The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-17

called trust or because of the growing
strength of the independent managers.
despite the efforts of the combination,
there viii be a vast Improvement in the
character of American theatrical produc-
lions. II is pointed out that the indie
pendent movement has already brought
to the front several notably good plays
by hitherto unknown playwrights. whose
work affords hope that in the future they
viii do even better.
These plays are mostly purely American
in subject and treatment, and Of a char
acter so distinctive as to indicate that
under freer conditions there would
speedily grow up in this country a true
native school of drama. One writer says
on this point: a year ago there was
little on the American stage capable of
arousing intellectual interest and discus
sion. aside from the imported plays. The
work Of PineTO. Jones, and some of the
others who keep busy on the other side
Of the water is seldom lacking in appeal
10 Thoughtful consideration. This season,
however the two plays contributed to
our stage by AIT. Jones and Mr. PineTO
have had 10 divide attention with the
product of several native dTamatists, who
until now have been in no way con-
spicuous In the field. These plays prob
ably would never have been looked at
with anything but scorn by that mama
gerial coteEi5 which has lately come under
d searching inquiry as a peculiar specimen
of octopus by the grand jury Of New
York.
Bronson Howard dean OF the play
writing guild of America, took n fling at
the dramatic critics in a speech before a
breakfast gathering Of newspaper women
in New York the other day He limited
rather broadly that most Of the sO-caIlcd
dramatic criticism Of the day wasn't
criticism at all. but mere opinion. How
ever, he wasn't inclined to be too criti-
cal with the critics, for he knew how It
was himself. having been Of that iIk in
his youth and constrained 10 learn the
gentle art Of appraising the value and
deciding the fate in half midnight
hour - a play on which the dramatist
had expended months of thought and
labor. OF course, it is too bad that the
works of able, experienced, and consci-
entious playWrights should be judged
hastily on the run by callow critics who
bring small experience and slight study
to their tasks. and decline. moreover. to
take the things Of the stage as seriously
as stage people of all classes think they
should be taken. But the number Of
American playwrights of the kind indi-
Gated isn't large. and few indeed are the
critics who venture 20 deal harshly with
their output The tendency is the other
way. as q matter Of fact. The works Of
the capabes and incapables in the play
writing line are apt 10 be treated too
indulgently, and most Of the critics have
given quite as deep study 10 the canons
l of dramatic construction as have q ma
{ jOTity of the drauatists The average
/ play Of the day presents no problem that
/ requires study. You know as much about
! 1t after first view as you would know
/ If YOU studied il through a half dozen
/ performances; and the hurry-up review
Of il, written after the first view. is prob
ably as much attention as il merits. Ia
/ other words, the average play has no
message, no deep purpose, and mighty
/ little literary merit. II is a thing Of the
moment. hastily thrown together in
hopes that it will amuse for q few weeks
MAURICE SPLAIN.