The Washington times., 1916-01-20
PHOTOPLAYS AND
PHOTOPLAYERS
AS Shakespeare May
Fare AT the Hands
of the CenSorS Of
PhotopldyS.
y GARDINER MACK.

Some humorous things crop out at
the mnSt solemn times. as many
Ihotoplays prove, and ono of the
most humorous things that has crop
ped out regarding motion picture
censorship concerns the fun which
w. stephen Bush has been having
Prcentiy with the Pennsylvania and
Ohio censors regarding Mr. Busn's
censorship OF the plays Of Shakes
reAre IN accordance with the rules
of the Ohio and Pennsylvania
hoard. Mr.. Bush ublished the re-
suit Of his work ia recent issre of
the Moving Picture World. tIe n
sists that his ccnsoringS was done,
not only In accordance with rifles.
but In accordance with the censor
ing of other plays, the elimination
of scenes from Shakespeare having
been done as scenes OF similar inn
port have actually been eliminated
from productions submitted to the
censors.
Only six of the sainted Williams
plays escape the cutting. The Com
edy Of Errors" is passed without
elimination, but with the statement
of the Pennsylvania censors derIor-
ing the lack OF serious purpose of
the comedy. 1t is upon the tragedies
that the censorial hand falls heav-
lily. Richard III Is not approved
at all, because it abounds in grimes
and Nillainies." Juliet is omitted ia
Romeo and Juliet" ard Julius
Caesar must not be assassinated on
the stage, but can he made to die OF
rheumatism or old age in a respect
able way. Some of Mr. Bush's CEN
sOrship notes follow.
Romeo and Juliet-Cut out Juliet
Here Is girl just in her teens con-
Quoting herself in a most unmaiden-
~ fashion and opening her window
IN the night time or possibly in the
early hours of the morning to a
young man to whom she has never
been properly introduced. This play
soounds in the very kisses and en-
braces and passionate love scenes
which the board has repeatedly con-
demned. There are too many street
brawls of extreme violence Reduce
these to a flash of about ten feet.
The board has frequently announced
lts dlsapproval Of the administra-
ton of secret sleeping potions and
all such scenes in the play must
come out. The ball which Romeo and
his companions appear in may "e-
main as it is-educational in char
acter.
Othello--A colored man marrying
q white woman may give offense.
me play may, however. be shown
with the following Examinations Cut
out Iago. His conduct and language
cannot be tolerated in a respectable
community. Omit entirely Act V.
This act shows the smothering OF
Desdemona and the suicide of Othel-
uyn NrI knV. 10 l..
snort act Will not be approved by
this board.
Julius CaesaT-The assassinat ton
OF Julius Caesar must be eliminated.
As the plot however requires that
the fact of the death be conveyed
be pursued. Mark Antony may be
shown receiving a letter announcing
Caesars death or Caesar may be
shown dying a natural death caused
by rheumatism or old age. Reduce
all riots to a flash.
King Lear-Not approved. This
play is a grave menace to the family
life and the homes of Pennsylvania
Cor Ohio. There are at least four
shameful and scandalOus family dis
cords and descriptions. Bloody and
barbarous scenes abound death OF
COrdelia. binding Of Gloster, almost
habitual tearing out of eyes, inhu-
manities of Duke Of Cornwall).
"Hamlet-NOt approved. The
drinking of hot blood" for instance,
and the doing of such business as
the bitter day would quake to look
on" is highly unbecoming and might
amount to disorderly conduct or
even graver crime. Such things will
not be allowed in the State of Penn
sylvania Cor Ohio).
"Macbeth-Not approved. This
play visualizes several murders in
the first degree and a shocking sui
eide committed by a woman. The
conduct of Lady Macbeth II we per-
mitted 1t to become generally known
in Pennsylvania Cor Ohio) would
undoubtedly have a corrupting in
fluence on our people and especially
on the young OF both sexes. If the
producer will cut down the play to
the scenes showing pretty scenes in
the Scottish highlands, we Will be
inclined to give it our approval
Twelfth Night-Not approved. A
woman masQueradinE as a man and
vice versa violate the State law and
many city ordinances. Shakespeare
does not claim that a license for this
incorporating was properly obtained.
Midsummer Nights Dream-Elim-
mate, scene I in act III. 1t ridicules
respectable mechanics and serves no
good purpose whatever. Reduce all
passionate love scenes to about six
feet,
The Merchant of Venice-The
scenic views in this play may stand.
but Shylock must be reduced to n
flash, otherwise the tendency to ridi-
cult the Hebrews will cause the en-
tire suppression of the play.
LAS You Like It-Reduce all scenes
of reckless love making to a flash,
and eliminate the Duke from the last
act.
Much Ado About Nothing-Not
approved. Aside from the levitY with
which matrimonial questions are
treated in this play, we cannot toll
crate the ridicule thrown upon Dog
berry and Verges, the representatives,
Of lawfully constituted authority.
Tanning of the ShTew-Eliminate
all scenes showing Petruchio in the
act Of offering physical violence to
Kate