element worth catering
TO- and we have actually come to the point
where respectable people can hardly go TO
see new play with the certainty that they
viii witness nothing offensive. Two or
three productions OF this season were ad-
ver.iiscd as pure comedy. without any sug-
gestive element. when, as a matter of
fact, there was not much il. them that Tas
not suggestive. and the respectable citizen,
who. believing the advertisement, took MS