The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-06
"The Purpose of the Drama League IS to Assist the Theatres As We'll As the Public In the Matter
 Of Good Plays, Says Mr. Robert C. Thac1
 Fly DOLLY DALRYMPLE

\ the Seiectlon Of MT. Robert G. Tnach,
 of Birminghams ceverest young
 men, to serve as chairman O. the playgoing committee of the Drama league" some elusive, yet domi- hating influence must have instigated the choice. for nothing shor; or real genius could. have been back of the inspiration, knowing as the members of the the Drama league necessarily must, that here is young man who combines all the qualifica- tons which go to make up the student, the enthusiast and the conservative lead CT of a plan by which not only the public will be benefited in the matter of the atrica, attractions, but the theatres them- selves as well. the latter from the stand point of bringing the best productions to us without the risk of financial loss.
 Mir Thach, quite modest under the big responsibility which has been thrust upon him, laughingly declares that he can see but one reason why the Drama league should have chosen him for the position he occupies, and that Is he is accessibly
 located. his offices being at the corner of Second avenue and Twentieth street." but these of us who have noted the spIen- did manner in which he has undertaken the work assigned him, and the tremen- dous success he is making of it, know otherwise.
 In sponsoring Mrs. Patrick Campbell in Bernard Shaw's charming play, "Pyg- ma lion, which was the transcendent event of the London theatrical season when it was produced there at his maj esty's theatre, Sir Herbert Tree playing opposite Mrs. Campbell, the playgoing con mittee makes its initial bow to the n 10 iS tempting to do.
 In speaking of just how the "playgoing committee' works for the good of all concerned, and what its especial offices are, MT Thach said yesterday among other things
 The function of the paygoing commit tee of the Drama league assumes a mutual aspect. Not only does 1t purport to be help to the public in the matter of choosing good plays, but to the theatres in encouraging them to bring high-class attractions to Us, the best that can be secured Its purpose in brief is to assist the public and more particularly the mem Der, of the Drama league itself to chose it's plays wisely. The assistance is given In an affirmative and not In a negative way; if the coming attraction is mer- tcfi and deserving, the playgoing com mittee comments it; if it is nor or there is doubt about it. the committee merely
 
 ''rhe practical step by which the com mittee does it's york; MT. Thach contin- ued, lis by sending out to the member ship of the league bulletins concerning the productions which come up to certain crit ical standards set by the national organi- zations. This does not mean that the Dramatic league is high brow move ment as farces, melo-dramas and come- dies are bulletined just the more seri- ous and scholarly productions and are officially recognized when they are the best of their kind. From this 1t may be deducted that the Drama league does not limit itself to classes of theatrical pro- auctions. but simply wants the best in each class produced. It has already been proven that the Drama league in places where it Is active has not only raised the standard of plays produced, but according to the big men in the theatrical profess sion, it has been of great financial help to the high class attractions, which, as I said before emphasizes its double func- tion of benefit not only to the public in the choice of plays. but in encouraging the theatres in bringing the best plays to US, and when they do bring them, helping them to play to capacity houses" In speaking of the objection which is often raised by people outside of New York with regard to road companies" and changes in the cast and that sort of | thing, MT. Thach very kindly allows me to use an excerpt from a letter recently
 received by him from Miss Alice M. Hous- ton of Evanston, H., one of the most prominent members of 'The Drama | League of America" and who has charge 1 of such matters in the leagues work, which throws some light on those sub I jects.
 1 Among other things Miss Houston
 writes concerning "Pygmalion," which
 will be seen here this week, the initial per formance being on Friday evening at the Jefferson theatre:
 My Dear MT. Thach:
 Tt was a great pleasure to hear from l you the new chairman of the commit ! tee on plays for the Birmingham cen l ter. The list of plays you enclosed is certainly splendid and with an enthusias- | tic committee you ought to accomplish wonderful things in putting Birmingham | on the theatre map this season. A num- 1 Der of the bookings were secured for you 1 through the league influence when Mrs | Starr Best, chairman of committees on l organizations was in New York in June | and l hope you will enthusia stically | that Birmingham will be considered in I New York one of the best theatre towns | of the south. It is quite true that the second season of play changes in com 1 pany may have occurred. Sometimes inn portant and at other times changes that l do not materially affect the value of the | play or even the character of the acting