New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-20
AN INTERESTING
STAGE VENTURE
Washington Square Players Pre-
sent Four Short Plays at
the BandbOX.

Something new-and what is much
more important, something worth
while-came to light at the Bandbox
Theatre last night. II was an or
ganization called the Washington
Sal are Players, Inc. If the new body,
which is composed of individuals in
terested in the theatre both profess
sionally and semi-professionally, can
preserve the freshness Of spirit and
originality Of idea which it indicates
in its initial offering, 1t promises to
be a theatrical force to be reckoned
with.
The Players, so their prospectus de-
clares. "is composed OF individuals who
believe in the future of the theatre IN
America" Their only policy in the
selection Of plays is that they must
have artistic merit The organlzatlon'
in other words, is another OF the many
which have attempted to give drama
not considered financially possible by
the Commercial managers"
But to offset that handicap for popu-
larity, the Players offer q programme
of genuine interest and at prices that
are certainly far from prohibitlve. In
addition. each programme IS 10 be given
only eight times during four weeks, on
Friday and Saturday night. Each month
a new evenings entertainment IS
MANNED Al this is to be done with
seats at so cents each and with a sub
scription list covering five months pro-
auctions.
For their first offering the Players
present four one-act plays. These are
Licensed" a social comedy by Basil
Lawrence; "Eugenically Speaking, q
satire by Edward Goodman; interior,
a play by Maurice Maeterlinck, and
"Another Interior" described as a
"gastronomic allegory," with the au,,
thor's name not mentioned. Edward
Goodman is the director Of the COM
pany, which-also according 10 the
prospectus takes its name from the
district where it originated"
In Licensed" the author attacks a
subject not usually considered adapted
for drama or drawing-room discussion;
But. after our Damaged Goods and
Maternity" productions, perhaps II
has its place. IL is another frank DIS
cussion Of the sex question, and, as
Mr.. Lawrence has written IL, the play.
let has power. The strong meat" OF
II is not palisted in the acting.
"Eugenically speaking also has 10
do with sex, but in humorous, Sna-
Wan vein. IL IS no mere hIshO'""
stuff" but is distinctly clever, even
from a popular" point of view. Mr.
Goodman's ability. at least as writer
OF one-act plays. is considerable.
Though the stage productions made
by the Players are not elaborate, they
are adequate. In the moving BIT OF
drama, Interior" by MaeterlineA, the
producer and company achieve an
atmosphere of simplicity and sincerity
which is admirable. II the Players
do nothing else, they are TO be cor,
graduated for their presentation OF
this virtually unknown bit OF litefa-
ture By the Belgian dramatist.
Another Interior" 8 fanciiul piece
Of writing. completes the programme
All the playlets are acted with earn
es,ness and with generally good e'-
feet.
This new stage venture 10 very muGh
more OF an experiment, TO be sure. IN
an effort 10 express freedom IN art
II may err on the side OF license rs
such efforts usually do. But II Is
Internationally ambitious and Tignt III
concept. Its development vii GEAR
watching.