Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-01-04
LAUDS REVOLUTION
IN MODERN DRAMAS
Ibsen, Sudermann and Kennedy Are
Among Apostles of Latter
Day intellectual Up
heaVal

In a. discussion called 1.-THE Drama
the Most Forcibie Dissemination of
Radicalism," at Burbank hall last even
| ing, Miss Emma Goldman reviewed a
series of revolutionary dramas, pointing
| out their significance in their attacks
on the conventions of modern society
and politics. Sudermann, Ibsen, Haupt-
mann, Bernard Shaw and Charles Ram
Kennedy were among the dramatists
whom she lauded as the apostles of
radicaliSm.
1.-THE great American dramatists have
not yet appeared" said Miss Goldman,
but the time will come for them, with
the greater need. The drama is and
has been more effective in the spread
of revolutionary doctrines than essays
and lectures, or even than newspapers,
| but America has produced mainly plays
which lack substance. This is charac-
| teriStic of America. California produces
| beautiful roses but they lack fragrance.
Paid in Full was spoken of as one
| of the most notable plays in Stimuldt-
| ing radical thought in America. 1t is
written about a clerk, one of that class
of flunkeys who refuse to ally them
selves with the workingmen and yet
are not recognized by their employers.
The play shows the utter hOpelessne6s
of men of this class endeavOring to bet
ter their condition. 1t shows that such
g. man never can become millionaire
and that his only hope is in allying
himself with the workingmen.
Play Misunderstood
preachers have made of The Ser
want in the House a reincarnatiOn of
Christ. Charles Ram Kennedy had no
such idea. He is more interested in the
bodies than in the souls of men. 1t is
despised by the others, who repairs the
foul drains and saves the lives of those
in the house. The Workingman is will
ing to risk his life for others. Why
does he not risk his life for himself?
In Germany, Sudermann has at
tackled more than one OutgrOwn inSti-
tuition, and has done it more effectively
than it could have done in any other
way. The hypocrisy of certain marital
relations, miiitarism and the shams of
society are all objects Of his attack.
When Hauptmann's Before Sunrise
was first produced in Germany the peo~
pie fought over it in the streets. 1t was
called pathological and unWholesome.
and at one performance a man rushed
to the stage brandishing a pair of for
ceps. declaring that the modern drama
brought the hospital and the dissecting
room to the theater. This man, hap
PLY, is forgotten, and Hauptmanns
drama still lives. ~
lbsen Leader
'IbSen has exercised a tremendous
influence in the dissemination of radical
ideas. Can you see The Enemy of the
People and not realize that individual
ity is the big thing? Can you see The
Pillars of Society and not beNmoved by
it's powerful attack on sham and
hypocrisy?
Bernard Shaw in Major Barbara
shows the crime of poverty. 1 agree
with Benjamin Tucker that If you
could abolish charity for twenty-four
hours you would have a social revolu-
ton The Salvation army is an or
ganization for encouraging people to
live in poverty.
"All these plays show the tremendous
influence which the drama has had in
stimulating and strengthening radical
impulses in society. 1t has given an
exposition of these lessons as no other
means Of expression possibly could have
DONE"