The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-25
APPO|NTED
. OF BRITISH DRAMA
Charles H. Brookfcld, Gifted
Young Playwright, Gets
Post.
CRITICISM LEvELED AT HIM
Vigorous Attack on Present
System Made by George
Bernard Shaw.
CRITICISM LEvELED AT HIM
ny ED. l.. KEEN.

Especial Gable TO The Times ID ispatch }
London. February 2i.-"Dear Old
Charley's" chicken has come home 10
roost' greatly to tho embarrassment of
lis former owner. AS Il is a very
naughty fowl-for which perhaps it is
not altogether to blame, being OF
French extract!on-it threatens to cor
rupt the whole barnyard.
When Charles II. Brookneld, the gift
ed young playwright. several years ago
rewrote ard adapted to III. English
stage one, or Labiche's most risuue
ftTces. he did not dream that one day
ne would become His 8iajesly's censor
OF the British drama. The play which
Brook!ield called Dear Old Charley
dealt with the ntrigues Charley
carried on with the wives OF the men
whom otherwise ne treated as his dear
est friends. II was ell Yery funny. but
was ABOUT az raw performance as
was ever seen in London. The critics
al the time couldn't asure how Il had
ever gotten past the authorities
NOW II has been revived, but not
ay Brookheld. on behalf of the play
Trights ana actors VINO lately have
Funered from the cenrorial activities OF
Dear Old Charley" as they ironica lly
called him, Charley Hawtrey. one of
Englaud's best character actors.
thought 1t would be a good scheme TO
put on an expurgated version OF the
farce. just as II vas played years ago.
OF course, this is not done in any
YenEefu! spirit They merely wanted
10 see how Brookdeld would take It,
The censorship is the Invest question
to-da: before the British public. not
oven excepting home rule or woman
fFaag
the English stage needs censorship.
and that 1t needs 1t badly: but there is
almost equal unanimIty of opinion
that the kind Of censorship exercised at
present Is as unfair as II is Inadequate.
Control OF the theatres liz In the
hands OF the Lord Chamberlain.
This post political appointment. al
though responsible only to the crown.
was held ~ Lord Spencer until a few
days ago. when he resigned oS,ensihly
because of Ill health bu; really because
OF the criticism leveled at him. He
and Brookneid were fellow students at
Cambridge. and were both members OF
the Cambridge Dramatic Club. The
critics OF the censorship are recalling
with some gusto the fact that both ap-
peared IL their student days in a not
sbly savory farce, entitled "a Tragedy
In Seven Diels." When Lord Spencer
appointed his old college chum. Brook
field. as Examiner OF Plays on the re-
cent vacancy in that office. folks Won
dered whether there was any special
Significance in the fact that in Dear
Old Charley" os the curtain falls on
the first act. the hero stands with
crossed arms grasping the hands of
his victims and sings. Should Aud
Acquaintance Be Forgot"
Notwithstanding the letter-day ed-
vance of liberal thought. in politics as
we'll as religion, the censor's policy
seems TO be dictated by conditions OBJ
tanning in the Middle Ages. Recently,
the English stage lost what critics be
l!eve to have been Israel ZangwIlrs
greatest work. The Next Religion
merely because the censor disagreed
with the unorthodox views expressed
By some OF the characters in the play.
although these are combated by other
characters. Meanwhile. the dances of
tho most sensuous sort by young wo-
men may be seen nightly In the music
halls.
Christopher 81. Johns play. The
Coronation" was refused q license on
the ground that 1t reelected upon the
dignity of the kinsly office. although
an undignihed king Is considered al
most necessary In any comic opera. At
the same time, permission was not re-
fused for the production OF The Man