New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-10

Then he began another rambling struct-
ure with artistic touches.
This takes construction and more SKILL
time and trouble" he observed decisiv2y'
as he finished the second sketch with
few quick strokes. ''The first is mercy
an outline not a completed work. NOW
can make a so-called well constructed
play with any one, but, knowing how 10
do it, like to hide construction and work
out my own ideas"
+ .Then 1t becomes advanced drama,
doesn't IT." / questioned innocently ana
eagerly.
Mr.. Barker smiled and frowned stimuli
taneously. That is, he smiled at me ana
frowned at the term advanced"
TTs ABSURD" SAYS BARKER.
advanced dramaT he repeated de-
risively. Il don't know what people mean
nv that. How can drama be advanced,
and why should my drama be labelled
advanced? It's absurd. Anything can
be written for the theatre. I'm in favor
Of all sorts and kinds of drama. But why
should one kind crowd out anotherT
you really think, then, that everything
can be written for the theatre, and that
all the horrible things Of life can be ex-
posed on the stage, as in that Nights
Lodging play of Maxim Gorky's. for in
stance?
II do, indeed" maintained the producer.
Lets have all problems to deal with,
but don't let's call II advanced drama
After all, when it comes to that Shake
speare himself was what you would term
an advanced dramatist' on occasions.
Oh, it's all nonsenser' and he shrugged
his shoulders impatiently. I hate label
ling things. You don't want Blue Book
Of the stage. It's all a question Of genius
and temperament"
What about your London audiences
are they prepared to receive all kinds OF
drama?"
"Oh. audiences are prepared for all
things. They're a shifting quantity"
Mr.. FRoHMAN's VENTURE.
"Why wasn't Mr.. Frohman's Repertory
Theatre a success then? He gave London
audiences many and various kinds OF
plays?"
.Jt was successful, really" asserted
Mr. Parker. THE public did want IT, but
YOU see II cost such an enormous
amount to run 1t, and. as I said, in Eng
land Il takes long time to establish
things: but II certainly was successful
1 didn't contradict him, of course, but
I fancy Mr. Frohman might have had
10 in regard 10 TINS.
However. Pm far too much of an ideahst
myself to limit other peoples leaps INTO
space; so l just looked as convinced as
possible.
You were one Of the founders OF the
Stage Society, weren't your" 1 asked.
II was on one of the first committees,
I'm glad to say, and 1 am sorry that
my present work leaves me too little time
for active interest in 1t now. It's an
excellent organizations, and through It's
efforts its members have been able to
see many plays they could not have wit
messed otherwise"
why not?'
Because OF the censor. You see the
Stage Society, by being sort Of club. es-
capes his jurisdiction"
"Of course; I'm always, forgetting that
censor and then running up against
him." I grosned
II believe you're going to have stage
society in New York soon, aren't your
he asked interestedly.
1--WE heard So" I answered diplomat
ically, but l didn't commit myself further,
for, though I've heard it mentioned many
times we never seem to get on with It,
whats your opinion of the censor as