South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-04-29
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theatrical profession at the present
time Is very much interested in the
paramount question. How viii the
war affect us2" The brains Of the
producing STATS are also trying 70
figure this problem out in order 20
plan for the coming season.
IL is reasonable 10 suppose that
with the closing OF numerous fac
tories in certain parts OF the coun-
try. road productions will be few
and far between and IL is also rea-
sonable 20 believe that next season
viii see fewer plays in New York.
There IS. however. another posi-
bility which is worth investigating.
~ the present time the nation as a
whole evidently does not take the
war seriously We have not been
awakened by any fresh disaster, nor
have we suffered the toll of human
life that our allies have Should
our navy or army get into action,
however, the trend Of national
thought will become more serious
and the population will demand
some light form of amusement.
This situation viii undoubtedly re-
suit in the same outburst OF must
cal production that has character
lied the theatrical activities i'm Paris
and London. When the people of
France and England got over the
first year of the war there was a
remarkable absence Of the serious
drama. The public demanded music
as a means of forgetting that they
were in war and the revue" which
corresponds with our Winter Gar
den" or Century" shows. found in
slant favor.
The situation i'm New York will
probably not differ materially from
other years except in the number
Of musical plays which will he pro-
duced. Since Mayor Mitchell ordered
the cabarets 70 close at 1 a. m. there
will be little for the theater 10 fear
from this source In fact the clos
ing order will help the theatrical
producer to a marked degree. PEG
PIE who attend cabarets do so be
cause they desire a sensation. Those
who attend a revue do so for the
same purpose, and i'm my opinion
the revue of next season will be even
more startling than that or the
past.
There is another element, how
ever, that may throw all my calcu
lations astray, that Of the war tax.
The theater will undoubtedly be
heavily taxed in order that the debts
Of the nation may be met. If 1t is
ipate. it may lead TO cheape1ing OF
scenic and other necessary effects.
III may also lead TO "A reduction in
salaries and the absence of stars.
New faces will undoubtedly be seen
next season in quantity, for the con-
scription bill will hit every line Of
endeavor alike. Many actors have
already volunteered for service. The
British actor over here will not be
able to slack" any longer, for new
legislation makes him liable 10 Brit
ish draft as well as our own.
The quantity of productions, how
ever. is an item that no one is will
ing 20 guess at. There may be many
or ,here may be few productions OF
note. or there may be installed the
musical stock company in new or
tried-out productions
One thing is certain, there will be
few road shows, and for that reason
there may be fewer and better pro-
auctions seen in New York. 1t is
rather early TO make any definite
statement concerning next seasons
policy. but 1 am confident that the
musical play viii hold full sway for
the balance of the war.
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