Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-19
THEATRICAL PLANS
UNAFFECTED BY THE
EUROPEAN WAR
Audiences, Hopefully In
creasing, Indicate Passing
Of Depression of
Coming Amusements.

Laughter and tears, joy and grlcf-of
,bsse are the vital hours Of life. Work.
,dsy human existence too often runs
along with humdrum monotony, with no
relief of keen laughter or weeping; for
trrly supreme joys and tragedies are
rare in the span of the individual life.
therefore, it is well the humdu1n, the
regular rythm, should be broken, if vica-
riously, by partaiing in the mimic play
ne the eternal comedy in all its phases
. on the stage.
Drama and romance are perpetual ~
their appeal to the heart of man and
woman, for they arc verify the leaven-
inr elements of our often drab and dreary
lays. Read novels, go to see plays
you will live all the more kcenly, work the
more efficiently, think the more clear
~. Get away from the everyday rise
fron the rut of mechanical working and
eatlna and thinking and be refreshed with
the rnerrIment or sadness of the novel
and the play. From Shakespeare to Gus
Thomas. Sophocles to Bernard Shaw, Ar
istophanes to George NJ. Cohan humanity
has laughed and wept, and escaped the
tedium of life's routine, through the MINI
cry of the mime. If your life is joy
Gus, it is we'll to enter into the temper
ing stimulation of human sorrow; IL in
trouble. II worried BY your own diff
culties, you can further study tho prob
lens of social life, domestic life and
business life OH the stage: If you are IN
sorrow you can then submergc your dis
appointments and losses in mellowing
mirth.
Philadelphia has always been pre-emi-
nently amusement-loving and, with New
York. enjoys the highest class dramas
and most elaborate musical comedies
During the summer, and for the past
weeks the audiences at the theatres here
have certainly not been what the box
Offices might desire nor. indeed what
a sane, well-regulated life. on part
of the people. should inspire. viii the
war continue to affect the drama? VIII |
1t keep people from the theatre?
OPINIONS OF PRODUCERS.
"During the Civil War" said John |
Mason the other day. "the theatres were
crowded. People wanted to forget their |
sorrows and the horrors of war. believe |
that, presently, when the first shock Of ,
the European catastrophe is over, the !
theatres will fll.''
This is she hopeful opinion of manage
who, despite the temporary depression in |
business, are steadily booking notable at
tlantionS for the local theatres.
"We believe the present season will he |
one Of the greatest in the history of the |
theatre declared George NJ. Cohan. 1--WE |
are going ahead with all of our plans /
which include many new productions. In
fact We arc conducting our business as if
no war existed. Reaction from depress-
ing war news will bring the public into
the playhouses in greater numbers than
cyer.'
II is significant to note that during
the month of August ten new plays
We're produced in New York. equaling
last years record OF the ten. but three
have failed. Twenty plays were produc-
ed or revived in Manhattan during Sep
tember, 1919. For September, 1914. four
teen New York productions have already
been announced. and 1t is said that by
October last years record will have been
broken.
As an Indication of the passing OF the
war depression. the size of audiences ut
the theatres here slightly. but sgnih-
eantly, increased during the past week.
and it IL evident that Philadelphians, in
stead of brooding upon the cabled hor-
lors and the wars effect upon business,
VIII wisely brighten and seek a desired
and wholesome diversion In tho coming
plays one may "be good at a fight" or
be carried away by the horrifying con-
temptation of n Continental cataclysm,
but after all, as Tom Moore said. its
better ut a play"