The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-07-11
HOW SOLDIERS
AT FRONT GET.
OWN THEATRES
ewritten by Aubrey WINERY

. 4
(Written by Aubrey Wiln1er)
Tommy Atkins performances may
be very elaborate or they may be
very simple. He adapts himself to
circumstances. If he happens to be
near q dismal theatre, which isn't Of
ten. SO much the better. If he In con-
fined to trench--weIl, he makes
do with that. You can give excel
lent one-man shows in trench. and
there are hundreds of soldiers among
whose most treasured possessions is
Harry Tate moustache. Slipped on
in the intervals of firing, and waggled
strenuously to an accompaniment of
motor-car patter. this moustache
makes AN always popular one-man
turn. Harry Tate and Charlie Chap
lin are the two most initiated men In
the trenches today.
The theatre movement has certain
ly grown to amazing dimensions
among the boys at the front For. a
time such one-mapS turns as have
mentioned sufficed well enough.
Then Tommy Atkins vaulting annbi-
ton led him to turn up temporary
playhouses and concert halls a OBJ
for which this training has well quail
flied him; indeed. he makes an ideal
stage carpenter. You've no idea what
he can do with q barn or Y. M. c..
A. hut or an inh-yard. You've no
idea what excellent footlight can be
made of candle -stumps stuck on OLD
bully-beef cans. You've no idea
what effectiye LINES can be made
out On acetyIenes naotor-lampss You've
no IDA what magnificent curtain
can b made out of a tarpaulin, what
q harmonious orchestra out of q doz-
en- m8uth-organs
The result Of this passion for the
drsm& is that out Of chaos has come
orRnization- Back of the Flanders
trenches you may now find quite q
number OF porary-paramount, ex-
known as Division theatres. Here en-
tertainments are regularly given for
the benefit Of the troops enjoying
their weli-earned period or respite.
There is a charge for admission, be-
cause theatres can rot be run. for
nothing. as any New York or London
manager will tell you; but the prices
ara low. being as a general rule fifty
centimes, or ten cents. for officers,
and ten confines, prs<twn cents for
M CT 0.s and mef4 Ss Ii ss5
Ana in. these theatres the soldiers,
many of whom were prof ssional ac-
tors m the DAYS of peaces perform
really GOOD plays heir 4 aim is to
be az West English ais possible. Thus.
they not only give nQcksabout pam
tomtnes such az r. opinson crusoe'
and IfThe Babes In the, Wood. "a but
fashionable farces The Glad Eye"
and The Girl from Cirofs have: been
among the latest-and even classics.
among which may be mentioned The
Critic" and the School for Scandals"
Not infreqnentlysAa piece win be
staged for run" This YVES rnel CASA
not long ago with The Babes in the
Wood 3 first-ciass show supervised
by Professionals in khaki. and pro-
duced In . building of sufficient size
to seat several hundred soldiers,
cheeHly dIlumniAted with oiH lamps
and decorated with garlands Every
actor and mechanic was a soldier,
and the principal girl who was also
the principal bi1l-poster made q tre-
inendpus hit until she began to sing
In an unexpectedly robust mander.
Performances at 8 p. m
Daily performances were given at
p. M, and the opening Of the early
d0ors always found queue OF emf
fhus1astic rommies many Of whom
had been In the trenches that very
alsernoons eager 70 pack into the
eu - ucu
=. -, Il. 49, s.e,S3 'nese