The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-04-18
WHITE LIST" OF
PLAYS ISSUED
Long List Of Plays Listed by Catho.
lie Theater Organization
White List" Includes Such Plays
as all Members of Family
Can Attend
Successful Work of Movement--It
Has Done Much to Purify
Stage

The Easter Bulletin Of the Catholic
Theatre. Movement enumerates the
plays which, up to the present, have
been placed on the white List" The
conditions that entitle play to this
distinction are:
With regard to moral. it must not
occupy debatable ground.
There should be a general agree.
ment that play is clean and whole
some.
The appeal should be simple and
universal.
The play should be fit for theatre
goers of all ages, and suited to varied
tastes.
The conditions, says the Bulletin,
could be summed up in one sentence:
A play to be put on the white List"
should be one that every member of
a Catholic family, young and old,
could safely attend. Surely, what.
ever difference of opinion may exist.
even among Catholics, on the general
subject of the drama, there can be
no question on the need and useful
ness of white List"
II, then, the conditions as stated
here are clearly understood, and the
purpose of the white List" borne in
mind, the conclusion need not be
drawn that all plays absent from the
list, and which do not come under it's
conditions, are, therefore, without ex-
ception, to be condemned. Those of
mature judgment and experience must
determine, as question Of personal
responsibility and conscience, their
individual attitude towards plays
which, whatever the real or avowed
purpose, would be manifestly out of
place on list intended for young and
old, for people Of all grades of intelli-
gence and education. 1t is only too
true that there are hideous social
sores, unutterable depths of sin and
degradation, the existence of which
cannot be ignored. Whether the stage
is the place to deal with these awful
problems of life is in itself problem
to be solved. But every thoughtful
man and woman must deplore the I'M
told evil wrought by the dilettante
and the seeker after sensation who,
in alliance with speculative managers,
do not hesitate, under one pretext or
another, to force upon our young men
and women premature knowledge of
and familiarity with the most hideous
phases of human degradation.
Further Considerations.
There are some further considera-
lions with regard to the white List"
which need to be placed before the
members Of the Catholic Theatre
movement. The appearance of a play
upon that list, as has been explained.
indicates that, from the standpoint of
the general Catholic theatregoer the
play has been adjudged reasonably
free from Objectionable features. 1t
is an agreeable, If not an easy task,
to be able to make a selection from
the current drama for the white
List" and the opportunity to do so is
awaited of with thankfulness and
gratitude. But this must be under
stood: in making a selection for the
white List" no obligation is incur
red of vouching for the author of the
play so chosen, the producing mana
ger Of the theatre in which the play
is presented. An author may write
down to his market and follow a
worthy play with an unworthy one.
A clean play, in the same theatre, and
during the same season, may be sand
Better there should never be white
List" than any Catholic should find in
it an excuse to relax his vigilance or
silence his conscience.
Just as the inclusion of play on
the white List" does not imply that
it is entirely void of offense against
good taste, so, in the construction of
the list, there could be no pretense
of setting up high literary standards,
nor of making fine distinctions as to
dramatic values. A clean, wholesome
play standing the test Of popularity for
years, may not conform closely to the
canons of dramatic art, but its sur
vival, from one generation of playgo-
ers to another, is fact which cannot
be passed over, and which entities the
play to recognition. More than one
example of this kind will be found on
the white List" as we'll as of plays
which, though they may have almost
passed out of the remembrance of
metropolitan audiences, are still in
vogue with the stock companies and
combination theatres. Many of the
patrons of these theatres are Catho-
lie fathers and mothers, whose guild
ance may prove not one Of the least
important purposes Of the white
List"
It is not intended to impose the
unqualified acceptance Of every play
on the white List" upon those who.
after investigation and for reasons
nood and sufIaciant IN thoynse1vea And