Arizona republican., 1914-04-01
MUCH LABOR IN
 STAGING DRAMA
Members of Cast in "Secret Service' Rehearse by Night and Study During Days for Parts in Elks' Big Amateur Play

l Few realize the work that must be done, the time sacrificed and the eff fort spent in preparation for an anna /, teur play such as secret Service which is to be the annual offering ot l the Phoenix Elks' lodge on Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday, April H. 15 and 16.
 1 Committees take charge of the ad- veItising, publicity and the sale of the tickets, while others agree to dis I charge the many small details that must have attention. They receive their instructions from he executive committee and generally they do their work well.
 But the real labor, the body and l heartWearing work must be done by the members of the caste. Their nights belong to rehearsals, their days to the study of their parts and their dreams to nightmares. which are a paraphrase of their place in the play.
 For years, Maitland Davies has been directing amateurs in the per lection of their roles. It has been his | work to take the raw material and mold it into the art of the profes- sional Theatergoers in Phoenix know Davies well because of his r,iace on the Republican staff as dramatic critic, but few have had ar opportunity to know him well as director, except as to the results he has achieved.
 Davies is now giving the majol share of his time to the direction oi rehearsals for Secret Service," tho Phoenix Elks show to be played il April. During the sunlight hours he coaches the individuals, and during the evening he brings them together to harmonize what they have learned in the daytime.
 T have yet to find the producer ol director said Director Davies las night who has had the ability o , the temerity to give us a book O instructions for the training of anna | teurs. l venture to say that no tw' , directors in all this country woulo , take the same play and the sam people in the caste and train then , | anywhere near the same. Tt is a matter of studying eacl s 1 individual to learn his or her stron , Ioints. as well as to discover tn Y 1 Weaknesses. Two women or two me- | of equal ability might be tried fo l, tthe same art, and to get the bes out of either of them might, and yer , likely would, require entirely differen Q handling.
 Tn my experience, l have foun
 individuals, who were exceptional
 clever in character parts, but fail
 ure if called upon to assume rol h that left them with their lines alon ,t as their sole support. It is largely IT matter of temperament and ambition
 Tn this connection, I want to sa that the caste provided for me
 Secret Service the Elks show, V an exceptional one 1 cannot reca y that I have ever been furnished wit
 as good material and as willin
 workers.
 Without wishing to appear as flu
 some in my flattery I want to sta1
 right here that I have never been
 well pleased with the young ladit
 who have been assigned parts.
 find each of them with talent, ar
 with what is even better a desire
 do well. Sincerity is almost every
 thing in play of this kind.
 We are as yet in the early stag,
 of rehearsal, but I want to prom.
 the people of Phoenix that the Ell
 in this play will give Phoenix u
 best they have ever given, and
 realize that is saying a great deal