The sun., 1919-04-13
BY BARRETT H. CLARK.

PROFESSOR BAKERS new book,
i The Technique of the Drama, is the
most thorough and useful handbook Of
its kind that has yet come to my notice.
And it ought to be, for the author has
based his work primarily upon his per-
sonal experience as dramatic adviser at
Harvard, and upon the best books of the
past decade. When l say biased his
book," I mean merely that he has not
scrrpled to make use Of the theories
stated and evolved by such forerunners
as Brander Matthews, Clayton, Haml-
ton, and William Archer, in their respec-
tive works, A Study Of the Drama, The
Theory of the Theater, and Pldymaking.
The Technique Of the Drama is not ap-
preeiably different in point of view and
aim from many books that have pre-
eedcd it. Its purpose is to aid the stu
dent of dramatic technique In under
standing the essentials of play construc-
kfOH. IOltSoOI lOdhSI ID wv hloC W
claim that his manual can make dra-
matist; he realizes that the most that can
be accomplished by books is to set the
beginner on the right tract: md possibly
to save him unnecessary waste Of time
and energy. This point is made clear
from the first. He states:
"Why, however, is it impossible that
some time should be saved would-be
dramatist by placing before him, not
mere theories of playwriting, but the
practice of the dramatists of the past,
so that what they have shared in com
mon, and where their practice has diff
fered, may be clear to himf That is all
this book attempts. To create a dramat-
list would be a modern miracle. To de-
velop theories of the drama apart from
the practice Of recent and remoter dra-
matists of different countries would be
visionary. This book tries in the light
of practice merely to distinguish the per-
manent from the impertinent in tech
nique. 1t endeapors, by shooting the in
experienced dramdtist hor experienced
dramatists haze solred problems similar
to has otun, to shorten little his time Of
apprenticeship"
l have italicized the last sentence,
which L respectfully call TO the atten-
ton Of critics who are ready to pounce
upon this book as another 'ludicrous at
tempt" TO corner the market of dramatic
trade secrets. They will please to OBJ
serve the becoming and exemplary mod
estv of the "Professor who runs the play
wright factory at Cambridge"
Bakers Technique offers, then, no
short cut to success 1t is, however, a
most interesting and useful guide for be-
ginners, and deserving of perusal even by
the drama enthusiast or student who has
no intention of writing play-if any
such exist.
Tie scheme of analysis follows roughly
the psychological and mechanical proc
esses of the would-be playwright, the
writer opening his treatise with such gen.
eralities as Technique in Drama. What
is t9 The Drama as an Independent
Art" and gradually coming to the par
ticular problems of Subject and Plot,
Dialogue, etc. The book is replete with
examples; every important point is am
ply illustrated with apt quotations. These
specific instances, together with the au-
thor's attitude as enunciated in the open
ing chapters constitute the chief value Of
the Technique.
A useful, interesting, suggestive book,
the best by all odds of the manuals in
tended for beginners. Professor Baker
has done we'll work worth doing.
And yet as lay it down l wax phi