The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-04-14
EDUCATIONAL PHASE OF
DRAMA LEAGUE PLANS
Something About the Work That Being Attempted and Mem
bers of Committee Who Are Active In Their Endeavors
ny &. c. CERTAIN

bA Ns =.
Inquiries are being made concerning tbs
function Of the educational committe,
in the recently organized Birmingham
center of the Drama League of America
Happily enough, an answer may be given
that will be satisfying to all who desire
to spread an interest in good drama
The purpose of the committee is Vita
and can be attained only through mani
fold activities. The committee is not
merely undertaking to define standards
and to state values. far more important
it is undertaking to teach that great
dramas are living things and are uncon-
ditionally on the side of life. Not only
are energetic subcommittee already at
work forming study classes and reading
circles there are also subcommittee
working enthusiastically to produce anna
teur plays. and to organize festivals and
pageants when the time is ripe for these.
The activities of the committee include %
the introduction Of the study of the
drama into study clubs sundry institu-
tions, schools. and homes. (2) cooperation
with the public library in securing suit
able books on the drama go the SUPER
vision and direction of amateur plays in
terest in the writing of plays. scenarios,
and essays in dramatic criticisms 90
the organization of study classes on NOV
ing pictures, and 90 the ultimate estab-
lishment of a Birmingham children 8
theatre under the auspices of the chill
dren's department.
The members of the educational com :
mittee are: c. c. Certain, chairman Mrs
w. S. Lowell. Miss Amelia Worthington
Miss Isabelle G. Messer, Rev NJ. S. Barn
well, Mr.. Hugh Martin, Miss Leona Plos-
ser Rabbi Morris Newfield, Miss Willie
Allen, Mrs. Sidney Ullman. Miss Julia
Bergman and Miss Marguerite V.
Weaver The educational committee is
organizing subcommittee in charge of
the various activities that are being con-
Quoted or that will be conducted in the
future.
Subcommittee on Drama Study
The first of these subcommittee to be
organized is the one on Drama Study
The members are: Miss Julia Bergman
chairman, teacher of English in the
Louie Compton seminary; Mrs. w. S.
Lowell. Mrs. Sidney Ullman, Miss Amelia
Worthington and Miss Emily Miller. A
circular letter has been sent to the wom-
ems clubs of the city urging them to give
the drama prominence on their study
calendars for the ensuing year. The
u1tuiDtIS u the subcommittee Oller Inelf
services gladly to any calendar commit
tees that may desire suggestions or aid.
Each member is specializing on particu-
lar phases of drama study in order to
make the work thorough and effective
Mrs. w. S. Lowell has selected as her
speciality for the present the classic
drama and theatre. In commenting upon
her work Mrs. Lowell said recently: No
more interesting club course could be de-
g II.
for the art of dramatic writing has never
I cached a greater height than in the
tragedies of Greece. Such course could
include the few fragments left of Aeschy-
lus, greatest of Greek dramatists, tho
portrayer of gods selections from the
superb plays of Sophocles, who portray ed
demigods, and several of the perfect
works of Euripides. portrayer of men.
''One or two of the brilliant satires or
the greatest comic poet of
the world, would lead naturally to the
dramas of Rome, which seem almost to
express the spirit of our own day, for
in Plautus and Terence we reach the
level of very human men,.
Miss Amelia Worthington will cheerfully
make suggestions on outlines for the
study of the dramas of the Irish renais-
sance and on modern continental dramas,
including those of Spain, Italy, France,
hNttHf7-Ni
The Modern Social Play
MIS-. Sidney Ullman thinks that an
intensive method of study should be
made of any phase of the drama that
may be undertaken. Her views are in
teresting. She says that the drama is
probablyfthe greatest of arts, combin-
ing as it does. the art of printing, of
costume. of effects in modern stage
craft. and speech, and should therefore
fulfill the highest degree of perfec-
ton. The lasting effect of drama
should be a direct impression driven
home to make the ordinary unthink-
ing audience think and reflect. The
most modern. the most vital, and the
most important phase of the drama to-
day deals with social problems. Those
dramas that do not fulfill this impor-
tant function in our social evolution
are of little Importance. The social
play is not always, pretty or altogether
pleasant, but it is lifc--a bitter lesson
maybe to see to hear. and to know
for the action is real and the problem
is ours. Each country has given us
some great preacher as dramatist
and year by year they are cutting
away prejudice and ignorance. The
stage no longer exists to entertain; it
has found a higher mission in the mod
ern social play
MISS Emily Miller is making a Spe-
clal study of current plays and of the
types of modern drama. She is pre-
Jared to offer suggestions also with
reference to the technic of the drama
Miss Julia Bergman wishes to see
several of the clubs undertake care
fully planned study of American and
English drama. She is especially en-
thusiastic over the possibilities lying
before the American dramatist. Sew
eral great names already furnish ma
terial for study but American drama
is even more intensely interesting be-
cause of the vast possibilities of the
future. At this particular time, too, it
is fascinating to study these posi-
Lilites for now that European nations
are at war, the American dramatist has
the opportunity to show what he can
really do. Several great artists have
proved the existence of genius. All
that is needed is development No
other country in the world is filled
with such a variety of life as is Amer
lea. Our national life is highly colored
and varied. America has the problems
of every other nation in the world as
Vast possibilities are open to American
dramatists
The English drama is at a different
stage of development from the Amer
lean drama. Delightful material is
available for study here, presenting vi
tai problems of a social nature, and
many familiar names as Sir Arthur
Wingo Pinero Henry Arthur Jones,