The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-23
That Is Position of the Thea
tiers of Present Day.
Otis Skinner Says Beauty Must
Offset the Horror.
NEED HEALTHFUL AMUSEMENT
Modern Play Must Have Gentle
ness and a True Ring.
Great Conflict Makes People
More Human and Tender.

1.-THE following article expressing so
well the relation Of the theater to the pub
lie during the world war, is written by
Antonio skinner disagrees IN with Mis tse
brutal and says it is making them more
artistic and tender.-Editor.l
have been asked what effect the
war is having on the theaters. Its
each communion the nation.
Many have asked why the usless sacri-
flee of it ,all-why all this horror?
What good is to come out of it all?
Wherein have our corns been trodden
upon?
At first these questions seemed I'M
answerable to some of us, but slowly.
surely, we have become certain of one
thing, and that is the elevation of
humanity. Unselfishness is coming
out of the war, if nothing else does.
The effect of the war on the human
mind-on the human character, has
been wonderful. The crouch has
opened his heart, has opened his arms,
has opened his pocketbook to the
cause. The man who was supposed
to be inhuman and without a heart,
has developed one. There has been
an awakening-and men who have
shown themselves really human.
That which is affecting our COM
munity, our Americatn character to-
day, is reflected in the attitude of the
war upon the theater.
When the war first started, strict
economy was preached, and it is right
ly being preached today. There is
limit, however, to economy. and war
or no war the worlds industries-the
worlds amuSementS and recreations
must be kept moving. The merchant
must be patronized, or the mills will
stop running. Closing the theaters and
places of amusement would not help
the war.
Amusement Big Necessity.
Amusement is always essential to
right living, and now in times of war.
1t is more essential than ever. Dis
couragement and hopelessness are to
be avoided, and how better can these
bugbears be driven away than by
amusement and recreation?
With the papers printing war news
all over the front page-with the
bands playing-the soldiers marching
and with the sad parting of loved
ones, healthfuI amusement of the
right sort is needed more than ever.
1t is right here that the theaters
play an important part in the world
war. 1t is as important to spend wise
ly as to economic. The chasing away
of despair, to be replaced by some
thing beautiful, is we'll worth while.
The elevation of humanity brought
about by the war is reflected in the
elevation of the stage. Possibly the
theatrical managers are becoming
more human-the plays at least are.
The badly constructed plays-the taw-
dry melodramas, and cheap, indicate
musical shows, are not meeting with
the success accorded the play of gen.
uine heart interest.
People Want Beauty.
What the people want today is
idealism, beauty, sweetness, gentle
ness. This is wherein such plays as
Mister Antonio" has found a well
come. This play has sweet message
and its beauty Of character makes a
strong appeal. To bring cheerfulness
into the lives of others has been the
mission of Booth Harrington in writ
ing Mister Antonio" and it is my
present mission on the stage, partic-
| ularly in these times of war. Here
+ is the philosophy of Tony, the hurdy-
gurdy man in Mister Antonio" and
it is mine as well:
Says Tony: wen I was 1eetle boy
in Sorrent' 1 get in trouble some time.
I maka to cry. Well, wat you tink dat
ole prizes e say to me? 'E say-'You
Tonic, don't you know you can maka
JUS de same noise as loud if you maka
to laugh instead you maka to cry, an
dat noise she's nicer noise, an do you
twice as more good in your gizzard.'
Dat oil prizes e right. Dees WORT.
she can do wat she likes to mel am
goin' to laugh. If man e do me
some ugle trick, 1 am goin' to laugh
| in is face. I laugh wen I wan to
laugh and I laugh wen I wan to
cry
believes Tony's Philosophy.
1t is this philosophy of Tony's
which I have come to believe in 50
thoroly. 1t is the joy of fife like to