New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-06-01
By Haywood Broun


The theatrical season of 191s-19
seems to us to have been pretty
good sort of.season. We can't remem-
Der that many great plays were pro-
duced but then there never are manv
great plays. On closer consideration
there were none at all last season.
But the season as not wasted for
all that 'rhe Jest" with the. two
barrymores, was, or rather is, one of
the finest productions which New York
has ever seen. The crafts CT stage pro-
ducer. actor and scenic artist have
seldom been combined so shrewdiv and
to such good effect Benefits plav.
although no. great, is vivid. inter
esting and violent
1t was this last quality probably
which brought the piece such enormous
success. Until the coming OF "The
Jest" the theatre had by no means
Wy wiz lilt. AltuOUrh THIS
was q period in which millions Of peo
pie had suddenly been thrust out OF
all peaceful pursuits and into very
weller o. action. the theatre kent on
Its mud. tepid way. That was nayura.
enough III France and England. whore
the violence of life was so prodigious
that relief in the theatre was inpera-
tive. But since the war in America
ran much shorter course the need
1or relaxation was not so great. In
deed, It was probably grossly exagger
eted by theatrical managers. People
by no means had their fil of action.
Indeed, it may be noted that good
many writer's in America, both cGi
foria' and otherwise, are still of the
s.ind that the end came too soon. Nor
~ THIS feeling confined TO writing men.
exceptionally there were a-number
of flghtinG men in the ranks and above
"ho wanted TO go on with it. Thew
mad felt their strength and power. and
were only too eager TO drive the proof
nome. he wax ended before it.. had
stated on America. OF course, nuner-
Gus exceptions should be noted, but
even after all these have been granted
a large public is left which has no.
yet come out of the notion Of thinkinc
OF HE IN terms Of the most strenuous
physical action. Plsywrirhts arc mis-
taken IN serving their mild and senti
nentaii@ed version of warfare to this
public
The book publishers. wiser Tor once
tnan me children OF the bright lights
showed much more acumen in gauping
me public taste. Among the biggest
successes Of the book world were GUY
kmpey5 "Over the Top" and Henri
barbusse's Under Fire" The point of
view Of these two had nothing in com
mon, bat they did share the spirit of
sayagerv. "Tho Jest," OF course. was
written long before the war but it was
the one play Of the season which let
blood flow freely. II cat across tn
stage !'kc great purple scar. II
cro~ded all the violence and passion
ooz5'blc into four acts, and vet it was
more tnan mere blood and thunder
thriller, because the gesture which Il
va able TO make above all this welter
as undeniably one Of beauty, If not
- iinenexs.
FOR hnencFs nc should be inclined 10
1fn elsewhere. That VIC found al it's
fullest IN Susan Glaspcll's quiet end
in,ense little play "Bcrnice" This
seemed 70 uz about the best thing OF
me season. II preecntcd no opportu-
NIFTY for atagecraft such as "The Jest.
afforded, and Of course, the act
ing Was not comparable, in ante
o the fine performance Of Ida
Eaah. but il interested ug more