The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-03
CALAMITY OF THE STAGE
THE Importance Of Coming and Co
ine"-At the BramhnI pla vhouse

night to New York's list OF these d.
minutive and fruitful cradles Of the
drama. The Bramhali Playhouse is the
name Of the latest. It is situated for
tunately In an inaccessible backwater
OF the drama. near Lexington avenue
ana Twcnty-seventh street. So nobody
can have the excuse OF dropping into
II. The presence OF a spectator there
means that he deliberately sought II
out. II is well TO bear these facts In
mind. 81 that there may be no excuse
for those guilty OF supporting this latest
such little calamity that the effect
surely cannot be serious. Then, the
theatre is hardy and has survived worse
attacks.
The Importance OF Coming and
Going was the play. II is In three acts
Butler Davenport, its author. has more
than once impended on the theatrical
horizon, but was last year mercifuily
averted by some far seeing theatrical
providence that comes to the rescue OF
the public. Once promising drama Of
his was played at the Comedy Theatre.
Last season one announced for per
fcrmance at the Park Theatre was with
drawn after the dress rehearsal. Then
he built theatre. supposedly for the
exploitation uf his works. In West sixty
third street, but that reformed In time
and Is now Pastor Russell's temple. Mr.
Davenport again has his own theatre.
so there was no possibility of withdraw
ing The Importance Of Coming and
Going before the public had to make
its acquaintance.
Little. hut Seats Too Many.
None Of the little theatres is quite as
small as the one opened last night II
seats only a few more than zoo That
is presuming that the spectators care
to keep in their seats after they are
once there. Last night the theatre was
not full. The tendency was ether TO
go than to come 1t really was more
important. As II is the playhouse is
too large. II should be only spacious
eEough to find room for the author. He
should sit alone and watch his play.
There are more ways than boiling oil to
make the punishment III the crime. as
the wise Mikado thought.
II Mr.. Davenport's duties on the stage
ia not prevent him from sitting in his
little auditorium and watching The I'm
portanCe of Going and Coming" ne
would assured,y draw certain con
illusions from that trying experience
He would learn that the deliberate
search for the indicate and coarse
under the guise OF preaching sociological
doctrines Of the tritest and mos, ia
miliar type Is an occupation that any
playwright with respect for h. craft
would despise.
He would learn that II Is cheap art to
use death as a means OF impartng
so,emnlty to the trivial ramblings of a
boy who dies because he had to drink
80 much at college TO make himself p pu-
lar that domestic and medicinal con-
ference could not determine whether
he died OF cancer or catarrh OF the
stomach. Then he might have dlscov-
cred under the awful penalty inflicted
on him that the satire of the funeral
and its pretentitus appearance OF grief
Is older than time.
Punishment TO Suit the offence.
OF course the punishment Of watching
The Importance Of Coming and Going"
by which Is meant the insincerity
over death and the indifference to the
.ugenics that should precede birth,
as often as Mr. Davenport should he
condemned to witness his intellectual
DTOuuNt, IllkHl ne dCtOuUItu CTueI ana
unusual But with the interview be-
tween a lccherous nof,lcman and a
fourteen year-old girl, which occurred
in the second act. accompanied by the
display II some forbidden pictures fresh
in mind. II still seems justifahe
There arc a great many other things
which an optimist might hope that the
author of such a play would learn by
watching Il often enough. But the re-
cital of them would be long-longer
probably than this disaster In play
writing is likely TO last. and only one
purpose would after all be served. That
would be to keep forever from the
theatre any such offence to intelligence.
taste and art as The Importance OF
Coming and Going"
Last night "a small and special audi
ence received Mr.. Davenport's play with
mingled derision and pity. It's fate
before mixed gathering would have
been different. An ordinary theatre
audience might have lost its patience.
The results might have been deserved,
But we don't propose to lose our pa
thence our emotions can be more ac
curateiy diagnosed AZ sorrow rather
than anger over the proceedings at New
York's latest and littlest theatre.