Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-09-11
The Th
and
The People

Asst spring Mr. Charles FrohTan
IT said much about the establish
ment % theater on the East
Side IN New York where he
IlH5fI would present his players in the
81 plays that had succeeded on
upper Broadway, and al prices that would
permit any OF the poorer people to attend.
Mr. Frohman's project has not as yet taken
on definite form. bit the New thester
directors have anticipated his action and
announce that al certain performance
each wees the seats in the fine New thea er
will be placed on sale at 10 cents. In these
performances the best PLAYS by the hest
actors OF the company viii be presented.
with all the attention to detail OF scenery
and stage management thar marks fiie pro
ductions a hen fun price is being exacted.
il Is admittedly impossible FOR the theater
10 hold enough people az 20 cents each. 10
make TIE venture a paying one. 30 that It
can be accounted for only on the ground
OF pure philanthropy. In the guriieus OF
the East side are TO he found the mosi
ardent admirers OF The drama. and by that
same token iis most loyal patrons. The
theaters there established are always
crowded because the people seek in them
the amusement they most appreciate. II T.
part OF their tradition. and In fact Is part
and parcel u the stage itself
Just where The Grst effort 10 incuicate
a lesson through symbolism vas made viii
never, perhaps. be determined. and yet ii
IL certain beyond question that this means
OF impariing instruction has been known
for many ages a Is fundamental OF tho
early religions OF mankind. and Is sun
potent factor In The ceremonials OF todsy;
non do the teachers Of religion alone resopt
to ii. but in every possible way II is made
effective in the establishment Of abstruse
moral or ethical teachings With this
phase OF the theRters usefulness estab-
lished beyond question, the next point is
how TO reach the people who are 10 be
most directly benefited by its minlstrations
An unfortunate condition has sprung up,
especially in America. through operation OF
which those who most need and most req
on the theater are denied access 10 its
higher and better manifestations. The
pertinent OF q state thoater has been
avoided generally in this country, and be
cause OF this fact the better elements OF
the stage are under control Of and exploited
for the profit OF private pockets rather
than the general good. Nor is u especially
desirable that this condition should be
changed. Many excellent arguments have
been presented in favor OF the establish
ment and maintenance OF a theater al the
expense Of the state. which would in some
measure solve certain problems which have
pressed for recognition. but none Of which
have 10 do directly with bringing the best
OF modern thought as expressed in the arr
Of the actor within the reach Of those who
cannot afford 10 pay fancy prices for ad-
mlttAnce 20 the theater. And yet not only
is Il desirable. but actually necessary, TO
reach these people. They most readily re-
that are fought through symbolism. and
for this. II for no other reason. they should
be given the very highest and modest Of
dramatic production in order that they VIA
receive the most good possible from The
teaching,
To bring 'his about is the purpose Of the
suggestion OF Mr.. Frohman and the action
OF The New thester management. II these
agencies can be directed 50 as 20 reach
the dvniEens OF the tenement district in
New York they viii be fulfilling better
lhsh ever their destiny by making ID OF
real service 10 the public sood. IL is con-
ceivahle that through this means 4 better
notion OF some Of the forms % American
life and manners may be given 20 the
foIeign-bon citizen. whose ideas Of our
social existence are necessarily formed on
the lines OF his daily life, and which thereby
becomes warped in greater or less decree
Social settlement workers among these peo-
pie have found them eagerly keen TO CRASH
the idea Of American life tn ali It's bear-
inEs, and especially are thoy quick at seiz-
ing on such Of esihetic forms as come
within tleir grasp. one Of the features
OF experience among them that has aston
ished inqniners not familiar with conditions
Il the fact that the better grade Of books
and PLAYS are more sought aftsr by the
foreigners in PROPORTION 0lan by the native
born. even among these who are more Gem
fortahly situated. Where such SOIL a. thss
awaits the seed Il should be soun. ana no
way more convenient Tor use nor more
certain % result than the stage II il be