New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-13
The Theatre Now Listens to the u
Voice of the Children


nie), but when the curtain rises on the
wicked queen and the noble young prince
and the lovely Princess Snow White, who
is as BLACK as ebony, as red as blood
and as white as snow" Just as the book
says. why, then the years fade away and
Aunt Ethel thrills as rapturously as the
younEster by her side. Can any one ever
grow too old to enjoy these wicked, wick
ed, beautiful stepmothers Of the fairy
tales, and the delicious curses and charms
with which all satisfactory witches are
summoned. amid groans and thunder
ings. from the neither world. or the clouds
or wherever IL is that all satisfactory
witches live?
"Of course, II Is primarily play for
children, but / think grown-ups will en-
10Y II, TOO, don't your" Mr. Ames asks
Then he adds. happily: I'm certain the
grown-ups who are children at heart
will" ....s ...'..-.. .'".
lie seems very proud Of his little fairy
play, does Mr.. Ames. and he is taking
Just as much pains with the reading OF
the fond. foolish old lines land some fond
foolish new ones) as II II were the very
latest tnlnB IN problem pays
You see. II has never been done be-
fore. except by amateurs in church fairs"
he explains; yet am convinced that
there is dramatic value in these old
stories. else why should they have lived
80 long? / am spartng no effort TO make
this success 90 show people what can
really be done with these children's plays
I'm taking them just as they are. how
ever. There is no reading into them or
morals or allegorics. They have nothing
in common with the Blue Bird kind OF
thing. They are just simple stories 10 de-
light little children and grown-up chill
dren."
Yet educators are already reading into
Mr.. Ames's production meaning beyond
that OF the mere perfect staging OF q
fairy story.
This has been called the children's
age" they say, "apd now even the thea
tire has been obliged 10 listen TO the voice
OF the children. Children's books we have
had, childrens pictures. children's laws,
children's streets and public Fairgrounds.
even a chiidren's bureau OF the federal
government, and now the children's thea
tire. Why not. II the theatre is the crown
ing symbol Of a civilization? Other civil
izatlons than ours the Greek, the no
man, the Elizabethan, have had their
theatre, but not the interest In child lie
that we have, and their theatres have re-
fected the lack OF that interest. There Is
only one child In Shakespeare.
More and more is It being recognized.
too, that II this Is the age OF the children
II is not the age OF the home. Society
takes so much care Of the little ones
that II IL robbing the old-fashioned father
and mother Of their chief joy-or respon-
sibillty-it was either, according to tenn
perament The mother who loved to tell
tho old fairy stories TO her little ones
as they gathered round her chair in the
freight, who was their inspiration and
their coach" when they wished 10 dram
atlze Snow White" on rainy days In
the attic. hos given place to-day to the
amateur children's plays at the settle
ment houses and the professionals at The
Little Theatre. There is no place for a
mother I'm the complicated society OF to-
day, which nils child's time with
school with free luncheons at noon, with
games and folk dancing in the public
playground after school. and moving pct-
ures in the evening What mother can
compete with the moving picture men?
Certainly not the mothers Of to-day.
weary when night comes after day OF
clubs and bridge, or Office and factory.
The child OF to-day finds his entertain
ment outside the home. II he is poor he
goes to the movies" The rich child is
not 80 we'll provided with amusement.
Much Of the time he is bored. He may
60 TO the theatre, where he sees a little
that amuses him and much that isn't
good for him. And there YOU are!'
The Little Theatre as an experiment In
sociology will be watched with the great
est interest by parents, jealous or re-
lieved, by educators and by reformers
II It succeeds In providing children with
happy. innocent afternoons. II will accom-
plish a miracle. IL It moulds their taste
In matters artistic and dramatic, so that
when they grow up they won't Judge all
plays by standards OF church fairs; II.
In fact, II trains up an intelligent, appre-
ciative theatre going public. then there
will be hope for the American theatre.
But that Is going far aheld. Meantime.
Princess Snow White Is fair to see. and
the cats do meow most delightfully."-.