The Washington times., 1913-03-22
OOKING not the least bit like the
popularly accepted idea Of an ac-

1
popularfy accepted idea Of an ac
Il tress. and clad In a most bust
nesslike skirt and shirtwaist
Grace Fflkins, the clever leading woman
OF The Love Leash company, which
/ Is to play that drama for the frst tim,
on any stage Monday night at the Co.
ltmbia Theater, paused long enough
from rehearsal yesterday to pass a few
remarks concerning the theater In gen.
eral. and young and aspiring writer.
for the stage in particular.
As SIZE sank into a chair in the car.
kened theater, she said: ct don't know
how much time shall have. for Mr.,
Teal may call me back at any moment
and there is no delay in answering Nr,
Teal's call. At rehearsal prima donna,
ingenue. and chorus girls arc all the
same to him. You know. they say he 1,
the best stage director In the country,
and 1 guess this must be correct, for
he got his training under Booth"
Ben Teal, the object Of her remark.
and admiration, was at that moment
standing half way back in the theater
telling young woman how to rise
gracefully from a char. mo, that isn't
quite right he said. softly. please
try It once more Take it slowly and
naturally, and turn as you rise. No.
You haven't quite got II yet. Excuse
me while / show you" With that Mr..
Teal sprang up the runway to the
stage sat down in the chair, and arose
from it with all the grace Of a grand
dame. You see." he exclaimed. as ne
sped back down the runway, that 8
all there is to it. Now, once more,
please"
Isn't he nice exclaimed Miss Fill
kins. at my side. But he can be a
perfect bear at times"
We discussed the stage in general
and finally brought up at the subject
of young playwrishts.
There are so many vital things in
life of absorbing character-dramas. in
themselves so rare, that the playwright
should be practically free to choose as
a foundation for his play such material
as suits his fancy without limitations
THE young playwright should not
take as the subject of his plot a story
of such improbability that even if the
audiences consisted of Munchausens
after witnessing the performance they
would leave the theater doubling
Thomasee." He should avoid subjects
based on scientific research. for the
reason that those interested in science
arc in the hopeless minority as theater-
goers. He should hesitate before writ
ing play based on religious contrc-
in rn ho
labor question should he considered
carefully before utilizing l. for dramatic
purposes.
There are two sides to every argu-
ment and two parties to every cause.
and 1t behooves the playwright to
neither espouse the one nor oppose the
other. Seek out such themes are are
of interest to the mass. The plaJ
that CONVEYS a message should be a
general one To endure, II must have a
wide scope and encompass such things
as arouse responsive chord in the
yreat army that finds its expression in
the theater.
above all things, the young play
wright should not attempt to educate
the public. 1t doesn't want to be in
structed. If 1t does. il wants Its edu-
,ational pill cleverly sugar-coated with
The primary object OF
a man in attending the theater is t.
sock out amusement. not instruction.
He dos not care to listen TO IOngwind-
cd arguments on questions in which his
interest Is possibly only passing one.
..'Thc most successful plays are those
dealing with what might be called the
, omron run Of life. things which one
500 them on the stag, displaying as
they do the mirrored reflection in our
own lives. our connection with the play
is so indissolubiy linked that our words
Of approval are heard by the public,
and they immediately flock to tis' the
alter and the play Is stamped a success.
ANOTHER theme capable Of gross mis-
treatment, Is the question OF sex rela-