The sun., 1919-05-18
BY LUCIEN CLEVES.

TN Fifth avenue art gallery there
was recently held an exhibition
Of the new art of the theatre,
which Is making its way steadily in
the playhouses of this country. 1t is
not the kind of art" which is often
hallowed by such surroundings. In
deed. painters, especially those who
have not been invited to take any part
in this new movement, and critics are
inclined to be mildly amused at the
pretensions of the new movement in
CHASING itself with the art of painting
and sculpture as they are represented
by the gallery exhibitions. They do
not see that a little restraint in the
use OF paint and canvas, a somewhat
more tasteful manipulation Of color
and, above all. the mechanical arrange
ment OF lights which Is a feature Of
the new school OF theatrical decora-
ton-they do not see why these quail
ties In the work of stage painters and
designers should entitle their work to
take any place in the broad world of
art. But 1t may be that the apostles
acting as 1t exists to-day can right
fully be described as an art any other
details Of stage paraphernalia are en-
titled to the same distinction.
It's Exponents Call 1t an Art.
But ever since Gordon Craig began
TO struggle with the conventions of
stage decoration in order to show that
simplicity, when II was POLITICALLY con-
ceived, might stimulate the imagina-
ton more than the laboriously minute
attempt to reproduce realistically the
scene demanded in play the new art
-malgre the criticisms been maxi
ing its way. In Europe, Max Rein
hardt and Stanislawsky have done
much to prove the merit of Mr.. Craig's
theories which have gradually come
to take their place among the artistic
credo OF all the new men in the thea
ire OF every land. Jacques Copeau
showed this season his application of
the ideas Of Craig and his successors
10 French literary theatre, oc-
casionally with surprisingly beautiful
results. But 1t has remained for the
American followers of this new prin-
cpIe to exhibit here its excellencies
adapted TO our own uses. The illus
Uations show the successful applica-
uon OF the new stage art" to some of
the current dramas.
The Place of Arthur Hopkins,
NO other manager of this city has
NelCorned the tendencies OF the new
sage designers with the same cor
Ga"'! that Arthur Hopkins has
s'"Wh; so he has come to stand for
'"at movement In our theatre. Just
TO" he may be said to be standing
LOT It with the most satisfactory re-
sLHs. Mr.. Hopkins at the beginning
o. Lis career as an independent man
ager was fortunate enough to annex
Robert Edmond Jones as his stage
Designer. Mr.. Jones had done the
picturesque decorations for Granville
MARKER when he mounted at the old
NaUacks Theatre 1.-THE Man Who
Married a Dumb Wife" Mr.. Jones
succeeded in celebrating by his skill
" inc and color the vacuous fable
OF Anatole France which would 9TH
HVlse have sent a twentieth century
audience 10 sleep. Maybe he was also
responsible for the settings of THE
Doctors Dilemma" which in style
wore not unlike what he did for THE
Devils Garden" two years later. At
an events, he associated himself with
Mr. Hopkins. He Is mentioned first,
Nhoe the two are just now enjoying
WIN The Jest at the Plymouth
!heatre the most completely success
I"s event OF the designers skill. The
popular success OF the drama Is, OF
COURSE overwhelming. while critical
Praise of its invesdture has been
unanimous.
Last of Several such Productions.
one need only compare the strik-
Ing ana characteristic pictures that
ar Jones has made to frame this
pay with the conventional and oper-
o.. settings in Paris TO realize the
s"'I 81 the American artist Various
FONTS IN Mr.. Jones's scenery have
IMPRESSED themselves on all who saw
,Hem The towering doorways of the
lahqlet hall which open to an indigo
Gay me cerulean baroness OF Cine
was apartment with its fading fres-
GOES and the massive pillar Of the
Mtdici dungeons projected against
we darkness OF its mysterious depths
gre Akely TO be remembered by those
VINO ara least susceptible to such in
HIenccs' Then the figure OF the
Ia'R''r wrapped in his flowing coat of
satin, the splotch of crimson
r.'de by the fallen draperies OF the
san inercenary and the mediaval
,'.'4.s mess OF the courtesan are de-
.'"' that will AFFECT every spectator
N Tho degree OF his reaction to beau-
o. II Is - NSA'h this play of the