The Washington herald., 1907-04-24
THE UNITED STATES FIRST.
Noted English Playwright Would
Rather Have American Verdict.

AuHEu AANA AZ ~ = . =
Rather Have American Verdict.
Henry Arthur Jones. the English play
wright and author Of such weil-knoUn
PLAYS as THE Liars. THE Silver King.
Tine Baubie Shop, The Case Of Re
bellious Susan" THE Dancing Girl,
Mrs. Danes Defense" and many others.
ali big successes, has practically prom
ised TO Charles Frohman his entire liter
airy output for the stage for presentation
I'm this country prior to London produc-
ton. Heretofore. America has had al
of Mr.. Jones' plays secondhand, but this
author is quick TO recognize that play
goers in this country have deeper inter-
est i'm serious dramatic works than do his
own conference.-the Englisnmen-
This change OF production front was
brought about last summer when Charles
Frohman presented for the first time on
any stage The HypocriJes,' Mr. Jones
latest play at the Hudson Theater, New
York The play was tremendous sue
cess from the jump a fact which also
doubtless influenced the playwright. As
a matter Of fact. Henry Arthur Jones
is very severe on what he calls THE de-
basement OF public taste in England re-
garding the stage" where he claims
that musical comedy overwhelms all
serious dramatic effort. the base cur
renev having driven out that which rang
true" At the present time, Mr.. Jones
states the proportion of musical COM
edIes 10 serious plays in London IS
as twenty to one" He says THE Eng
Hsb stage is swamped in tomfoolery, and
that the English nation has made up its
mind not 10 take the drama seriously.
Just before leaving this country for his
English home after the production or
The Hypocrites." MIR. Jones said; I
have always Northumberland publicly
maintained-even in England that there
will ba a national theater in America
before there is one in England. This
because there is a heartier interest in
the drama in America than there is In
/ England. there is a larger vitality among
American playgOers; they are less hide
bound and are open 10 new convictions.
/ for 10 the American. there exists an at
traction in the theater more vivid and
varied than there is to the Englishman-
This will concentrate around such an
institution as a national theater. in the
/ accepted sense of the word. and bring
such an institution into existence, long
before such an event can take place in
/ England. Twelve years ago | had hopes
I Of the drama In England, We seemed
to be advancing toward serious drama
of English life, We began to gather
around US a public who came to a theater
! prepared to judge a modern play by A
/ high standard then the number of jokes,
tricks. antics. and songs contained. but
to-day the higher and more legitimate
/ PURPOSES of playwrlting are swallowed
! up and lost sight of ia the demand for
/ mere thoughtless entertainment. the one
/ purpose of which is not to show people
/ their lives. but to provide them with a
/ means of escape from their lives. l be-
lieve. of course. that the drama should
4 amuse. but why should IL not amuse with
material drawn from life? To my mind.
the one remedy consists in the pubica-
ton Of plays that would enable people
to judge in the cold, sober light of the
day after the value of that which they
have laughed and cried over The dram
/ atist is not necessarily a teacher. I do
not pose as one II is with plays as il
is with laws-they should never be ahead
Of their generation. They should be pic
lures rather than commandments. The
dramatist should find In them healthy