The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-10-19
Voice Of the F eople
our ow, Company I, Good Playa

Oar Own Company In Good PIoys.
To the Editor of The Times-Dsspatch:
sir.-The city Of Richmond 10 big
enough to support permanent set OF
stock actors. Other cities Of these
United States have permanent stock
companies, and Richmond Is large
enough to do the same.
Last Sundays magazine section OK
the New York Times tells OF an ex-
pertinent In Northampton. Mass. along
this line. II a small city In New
England can attempt to support a high
class stock company, the capital OF
virginia should be able to carry
through the project successfully. es-
pecialIy since Kicamond contains sew
eral times the number Of inhabitants
Of Northampton.
The Massachusetts city possesses a
municipal theatre. II was presented
to the community by q publtc-spiriteo
citizen But, II will not be necessary
for Richmond to own theatre In
order TO establish a permanent stock
company here. The Academy OF Music
Ia dark a great part of the season. and
the Citizens Association. who are 10
make q permanent stock possible
should easily secure sat1sfactosy terms
from the management.
Miss Jessie Bonsveile. ono OF the
directors Of the Northampton project.
says:
NJ audiences to please-the old In
habitants. the factory hands. and the
college people. AZ drst everybody
feared we were going to become an
academic institution, but We have
higher purpose. We are the people
playera and this Is the peoples play
house.
. For q while now we are holding
their pulse, trying to ascertain 70
what kind Of plays the public heart
reacts the quickest We began with
Old Heidelberg Q romance; next
week We will produce n Womans
way which - pure COMEDY. Inat
we Will follow With me!odrama OK the
best sort, Deep Purple and 50 on
through the various types OK plays.
We are going to bring some Shake
.,s.re ana. perhaps. q Goldsmith or
. sheridan comedy. and we have
agreed to give four productions during
the year Of plays which the college
nav suggest - being helpful to the
~,ris in their studies. We hope 70 do
the sawo for the scAools. and We
haze reouesscd every tnha0ttant In the
tom 10 send In suggestions and re-
su~sss for plays. We are making ar
r~n~emenfs with authors TO try out
pIays for them here. and. whenever u
is feasible. We are going 90 invtse
other companies to play in our theatre
vhiie we rest OF visit neiSh5orins
ct,.es. The scale Of prices VIII AZ
vays BE- the same, and the bali VIA
be changed each week"
rrom shs SOrsg0inG, Richmonders
must see THAI Hosshs@7tou has . COM
prehcpsive scheme. On the same prin-
eiole here, the WoDsos College euo
o.her ~HuossSonsl institutions would
b~ceme Interested The Smith College
esculsy heartily supports the Nassa-
ehuseses yAea- President Burton. the
head Of the Northampton institution
for earls, Wss asked whether he ose
not tear the theatre would a3ord TOO
much diversion for the s;sdents. ana
Iaughinsly repised:
.CeulA sayshing % that! IL -
Aoo.v prOvs6e the diversion thsy W1T
- n SSsooslves, you know. ! tasea
we have here the bsEinaing - some
thing witch may hold the same piece
a she Manchester Theatre in Enesann
ana the srish players In their country
w. have al the good ecGsaasase were
ara Az re ned - the co-0uerssbss o.
eVprySoay, ~ nsseer wbes ~ - -,
| Ws1S d NE way De- - eeserssese
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