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-Forecast of
Coming AmuSements,

laughter and tears, joy and grief-of
these are the vital hours of life. Work.
.dav human existence too often runs
along with humdrum monotony, with no
relief of keen laughter or weeping; for
truly supreme Joys and tragedies are
rare IN the span of the individual life.
Thereforc, It Is well tho humdum, tho
regular rythm, should be broken, II vica-
rIo,isly. by partalflng in the mimic play
of the eternal comedy in all its phases
on the stage.
Drama and romance are perpetual In
thejr appeal to the heart of man and
woman, for they are verify the leaven-
inc elements of our often drab and dreary
davs. Read novels, go to see plays
YOU will live all the more koenly, work the
uore efficiently, think the more clear
To Get away from the everyday; rise
from the rut of mechanical working and
eating and thinking and be refreshed with
the tnerriment or sadness of the novel
ard the play From Shakespeare to Gus
Thomas Sophocles to Bernard Shaw, Ar
;stonhanes to George NJ Cohan, humanity
has laughed and wept, and escaped the
tedium of lfe's routine. through the MINI
icry of the mime. If your life Is JOY
o,,s II IS we'll to enter into the temper
Inc stimulation of human sorrow; If In
trouble If worried by your own diff
c,Ities. YOU can further study the prob
lens of social life, domestic life and
business life on the stage; If you are IN
sorrow. you can then submerge your dis
appointments and losses in me!lowing
mlrth. .,
philadelphia has always been pre-eml-
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
It keep people from the theatre?
OPINIONS OF PRODUCERS.
"Durlng 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 FILL"
This is the hopeful opinion of managers
who. despite the temporary depression in
business, are steadily booking notable at
fractions for the local theatres.
ave 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 are 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
ever"
1t Is significant to note that during
the month of August ten new plays
were produced in New York, cqualing
last years record. OF the ten, but three
have failed. Twenty plays were produc-
ed or revived in Manhattan during Sep
tember. 1918. For September. 1914, four
teen New York productions have already
been announced, and IL 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 at
the theatres here slightly. but slEnifi-
cantly, increased during the past week,
and 1t Is evident that Philadelphians, in
stead of broOdlng upon the cabled hor-
rors and the wars effect upon business,
Will wisely brighten and seek desired
and wholesome diversion in the coming
plays One may "be good at fight" or
ba carried away by the horrifying con-
temptation of a Continental cataclysm,
but after all, as Tom Moore said, "'tis
peter nt play"