The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-02-05
STAMFORD

A fine audience listened last even at the library on Present Conditions and Tendencies of the Drama" He
 said there is a great deal Of talk against the present condition of the stage, but in all ages persons have al-
 ways spoken in that way In the per-
 iod of Shakespeare, when the high wa
 ter mark of all English literature was reached, Ben Johnson said the stage was dull, low and base. It was no bet ter in Sir Richard Steels time. One
 might think the people of those days
 were talking of David Belasco. The stage mas always needed reformlng; there has always been bad with the
 good. But Prof. Phelps was very op- tin1istic about the future of the Amer ican stage. He claimed that in the past 9 years there have been more good plays written than in any other p years since 1640. He quoted Bron- son Howard as saying that in all prob. ability the next great revival of liter ature will be in the theatre. The wa
 ters of the Nile are rising! America and England are immeaSurdbly behind France and Germany, where the thea tre goes hand in hand with the school as great educational force. He told Of the good plays he saw in Paris in
 
 in Berlin. The plays given in those capitals have an idea behind them. They make people think. In fact, the only place now where one can see all of Shalzespeares plays is in Germany.
 Many American plays smell of mortal ity. They fail to be intellectual. An analysis of the plays given in New
 York last night at the more than 40 theatres was given, and with few ex- captions they were regarded as of llt- tie account. Prof. Phelps spoke highly of the new theatre and did not find fault with it because it has been built and is supported by rich men. He did not stop to ask how these men made
 their money-enough for him that they endow colleges, build libraries, erect churches and support theatres. He thought poor men would not do this A sketch of the evolution of the drama in America since the Civil War was given. He said that a great many excellent American plays had been written and put on the stage. The practice of dramatising books, or nov e1s has stopped. He criticised the high prices asked for seats. And he thought it anliss that one play should run a year or two at one theatre ana then
 be taken all over the country by the same actors who always play the same parts. This gives no opportunity for development Altogether the lec-
 ture was very interesting and highly
 enjoyed. The lecture next Friday night will begin at 7:30 o'clock.
 Rev. E.. N. Packard will preach to- morrow morning at the Congregation al church, and in the evening there will
 be 8 union service, when Rev. George
 E.. Farrar will preach.
 MT. Samuel s. Cram licensed drug gist of long experience and a friend of the late MT. Wilson, will hereafter look after the compounding of pre- scriptions at the Wilson pharmacy, while MT. G. K. Wilson Jr., will attend l to the general business.
 MT. and Mrs. Paul Goodell arrived 1 in town Thursday afternoon from their wedding trip and proceeded to the
 home of Mrs. Wells
 1 A bundle whist contributed to the entertainment given by MT. and Mrs. William Mallory, at their residence on
 Broadbridge road a few nights ago. l Miss Mabel McQuillan has organiz- 1 ed a three table whist club. At the Bethany Mission, tomorrow
 afternoon Rev. William Lannin will be
 the preacher. l The Sturges cottage on South avenue ! has been purchased by Miss Beulah l Thompson.
 Milton S. Lacey of Southport, has been visiting in town.
 | Mrs. Roland Axtel is home from 1 visit to Danbury.
 Mr. and Mrs. W. Holmes of Shelton have made a brief visit in town. l After an absence of several months.
 during which he visited many places
 in Europe, MT. Peter Desch has return
 ed to his home on Cupboard Hill. He
 will soon start on tour of the South l ern States.
 MT. and Mrs. Fred Bilton left on
 Friday for a brief visit in Boston. | nIx
 cred his health as to be able to be out | once more.
 MT. and Mrs. D. Hazard have mov- l ed to Bridgeport.