The weekly Alaska citizen., 1918-07-01
SOLDIERS HAVE AMUSEMENT IN
 ENVIRONMENTS

A~EV AoIeh, Juue C.-tedllZluR the need of wholesome entertainment for soldiers training in the national army and national guard canton ments throughout the country, the government of the United States for the first time in history, has undertaken the task of providing dramatic amusements of high or. der and, to maintain and improve the standards set, has gone into the business of theatrical management The success already achieved, ac. cording to a resume of the stua- tion compiled by the commission on training activities of the war de. partment, in charge of the work, augures well for the continuation and expansion of the work.
 As first step, the war department constructed in each of the sixteen national army cantonments thea tre seating 2.500 or 5000 persons, and in each of the sixteen national guard cantonments, smaller one with a capacity between 1000 and 1,2O0. In each of these theatres there is being presented nightly a dramatic, musical or vaudeville per, formance for which the admission charge is twenty-five cents.
 The plays presented are all Broad way successes of past years, given by excellent companies, the num- bers of which have given their ser vices at greatly reduced salaries Royalties have been waived by the authors and the scenery and cCs, tunes have been donated by various theatrical managers. Some of the actors appeared in the original pro- auctions.
 The government itself owns and operates number of the companies. A new play, "A Marriage Made in Heaven" by Captain H.. II. Hughes, of Camp Lee, written expressly for production in cantonments, marks the initial attempt of the United States in the encouragement of the young dramatist. When first pre- sented at Camp Lee, May 16. the play proved an instant hit.
 Although investigation has shown that the soldiers taste runs to farces and musical comedies with plenty of pretty girls. the govern ment is about to experiment by booking classical play. Moliere's "The Imaginary Invalid" through the camps. More ambitious than the type of entertainment thus far pre- scented the piece possesses a dis tinct farcical appeal. It's production by the Cobarn Players is awaited with interest.
 The kind of plays possible for production in the Liberty theatres, as the cantonments' playhouses have been named. is limited by various causes, and it is impossible to judge of their suitability by ordinary standards. Experience has shown that the soldiers prefer comedies. farces and musical plays. Melo- dramas and plays dealing with the war are little liked. except in rare instances.
 Because of these facts the com mission on training camp activities has appointed a play-reviewing con- mittee whose duty il will be to sec Broadway productions, as well as to decide upon past successes and even new plays, with view to their production. Lack of aesthetic value is not to influence the committee in it's choice of plays. as entertain ment only is to to be the basis for the rendering of judgment
 The throughness with which the cOmmittee's researches must be con
 
 ducted maybe understood from the reproduction of some of the ques- tions which appear on blank form which the committee must use in submitting it's report on a play. The questions follow:
 Is the play interesting? Is it humorous? Is the play decent? Does it offend against any religious, racial or national faith or conviction? Is the acting good, medium or bad |? How many in the chorus? Are the girls pretty? Do they dance well ? Do they sing we'll? Is the music pleasing?