The Washington times., 1914-05-21
By MRS. GLENNA SMITH TINNIN.

ally those who have labored hardest
for its success. there is no place
more unique, more fascinating. or
more lovable than the House. OF
Play in Washington
When the junior department OF
the Drama League decided upon the
building at 493 NJ street southwest
as the center Of its activities. the
place was without any equipment
suitable for the purposes Of drama
tic play and the junior department
was without a penny in its treasury.
But with faith in the support Of
the members Of the Drama League
and all friends Of little children In
Washington, It boldly engaged the
building and announced to the city
the new organization known as the
House of Play.
We often wonder IL the merchants
of Washington, who gave what
seemed at the time very little to
each of them, have realized that the
sum Of their giving justified our
faith and made the undertaking pos
sible, enabling US in q very short
time to make an attractive opening.
There was much which We still
needed, but We were, at least, on an
earning basis and could see our
way toward meeting the greater
demands of the place as 1t grew.
Now the House of Play has a spa
cious stage, a woodland setting of
real, though transportable pine and
cedar trees. yards Of painted cloth
for stones which make rocky hill
sides or mountain caves at will. a
cottage interior with a deep fire
place with logs and a black. swing
ing kettle, a wide expanse of blue
cheese cloth sky, before which gray
clouds have frolicked and swayed
and against which a gorgeous sun
has risen. while through the folds
have scampered tiny sunbeams,
glinting through the forests of Pine
and cedar or splashing on a make
believe pool edged with real ferns
and stones.
Thus any scene can be set up,
from a giants castle to the dingy
hole of an earthworm. Anything
suggested in the illimitable realm OF
fairy lore. the House Of Play can
reproduce for you. 1t was ell made
possible by the loving and skillful
handicraft Of a small group of young
women. Awake to the vision of the
House Of Play, goaded to depend
on their own resourcefu.nes5 be-
cause Of lack Of funds and with IL
all filed with love of little chill
dren so great that IL overwhelmed
all personal consideration, they have
ual labor and expense from their
own pockets made IL possible to
fulfill the purpose of the House of
Play.
From October to Christmas we
gave a new especially prepared play
every Saturday. Since Christmas ev-
cry Saturday afternoon period of
informal play Is offered. and Il pre-
pared play only every now and then.
The informal play Is the thing that
the children greet every week with
unfailing delight. A story " select
ed by the leader for the day. and
the various settings required by the
benches are moved back to manc
room for a miniature amphItheater
stage in the center Of the auditor
Sum.
This space is thus available for a
setting Of the story. as well as the
stage proper. II the story requires
three different scenes. or even more
Then there Is the preparing of the
costumes. with which plain every day
children are transformed into spirits
OF nature, clouds. winds. autumn
leaves, toads, owls, hamadryads.
shadows, witches, fairies. beautiful
mothers, beaded dwarfs. gallant
princes, and so on. In a single sea-
son we have run the gamut Of them
all.
There il no concealing of scenes
behind a stage curtain. When the
audience enters the room II enters
from the streets OF q familiar city
into q real and magic world Some
times they recognize II as a place
where through picture or story they
have been before.
But they must wait until the d.
rector calls all OF the audience OF
little children to the big rug to hear
how the story is to be made into
play. After the story comes the eX-
citing moment of assignment Of parts.