Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-13
The American Drama.

Henry Arthur Jones, in writing of the
American drama, says:
81 do not think it can be doubted that the
thcater. considered something apart from
the drama, has a far tighter hold upon all
classes in America than in England; it is
much more of an institution, less of an al
ter-dinner entertainment. Its popularity in
all the large cities is enormous, and is con-
stantly growing.
II do not think any impartial observer
can doubt that the average American au-
dIence has a somewhat different attitude
toward play from that which is character
istic of the average English audience there
is more electricity in the air, more en-
thusiasm, more alertness, and, what strikes
one most of all, the American audience
shows no suspicion of i'll temper.
During the last twelve months L nave
been present at one or two first-night fall-
ures in New York; the audiences were evil
IDENTIFY not pleased with the play. Strange
to say, they did not boo or hiss! Some of
them quietly left the theater; the others
quietly remained to the end and gave a
courteous but not an enthusiastic, recep-
tion to the actors.
This customary first-night politeness does
not save bad or unpopular plays, but 1t gives
q chance of success to those plays OF merit
which, among the thousand caprices of pro-
duction, may for some reason or other fail
to please on the first night.
Il believe this urbane spirit among first
night audiences IS of great value to the de-
VeOpment of the drama. 1t allows and en-
Courages experiment; and, accordingly, we
find among many other encouraging signs
of intellectual advance on the American
stage that plays by writers like 1bsen and
Maeterlinck have comparatively long and
prosperous runs.
AN interesting experiment-one that may
go a little way to counterfeit the baneful
effect on actors of long runs-is that which
Is sometimes made on the American stage.
of interChanging roles. During my recent
visit l had the great delight of watching the
original Mrs. Dane in England, and the
original Mrs. Dane in America. as they al
ternated their parts on successive perform
ances.
This experiment of alternating roles is
one that might. perhaps, be copied on the
London stage sometimes with conspicuous
advantage TO one of the actors; sometimes
with considerable enlightenment to the au-
dience; sometimes, 1 think, in bare justice
to the author.
American theater are of quite secondary i'm
port and Significance when compared with
the rapid progress of two movements re-
Gently started in circles somewhat outside
and apart from the general body of the
playgoing public.
'If any one were asked to name the rea-
son that the French have national drama
and the English have none, he would say,
The French drama is a part of French lit
erature, and IS honored a fine art; the
English drama is considered as an amuse-
ment, pure and simple, is judged on that
level. and is not suspected by English play
goers to be fine art
In America, two recent movements go to
Indicate the progress of the national drama
and its elevation into fine art There is in
all the large cities very definite movement
toward the establishment and endowment Of
a national theater. In New York this move
ment is taking a concrete shape, and its
aims will be realized in the course of q
year or two. Americans have relentless
habit of getting things done. They are
wisely and generously receptive in matters
of art. A great sum of money will be spent
to endow this national theater. 1t will at
tract all the best talent in acting and au-
thorship of the Engnsh-speaking race If
wisely managed 1t will inevitably become
the leading theater where English is spoken.
Are EngltShmen content with this prospect?
But national theaters are mere mauso-
leums of the drama, as cathedrals are mere
mausoleums of religion, unless live flame
of spiritual impulse lights them up. This
live flame of interest in the drama seems to
be already kindled in America.
In the leading American universities, in
Harvard and Yale. the greatest interest is
taken in modern drama. Prof. Baker, at
Harvard, and Prof. Phelps, at Yale, have
wisely led and encouraged this interest in
their students.
Il believe that the action of Prof Baker
and Prof Phelps will have lasting results
upon the future national American drama.
Already an outside popular supplementary
interest has been created. But 1t Is not
only in the universities that a Serious in
tellectual inquiry has been raised concerning
the modern drama, The action of Prof.
aroused a keen interest in the modern
drama in all the schools and colleges of
America. And this in it's turn, has started
a demand for the modern printed drama
among the general playgoers of America
Now an interest in the printed drama. a
continual study of the modern plays In ac-
tual vogue, IS our chief security against all
kinds of imposture on the stage"