The Washington herald., 1920-11-28
Survey of Seasons Plays
Shows Change for Better
Indications Point to Elimination of Trashy
Drama of World War Period.
By EARLE DORSEY.


production that has been the wont
of plays In the past two years. Miss
Grace George very sincerely wants a
good play and so does Otis Skinner
Neither can be accused of attempt
ting a run for movie purposes only.
A mathematical plunge of this
sort leaves one with certain definite
findings on which conclusions
may be based. 1t is clear that the
tone of the drama is on the up grade.
Perhaps 1t is ridiculously optimistic
to assume that the upward move
ment will continue, but nevertheless,
one may assume IL for the simple
reason that the theater invariably
plays down or up to its public and
II Is hardly in the nature of things
for public taste in this country to
go any further down the scale.
In fact, indications that point to
an improvement in the quality or
theater commodities are indications
more basic than a three month sur
vey OF road-town conditions. The
theater. In other ways, seems To be-
tray a certain disgust at its own
snoddiness. Long before this dis
gust became manifest in the theater
IL was manifest in a growing pro-
portion of the people who attend
theaters.
Producers are business men. for
the most part, and Ii has become
steadily clearer that many of the
dramatic hashes and stews previous
~ prepared for an uncritical public
nave lately been repudiated by that
same public. One producer of
cheap farce is credited with a loss
or nearly s250,o00 in the past year.
MS output of this type of stun has
oWlndied to trickle and 1t shows
signs OF drying up entirely.
II being rather certain that the
theater has reached low-water mark
In the quality of its drama, II is
only natural that the drama. ALWAYS
most volatile and mercurial ele-
ment, should take an upward trend.
hather a large number of dramatic
puryeyors claim to have undergone
change of heart and to have seer
the demand for a better order Of
drama. VI
mere Is a certain grim humor IN
tne situation 1t is the renudjat;on
oy a certain class of theater ma
irons OF the shoddy and mush that
was esteemed so fondly a wear or
Two ago. 1t is the growing educa-
tIon OF a new theater generation
spawned by the war and the enor-
nous wages bred of the war.
The Theater-Goinr Habit.
fIior- TO 1915. theater-going was
nardiy a habit with large proper
ton OF the American public. A sal
ary tnat ranged from $50 to s35 a
week admitted of comparatiycly few
expenditures OF 81 for an avsninp
IN the theater. The pictures eot
this vast majority of the population
ana the legitimate theater absorbed
and educated, in leisureiy fashion.
the inevitable proportion of wage
earners whose. natural increases in
earning capacity brought the the
ater into their field Of Amusement
vision.
Then came The war and wages
sWeiied overnight. The bulk of
shese wage increases fell into the
nands or those who previously had
souhd neither funds nor inclination
for a study of the 81 drama.
usned with ready cash this cIas,
= urneG toward the theater in an ir-
Inclination to rise SUI
Perlor TO It's former. cultural estate.
~ was TINS class which packed the
tneaters during the two war years,
SSelhandlpg dramatic jazz and baIIy-
noo, unready then for anything that
toIs toIs.tuted an appeal to the in
But as was natural a vast
amount OF dramatic education has
Deeh impaired in the last two ar
tnree years. A good many so,Ss
nave cut their eye-teeth ana. In the
natural order of events tbev have
ceased to marvel at dramatic form
anu nave begun to study n.
Inc producers, so eager in their
enort to pawn or such oysring,
as tney might later dispose ~ TO
the picture-makers, are No. ,.c.
ing tne consequences OF class edu-
~ Inc new generation of the.
atergoine adults has opened its ewes
ana wnat It sees 1t wants no longer.
gradual though steady unward
trend in the theater that Il. al.
ready noticeable in a mere three
month vista OF the drama IN = tc~n
OF 100000 Is merely a reflex Of this
II you doubt that such . tsan.,-
ton in any given mass or neonIe
Is possible in SO short a time con-
suit the director of a band nsne.
Ttrating neighborhood new * .u,,,-
mer' band concerts. He will ten
you how short a time is reouired
for the jazz requests to dwindls and
the ella Szfe raouaaf, . = o..|.,---