The sun., 1918-12-01

tastes for literature after the war. ac-
cording to Fritz Leiber, leading man
in Robert MantelPs company.
1T is inevitable that following this
titanic world struggle there shall be
q decided swing Of the pendulum of
public taste toward the more serious
and exalted in literature" declared Mr..
Leiber recently. I'VE have already
been sobered by the trying events of
the past four years. The months TO
come in which the entire world will
undoubtedly come TO know the great
blessings Of liberty which we have
always enjoved will also have their
effect on the reading and playgoing
public. There will be fewer light.
trashy musical shows and farces and
decidedly moro drama and Shake
spearel
Already America u the greatest
shakespeare loving nation in the
world" continued Mr.. Leiber. THE
rank and file OF the American public
knows its Shakespeare as we'll as 1t
hnows its history. Romeo and Juliet
G'e still the ideal lovers in the mind
ot the schoolgirl. Hamlet and Othello
are gaining. not losing, in the popular
mind. l predict that Shakespearian
cycles will far outnumber any other
type Of dramatic offering before long"
Eventually Mr.. Leiber himself ex-
poets to organize the strongest COM
pany ever seen on the American stage
for the production of the plays Of
Shakespeare.
Harry Davenport. who plays the
doctor in Winchell Smith and John L.
Golden's new production. Three Wise
Fools" comes OF an old theatrical
family, the famous Davenports. who
are known in England and America
His father was the noted tragedian
f, l.. Davenport, and his sister, Fanny,
had worldwide reputation.
Harry Davenport wasn't exactly
born in dressing room. but he played
his first part when he was 8 years
old-the boy in Damon and Pythias'
with his father. Since that day he
has not been far away from the smell
OF grease paint At 13 he was selected
to play the Admiral in the Juvenile
cast OF -Pinafore" in Philadelphia.
After that he was with Frank Mayo
FOR few seasons in classical plays of
Shakespeare and Schiller and later in
The Streets of New York" and in the
original production OF his sisters
Ma Tosca"
Now it was time for the youngster
to do his hard work and lay a founda-
Ton for the future. He went to the
Aicizar Theatre. San Francisco, that
great training school for actors, and
remained there for four years Re
turning East he played with Joseph
Gnsmer's The New South" THE
Voyage Of Suzette." Sadie Martinez,
and in The Belle of New York" here
and in London.
Inc actor has played with the fore
most actors OF this country's stage and
is familiar with the best traditions of
me drama. However, he does not go
aoout mourning for the dear, dead
Gays Of the drama" as many actors
~ the old school do. He is enthusi-
astc about the modern school and pre-
f'rs natural methods TO the ranting
ones Of the past.
stuart Walker has just received a
''ter from Lord Dunsany saying that
~ will arrive in New York early in
January Though they have carried
ON three years correspondence, much
~ which has been published this will
De e first meeting of the Irish play
wright and his American producer.
""o won wide gratitude throughout
IN" United States for his presenta-
'ors Of The GODS of the Mountains"
hhs Argimenes and the Unknown
warrior" The Golden Doom" and
o'h"r plays.
''h,d Bennett and company Of
ia! - uR&-- the direction Of Fred