New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-11
Rr HEYMOOD BROUN

By HEY W OOD bhOON
CTzE is doubtless an important fact
) or when one is after boots or col
,- Int We never could understand It's
station 20 theatrical entertainment.
Nobody thinks Of introducing a friend
~ remar.inc, Charming fellow-he
rssrs number 10 shoe" but many a
manager bids for patronage on the
-suBd that his show is big" The
.sn who travels in the subway crush
vice day is advised to see this
.slossal7 or that vast performance
cause there are "two hundred people
e the cas-"
Il is also considered good form to
ueaa the rerort that 100000 was
psnt on the play before the curtain
vent up. After all. the cost Of a pro-
tae.ion should be simply a matter for
he manager. his conscience, his COS
-nsr, and possibly the courts.
"a many other phases Of life quality
not associated with mere magnitude.
ne place which advertises Largest
sEooner on the ISLAM" is not neces-
zrily the most attractive cafe. The
lover Of Babel was perhaps the most
usientious human undertaking IN his
s-y. but nothing came Of it but hard
telling and the Berlitz method.
All is long and deep and broad, and
s.rs isn't a reason In the world why
should be crowded. Almost without
1ssp.ion, the notable performances OF
re last few years have been plays Of
q, few. They have been inexpensive.
ne most important theatrical move
rsat Of the last twenty years came
re the world swaddled in cheesecloth.
y company has ever received such a
,s.sble artistic dividend on its invest
,sat as the Irish Players, and yet It's
Faductions were made in a small the
an by amateurs, with the simplest
emery imaginable.
Dunsany was first seen in New YORK
e the back room Of an anarchist
saool, and when "The Glittering
Gate was performed an eggbeater
erred as the jimmy of the burglar
no wanted % break into heaven. OF
ssus, certain productions demand the
isroic treatment. One would not care
70 see "Ihe Wanderer" produced IN
ne Little Theatre. Yet 'Pierrot" was
stlf a treatment Of the prodigal
acns, and 70 our mind more impress
I've one than the huge drama az the
Asahsttsn Opera House.
I! nay be different with other arts
=; anquestionably plays are written
~ women. The parable Of the Prod
al Son, for instance, is q story OF
-iasr love. Nothing is said concern
g the mother Of the Prodigal, ou'
'asn the dramatist takes up the theme
~ The Wanderer" he makes ths
e''hsr the person who FIRST welcomes
's srnng boy home
y uight not make for dramatic ef-
.'e''Vsness, bat We have always fell
s' one Of the appealing qualities N
- story % the Prodigal Son was th'
% nat be gained forgiveness with
~ s7sn asking FOR H. But when ht
yet great way Of his father
~ ain, and had compassion, and
- aad fell on bic neck, and kissed
asys TIE Bible.
me Wsndsrer," on the other hand
ao' the story and builds up a
80 Of reerimin2tion and abssement
- Zero o. he play mas 70 eat humble
'si'rs be gets his fattsd calf.
oming more twisted than usual
na1s a few srrorr IN our review
b0eesszfBl Calamity" in Tues
inegne. For instance, accord
T" tTo editions, we said that IN.
= act va IN a spirit % delightful
comedy Freud only Knows vha'
- I. ~ that for what We meant
mgr comedy" Aiso, ne spok,