The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-10-08

Every on who is interested in the reli-
sious drama Gn England, will repoice
at the removal Of an old restriction re-
suIting in the production Of Joseph" in
London recently. 1t is more natural
that an EnGlishman. who is writing a
poetic drama. should turn to the Old
| Testament for his material than to the
| legends OF Greece and Rome or the
Goths or Norsemen. II helps him to
count upon his audience when it has
an outline Of the events with which he
! is dealing in their minds, and it helps
! him more stiIl when religious ideas are
already interviewer in the frabric that
! he handles.
! 4 dramatist may freely weave into a
historic play matter OF his own inven-
/ ton. He may take liberties with re-
corded facts. Such license will be con-
coded to one who handles a theme from
: the sacred books. Questions that have
no real Importance may be raised and
discussed, such criticisms seem inept. but
a dramatist handling these subjects
often will be hard put TO decide whether
some variation from the Bible story. or
choice between varying versions in
the Book itself may not establish a
frame Of mind in his audiences hostile
to the purpose he has in view.
I have no doubt that the opening of
the Old Testament as a mine in which
poets may seek their material for the
stage. will enrich the drama. The 81
Of DAVID and "'Iole' were founded on
Old Testament stories. But so far as
the religious drama is concerned. Eng
land still is fettered by restrictions that
seem intOlerable to the modern mind.
After all the Christian religion is one
OF the New Testament, and why should
play be prohibited, II it deals with
the essentials Of the Christian story or
if it represents any character from the
New Testament? In a ballet a bleeding
head Of John the Baptist may be looked
upon with impunity, or in play
such as QUO Nadis?" characters may
be drawn freely from the New Tesla
menL But drama is forbidden in Eng
Land. Where is the reason for such pro-
hibition?
Within the month the licenser of plays
wrote from the Lord Chamberlain's Of
flee that he cannot grant a license for
a play dealing intimately with the New
Testament story having special regard
to the characters it introduces
The play in question was THE Soul
Of the World" The characters are Mary
the Virgin. Mary Magdalene, Simeon.
Elizabeth, the shepherds, and the kings,
Lazarus Nicodemus the Woman of Sa-
maria, the Rich Young Man, and others
Perhaps Mr.. HOusmans exquisite Beth
lehem' would still be barred in Britain
for the same reason: so would another
play of his. Nazareth" because It pre-
sents the youth, Christ, in the carpen-
ter's shop.
Heretofore in England no religious
drama could be presented at all. Now, !
since Sir Herbert Tree has broken the !
Ice, they may produce a religious play, |
provided it is not about the Christian |
religion, and to see Christ and the great |
Passion Play Englishmen have to Jour- |
ney to Oberamergau, in the Bavarian |
Alps. /
Can Britain have a distinctly religious |
drama? There is little encouragement |
The play which the censor recently re-
fused passed the scrutiny OF an arch
bishop, of six bishops, a dean, an arch
deacon. and a judge of the high court, |
who constituted its patrons
Morality Play Society has been asked
TO put on this play. but the
thing is impossible, because the law for
bids, and the University of London, in
whose hall il was privately produced,
has been threatened not to repeat the
''offense." Is 1t really necessary In the
interest Of religion to prohibit such
plays?
In the last resort IL all comes TO a
question of freedom. Unlicensed preach
ing was for a long time prohibited in
England, and the prohibition was JUS
tilted by the argument that ignorant,
wicked or incompetent persons would de-
H. Ill
justifies that attitude nowadays? Yet il
Is only upon some such grounds that
the prohibition of Scripture plays can be
Whether the censor allows
t or not, whether the playwright chooses
Or not, the drama will always preach
good or ill., Why limit its power TO
preach the Christian ideal?
The Dublin of a hundred years ago
owed riot and was ready to see occa-
sion for one in the slightest affront.