Omaha daily bee., 1917-06-21
The Peoples Theater
By Frederic J. Husktn

Washington, June l8--At the foot OF the
Washington monument, picturesquely and appro-
prately environed by towering chestnut trees,
has recently been erected the newest American
institution--a government theater
1t was built by Colonel w. w. Harts, who is
the army engineer in charge of Washingtons 5
parks and grounds. A leading spirit in promot-
ing the idea was Mrs. Christian Hemmck a
woman of some local fame as dramatst, who
has been author and stage director in majority
OF the theatrical efforts put forward by Washing
ton society folk Mrs. Hemmick has already given
two plays in this new sylvan theater. A sort of
restoration OF the continental congress has also
been staged there and local Patrick Henry,
correctly costumed, has stirred the multitudes by
demanding liberty or death.
At the second and most recent performance in
the sylvan theater occurred an incident whose
significance is perhaps not truly appreciated. A
number OF reserved seats had been set aside for
prominent dignitaries OF various sorts leaders in
art society, diplomacy and other invited guests
But the digntaries were late in arriving and out
side the reserved seat section was an impatient
crowd of small boys, The small boys rushed the
ropes in force and took possession Of the seats
and there they stayed. They saw the show from
close up and the invited guests had to sit on the
grass hundred feet away.
The sylvan theater idea is one that has been
growing for several years. along with the inter-
est in pageants, depicting the lives OF town and
counties, and outdoor and folk dancing 1t is
hard to say just what is back Of this movement.
Perhaps that slow-movng and inchoate but all
powerful, intelligence known as the people feels
that the drama it sees on the stage is no real
expression of its thoughts and feelings, and
so 1t is trying to create drama Of
its own. Certain it is that the folk drama
and the folk dance are coming back. A
good many people think that the American COM
mercial drama is going back. Perhaps there is
significance in these two contemporary movements
Perhaps some village pageant writer will develop
into genius who fires the ground!ings as did
Shakespeare in Elizabethan days, and perhaps
out OF this movement will develop real Amer-
can theater, which will not have to import most
of its comedies from England, its light operas
from Vienna, its fantasies from Ireland.
At any rate it is certainly healthy thing for
il was born. The Greek tragedies were given in
the open and so were the Miracle plays.
OF course, putting the drama into Nouse i'm
proved it in many ways. The actors no longer
had to shout and below Furthermore they were
compelled to refine their art by studying manner
and modulation and learning to use the express
sons of their faces. 1t would have been mpos-
sble in the old outdoor theater on the village
green to stage play where the wiping away of
tear from the heroine's left eye is an impor-
tant bit of business or where look of horror on
the face OF listening man thrills the audience
Most of the audience would be too far away to
get" these things The outdoor drama has to
be spectacular and sonorous. There must be
"alarums and excursions" If the hero pauscs to
reflect he must walk up and down with his chin
in his hand and thunder out his reflections
Likewise, the outdoor drama had to be dra-
matte. The type of drama in which Reginald,
while squeezing lemon into his tea tells Gwen
don his conception of the Cosmos in 10000
words, would not stand chance on the
he ,IaAr La,
Reginald nor would they listen if they could
Undoubtedly, the indoor theater tends to degen-
crate into mere argument which is no more dra-
matte than dictionary.
The new sylvan theater at Washington has not
yet attracted very wide attention and yet every
one should know that i is here-a thing Of tre-
mendous possibilities. Why should it not become
a clearing house for the nations folk drama? Why
should not pageants, local and amateur plays,
choral societies, that have succeeded at nome and
want to try larger field COME to the sylvan the
ater in Washington? Here is a real opportunity
to make the drama safe for democracy.