The Washington times., 1914-04-10
BY LAURA DANA MORGAN
a Just appreciation of goot

DJ Inv Nh Dh4Nh tuSNoNAvs
The Drama League of America was
formed with the object of support
ing good plays and creating a public
that would demand them. The thea
ter in this country Is for the most
part a commercial proposition. Man
ayers give the public what 1t
wants" and feel no further respon-
sibility. II is the public, then, which
is responsible for the kind of plays
which are produced. II stands to
reason that we shall not be given
good plays until We support and de-
mand them.
With this idea, the league. begin
ming with a group OF clubwognen in
Chicago. was Joined by associations
already organized for similar pur-
poses in other cities, so that in four
years 1t has grown to an organiza-
ton numbering more than $1,000 in
dividuals. Its membership extends
throughout the United States and
into Canada. Thirty-four cities have
organized centers, the principal ones
being Chicago. Boston, Philadelphia,
New York, Washington, Los Angeles,
order numbers 400 individual mem
bers, with as many more among af-
fliated clubs. Nor by numbers alone
can Its influence be reckoned. II
has enlisted the support. in the ca
paotty either of advisers or actual
leaders, Of some OF the foremost
scholars and experts in America
Such phenomenal growth is concIu-
sive evidence OF the very real need
and value of such a movement Al
ready its influence is felt by. those
connected with the stage profession
ally. Not only in Chicago, where the
local membership is $500. but even
in our own city, where the organiza-
zation is only In its second year.
managers have testified to increased
box office receipts attendant upon the
leagues support Of a play, and more
than once In the big cities has the
league been able to turn the tide in
favor of play whose fate hung in
the balance.
Has Double Purpose.
The two-fold purpose of the league
to create a permanent taste for
good drama and to obtain larger au-
diences for the best plays-is carried
out in various ways through differ
ent departments. The first and
quickest to show general results u
the playgoing committee.
The purpose OF the .playgoing
committee Is to assist the theater
public to choose its plays wisely.
Its duty in any center such as
Washington, to attend the first per-
formances of all plays new in local
theaters. and report in bulletin
which Is mailed to all members Of
the league in Washington and to
the headquarters of all the other
league centers In anticipation Of tho
plays appearance in those cities. II
is composed of men and women
with different points Of view, from
that OF the expert to that OF the
mere lover of a good play. In order
that they may view the play with an
unbiased mind they do not accept
passes to the theater, but pay for
their own seats, and they may be
found in all parts Of the house,
from the orchestra to the gallery.
in a constructive way, the COM
mittee issues no adverse bulletins,
plays not recommended being simply
ignored. Usually the accepted stand
ards are used as basis OF cTiti-
cism for determining what plays
are of sufficient artistic merit to
be bulletined. Mrs. A Starr Best,
Ine piCoANShsr
the idea thus:
From the very beginning the
league has aimed to avoid the stig-
ma of being 'high-brow; 1t does
not try to uplift the theater over the
audience. but merely to create a
nev audience-an actual ticket buy
ing audience-for good. clean, we'll
written drama. well produced It
does not demand thesis plays or
problem dramas, but is glad TO sup
port all forms of tragedy. comedy.
farce. even melodrama- SO long as
they are thoroughly good OF their
kind
Work Difficult Here.
In Washington the work OF the
playgoing committee is made din
cult bv the fact that in view OF
the weekly change of bill 1t must
always attend the plays on Monday
night in order that its bulletin may
he of value. This necessitates at
tendance upon two and sometines
three plays on the same night ahu
a consequent division OF forces out
at least five members must attend
each pIsv. Bulletins are received
nv members on Wednesday morn
ing. Since its organization IN oc-
tober, 1872. the Washington COM