The Washington times., 1903-06-21
A Preacher and the Drama.
Cyrus Townsend Brady Reviews a Sea-
sons Plays.

sons Plays.
Having been favored with a number OF
visitors during the past winter. IL hap
pens that. as host or guest. I have gone
20 the theater more than usual Look
ing over my notebook, count twenty
one performances OF various sorts wit
messed during the season. Some brief
analysis OF what was seen may be OF in
terest In throwing some light upon the
dramatic conditions Of New York at the
present time
At a banquet given by the Women's
Press Club not long since. heard Herr
Conreid. the new oDeratic impressrio in
succession to Maurice Grau. say that
the theater had taken. or might take.
the place OF the church as the teaching
force OF the community; that there were
vastly more people in the theaters OF
New York every night than were gather
ed in all the churches of the city on
Sunday; and that. therefore, the educa-
tive power OF the theater was simply
enormous. This takes no account OF one
valuable function OF the drama. namely,
that II shall distract and amuse without
the necessity Of teaching any particu-
lar lesson
Whether he was dreaming dreams an
seeing visions Of what ought to be in
stead of what is. I have no means
knowing. Indeed, I quote his remar
I from memory. and am therefore subject
/ TO correction, but they started me thin =
1 ing upon the subject, with the dete
mination on my part TO see Just what
sort OF sermons the theaters had been
! preaching; TO put fact and imagination
side by side
I enjoy going TO the theater when Re
! play Is a proper one. well acted, veil
staged. and so on. I am quite willing
TO concede the vast possibilities for good
influence that the theater holds forth,
1 and to count the actors as fellow-nin-
| listers OF grace. provided they are
worthy OF the title. will also admit
/ that the actual educatiVe power of the
theater is really enormous; and fur
Their. that II II were all exerted in ono
way. and that a good way. a high way.
noble way, Il would be among the
most benefcent of our modern insti-
tutions. That is the theory. But what
are the facts? What is the influence OF
the theater as I found it this past sea-
son? What sort of sermons is IL preach
ing?
The Best of the Good Plays.
Let me state. before going further,
that did not Willingly go to any per-
fcrmance which I was previously in
formed was Of a disreputable character
I
hear the best actors or companies. On
the list are no comic operas nor vaude-
Vile performances. although sometimes
the comic opera and the vaudeville ara
as harmless and amusing I take it. as
any other form OF theatrical perform
ance; but there is none on the list.
which. however. includes two so-cslled
grand operas. Nor did I visit any thea
ters other than the very best, those
highest IN public consideration 1t is
difficult to classify accurately the vari-
Gus plays. but the following may give
US a basis OF consideration
Out of twenty-One plays. eight were
entirely Objectionable; OF these eight,
four-5O per cent-were deadly dull!
Two OF the latter four we're the vertest
twaddle. having neither originality OF
plot. brilIiancy Of dialogue. nor human
interest Of any sort. save for few cyni-
cal witticisms and some beautiful stage
settings. gowns. and scenery Not even
t the good acting OF the actors could re-
deem them. They were both OF them
popular plays and are not worth criti-
clsing. The remaining two Of the dull
e quartet were melodramas, barking
I back to historical novels. and though
y the novels we're good. the plays we're Ee-
: meath contempt. These performances
, made one sleepy. being in that effect. in
r deed. not unlike certain sermons have
5 heard
D OF the four plays which were inter
! esting and unexceptionable. one wa.
. 1 Shakespeare's Julius Caesar" su-
perb performance OF that wonderful
drama, good for everyone both 20 SEE
. and 10 hear; the other two were civil
, war plays. one from Southern, th'
, other from a Northern, standpoint
, both were we'll mounted and Brilliant,
!, / played The fourth a drama o
. Rome IN the Middle Ages. and was alto
gether charming. II was old-fashionet
, in its character, and reminded me O.
the famous plays of previous gener-
: alton. The critics in the daily papers
: spoke of it with patronizing eondeseen
sion.
Eleven Objectionable" Offerings.
r Then I count eleven performances
- nameIess in this article-which- in one
/. form or another. were Objectionable
n Perhaps that is a harsh word by whicl
y 10 characterize some of them. but i
- does very well for the class. plG,
L which turns upon sexual problem. Q