The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-05
A PLAYHOUSE FOR
ALL OF THE PEOPLE
Northampton Expects, Great Things
of Municipal Theater.
BY FRANCES sHAFFER.


! 1t has taken the city OF Northampton.
Mass, twenty years TO realize what a
fortunate municipality It is.
Just that number OF years ago. through
the munificence Of a public spirited cItl-
Zen. II became the owner OF a theater,
| the only city in this country which en-
joys that distinction and the opportunI-
ties 1t gives. Apparently lit did not
greatly appreciate Il then, for the con-
tract 10 run II passed into other hands,
and the. city had nothing to say about
4 plays or players.
| But, now. the city's eyes are open, wide
open. and II realizes that In this play
house, prettily set in a park of its own,
It has an asset that can be made to
yield wonderful results.
setting House I'm Order.
So its citizens have seriously gone
about the work OF setting their playhouse
In order First OF all they. decided that
they wanted a company OF their own
made up OF clever actor-folk with whom
they might cooperate in the interest OF
wholesome recreation at moderate cost.
And before they found out what they
really wanted in the way OF entertain
ment, practically every shade OF opinion
was brought forward. from the Puritan
probably would be right here II We had
municipal theater and stock COM
| pany all our own. Some wanted the
drama TO stand as a great public edu-
Gator, teacher OF morals, nothing more,
hut the great majority. when they
thought OF recreation and their play
| house, asked for the things that would
bring sometimes a smile. sometimes
tear. And the majority won, for the
lima
10 feel the pulse of Northampton the
ater-going folk and give them what they
want.
II will be rather interesting to out
siders TO watch the experiment and ito
learn just what II is that the public
will continue to want, because there is a
well-defined notion that IL the public
had chance to pick and chose. in all
our cities. great and small. the modern
drama would be characterized by quite
a different tone.
There IN Northampton they have the
college type to please. the factory folk,
the educated and the uneducated, and
they are going to try to- reach them all.
They have promised four productions that
will he helpful to the college students.
and they expect to do as much for the
other schools. Then they have requested
every inha bitant to send in suggestions
and to indicate the kind OF play they
prefer. And right merry time they will
have getting at the public pulse
No Money Distinctions.
One interesting feature Of this munich
pal playhouse is the fact that there arc
no striking money distinctions no differ
ence in the degree of comfort in the
seats, or anything else except the dis
lance from the stage. The prices all
hinge upon that one point. so there is
not the marked suggestion of sheep and
goats that sometimes prevails. For, you
see. this is a playhouse for the people.
The prices will begin at the modest
figure OF 3 cents. and stop at the COM
Portable point OF IS. never anything more
than that, no matter what the play.
1t took Northampton folk some time !
to realize what a really fine thing they |
have in this theater and the power to |
say what shall be on its boards, but now |
that they are awake they are trying TO |
arouse a fine spirit of cooperation.
The Citys stock company presented |
old Heidelberg" for the first per- |
Torrance. and the girls from Amherst |
College invaded the woods and brought !
back great punches and branches OF |
autumn leaves to make a bower for |
the orchestra. And the boys in nearby |
academies. not to be outdone. sent mem
bers from their glee clubs to serve as
the corps student in the play.
Those most interested in the project |
ere thinking Of the Manchester theater
in England and all that great playhouse /
means TO its people. and they are prom
Using themselves great things and great /
times in the future.
The fact is, while it does not so much |
matter for folk who can go where they
like, pay what they like, and see what |
they like. it is a right fine thing for
ordinary citizens to enjoy the Benefit of
u Playhouse where they can he sure Of
= varied range of recreation at a price
which is not prOhibitive.
For most of men and women dearly
love the reiexation that comes with a bit
OF wholesome drama