Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-26
SHALL LAUGHTER
SUPERSEDE WEEPING
IN THE DRAMA? L?
FewT ragic Plays in Season s
Output Indicate Growing
Popularity of Lighter
AmusementS.

OF ten new plays produced in New York
during the month OF August the majority
were light, some evanescently light. in
their Calibre of entertainment. This is
true also of the plays staged during Sep
tember, as well as those promised later
In the season. Where farce comedy does
not prevail, the action hinges generally
on sensational situations. tho characters
including an array of politicians. grafters
and policemen and the scenes being laid
in Brooklyn flats, where neglected wives
bicker with tipping stepmothers, court
rooms and localities of such topical ap-
peal.
What has become of the old-fashioned
serious drama wherein the stage is shak-
en- by the tumultuous soul upheavals o:
the great emotional artistic. and the set
tings trembled in the gusts of passion
emanating from the agitated bosom of the
stark-faced tragedan! Who does not
remember the Joy we had In sharing in
Miss Olga Nethcrsoie's elephantine dis
tresses. But alas Camille dies no more,
sappho weeps no salty tears, nor are we
pleasurably narrowed by the turbulenCes
of another Mrs Tanqueray.
"A few years ago we heard more or
less of Ibsen, Strindherg. Hauptmann and
Maeterlnck in our piayhouses," says the
Dramatic Mirror. commenting on the
lack of solid drama. Madame Simone
came over and produced a play of Ros-
tand. Mr. Frohman put on 'Chantocler'
Mr.. GLAND tried out Strindherg's Father
Forbes Robertson. Mr.. Faversham and
others were playing in dramas of Shake
speare
The popularity of plays dealing with
criminals and Erafters, court scenes and
police functionaries, and. next to these.
plays with a strong far.ica. tendency. is
not highly promising FOR the serious
drama.
Miss Margaret Anglln may-and So
may Mr.. Hackett-produce a Shake
spearean play; but with these exceptions
We fail TO descry anything like solid 1T
erary phenomena on the theatrical hori-
zon."
II is true The Revolt" which will con-
tinue here next week, deals seriously with
the problem Of a husbands neglect OF
his wife, but II Is leavened with an admN-
ture of laugh-provoking humor OF the
new attractions 10 open next week, "Pi-
lates Daughter is the only serious PLAY.
and that is religious. Margaret Anglin,
finding Shakespeare financially unproht-
able. will appear in WNde's amusing sa-
tire, Lady Windermere's Fan" at the
Broad. Nearly Married" with Bruce
McRae, deals farClCally with marriage
and divorce, Montgomery and Stone, in
their fantasy, "Chin chin" will be fol-
lowed by other mentally titillatng musi-
cal amusements-amOng them The Pass
ing Show OF 1919 and The Whirl Of the
World" Even Mrs. Fiske, famous creator
of Ibsen types, will appear in a new COM
edy-"Lady Betty Martingale, or The Ad-
ventures OF a Lively Hussy' by John
Luther Long and Frank Stayton.
While there will be serious dramas and
solemn dramas. there is no prospect of
another East Lynne"-that most effective
producer Of Copious tears-nOr Of any
thing with the tragic qualities Of There's
Racquin." Is the drama Of loud sounding
sobh!ng, logUacious dyings and shrek
ing hesrtbreaks passins' Do We tend to-
ward an era Of emotional levty and
laughter in our entertainments? What
ever the future development OF plays will
be. there will be some, Of course, who
will maintain that weeping Is more salu-
tary than laughter; others again, that
laughter is more seriously beneficial than
soul-raCking grief