Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-02-12

students and supporters Of the stage re-
covered from their Indignation sufficiently
today to answer the charge 10y Sir Herbert
Beerbohm Tree. who left our midst yestcr-
day, that there was no such Il thing as dis
tinctive American drama.
In words both spoken and uuspoken, they
stopped finishing plans for the American
drama year celebration for a sufficient
length Of time 10 submit Sir Herbcrt's state
ment to a course in dramatic dissection.
They pilored the knlghtcd English actor
with adjcctyes; they speared him with
verbs and then buried him beneath pile
Of propositions and pronouns.
Now, it may be known, or it may not,
that Philadelphia was once the dramatic
center of the country, and for that reason
students and supporters Of the American
stage in this city pave been making. great
plans for the celebration here in fact, they
were all ready for the opening Of the cx-
hibt on American drama next Saturday.
And then
But let Sir Herbert tell the tale in his
own way, even though it be not in the
booming voice of Falstaff nor the mourning
soliloquy Of Hamlet, nor yet the sad cadence
of wolsey's remuneration of his magnificent
dream. Instead, we hear him somewhat
as follows
"Is there or is there not? That is the
question. For myself | say there is no
such thing as distinctive American drama.
You have been, ah-ah, what | might call
tillers of the soil or followers of industry.
You have not cultivated the arts. There
are, however, signs Of promise and | think
perhaps that in the future we may see real
American drama"
And with feelings carefully concealed,
members rose up and smote Sir Herbert
verbally.
Dr. Thomas y. OBolger. professor of
English at the University Of Pennsylvania
and authority on subjects dramatic, partly
answered Sir Herberrs rs there or is
there note" question by addressing a query
TO the English actor.
~ might ask Sir Herbert" said Doctor
O'Boger, whether he considers whether or
no England has a distinctive English drama.
When you consider that all of Engand's
leading paywrghts are foreigners Sir
Herbert's sweeping statement seems bit
foolish"
And relentlessly. Doctor O'Bolger pointed
out that Shaw is an Irishman, Barrie a
Scotchman, Pinero a jew, and Jones u
Welshman
"If he means that American drama s that
which should have a native background
can ne say the same OF tnElIsh drama {:
If you were to exclude from classification
as national drama play in which the set
ting was laid in a foreign country you
would exclude more from the English
drama than you would from our own
country"
That's true" said another. where
would Mr. Tree be without Hamlet or
'Othelo? Oh, where?"
Many Of the other masters of stagecraft
who are Phadelphians echoed the senti-
ments expressed by Doctor O'Bolger, lie
was referred to the book of Representative
American Plays" issued by Dr. Arthur
Hobson Quinn, dean OF the college depart
ment of the University of Pennsylvania.
Even some of his fellow actors turned
against him. Raymond Hitchcock was short
and sweet. mo American drama? lie
might just as we'll say that I'm not
comedian" said "Hitchie," in a curtain
speech as his train pulled out for Toronto.