Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-10

HE INDOOR tnedter nelu its own
as a summer diversion. de-
spite the pageantry on the
White Lot. whose avowed and
admirable purpose Is to re-
store the drama to its classic status as
! an outdoor sport. Another new play
YVES launched at the Belasco. Ewes
Daughter was depicted as type OF
fsmininity who regards the world as q
garden and parental authority as the
monitor with flaming sword to forbid
enjoyment of its pleasures. Her pur-
suit by admirers whose Intentions are
honorable or otherwise is made the
groundwork for some scenes which are
sufficiently audacious to make even the
highly sophisticated audience OF the
. day pause and wonder whether 1t Is
proper. Mr.. Brady, the producer, Is
man of great practical experience IN
the art of entertainment, and possibly
that very question Is in reality the plot
, Of the play.
The earthworks thrown up for the
benefit of the histrionic cohorts Dor
( rowed. with Mr.. Rapleys consent, no
to that Of Sylvan Theater. The prob
lem of a national theater for America,
? In the sense of a governmentaily en-
dowed and supervised home for lit
temperament has long been discussed.
4 The revival of the idea in connection
with plans for the Sylvan Theater made
the association of Charles b. Hanford
with the patriotic and timely produc-
tion The Continental Congress" al
matter of picturesque coincidence. At
i . time when New York students of the
drama were agitating the question Of a
national theater, assuming, OF course,
that it would be located in New York
city, Mr.. Hanford gathered and dis
persed much interesting publicity for
the idea that the nations capital was
the place for nations theater. While
i touring with his Shakespearean COM
pany he published many interviews and
delivered addresses before a number Of
universities advocating a national the
later at Washington. The project gained
tenough momentum to secure the intro
kduction of a bill in Congress designed
to put into operation a theater which
would reflect the highest ideals of the
stage and employ its best resources,
both in talent and equipment. This was
fmore than a decade ago. and the idea
mas revived In so vigorous form that
local industry may yet lead to what it
sby legislative authority. The simpiic-
ay OF the present design commends it,
Any one with a half acre Of ground at
t1as disposal may have q national out
- means of private social diversion. as
Eeu as public recreation, the idea has
latmiaess and wholesome possibilities.
. = = =
The present week will not be notable
|3or Innovations. but the near future
promises another play, confidently de-
lDcrtbed as the best ever written, pro-
tauced by the most competent cast ever
assembled. The professional publicity |
enan Is doing his best for "Driftwood,"
Put Is still few laps behind the non
professional advance man, who bunch |
I'D Marlowe, Sottorn. Otis Skinner.
odaude Adams. Sarah Bernhard and q |
EeW others as merely Incidental at
Fraction for the Sylvan Theater's open |
ing.
Another movement designed to de-
Etslop the theater on lines apart from
Its organization, as centralized in New
York city. Is announced by the Drama |
League Players, who intend to estab-
Fish for Washington a Little Theater
upon a plan similar to that Of the Lit
bic Theaters in Chicago. Philadelphia,
New York and, as the notice reads other |
Srt centers- The mood of tho Drama
League toward tho commercialized
aheater has tempered. I'VE do not In
kend." the circular gives assurance, ito
eeompete with the commercial play
&ouses. but rather to supplement their
function by presenting in an artistic
naanner, for discriminating audiences, |
plays Of high order not otherwise or
eftsn produced on the commercial
etage. 1t is hoped that from this be-
1Bfnnfng a national theater will event. |
(lally be evolved" 1t becomes evident
from the weeks activities that II
Warrington does not sooner or later |
get national theater in addition to
she one operated by Mr.. Rapley. 1t will |
pot be for lack of able and Industrious |
mort. PHILANDER JOHNSON.