Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-01-10
EDWARD GORDON CRAIG, son Of

stVis 'HlhS Iuut every oue elSe Is uulus
IS wrong.
The Russian dancers he finds ''elc-
phantine ; he does not believe that
poetry can be beautifully spoken by
English speakers (this from the son Of
Men, the Glorious). The marionette
is Eau ideal" Precisely. But how to
rea ~. it? Mr.. Neats,s dramas are
mot for the stage" The mere fact
that some of them "act beautifully
and have been performed with popular
approval is disregarded Applause is
crude; we do not, it seems, applaud
the Atlantic ocean. And so on.
Mr.. Craig knows lot. and he means.
oh, so well But. if his habit of aimless
dreaming continues he may one day
wake up, lime-Gt Rip Van Winkle. to
find that the practical producers be
contemns have accomplished actual art
reforms not dreamed of in his nebulous
philosophy. $685..
APOET recently remarked that be
4 \ cared not who made the laws of his
country Just so long as he could watch
Its dances. His wish would have been
measurablv gratifed the other evening
mad he seen a very excellent dancer,
Hal Skelly. at the Forrest where that
nimb'e eXpouent of Terpsichore bounded
about the deck of the stage shin and
over the floor of his stage friend S
drawing room. The Albany lawn is the
scene of one of the most novel dance
numbers of many seasons.
Dancing said Mr.. Skelly. off
scene. is one of the best exercises to
keep one healthy. 1t requires constant
practice to keep fit and this necessitates
early rising and early sleeping. which
people of the stage do not often care to
cultivate. If persons would only devote
more time to the old fashioned waltzes
and two steps instead of trying 30 out
do man with a shiver they would soon
find their every action graceful and
their poise thing to be regarded as an
asset.
Take the difficult feat of doing what
is technically known as the split.' 1t
IS very easy yet so many people are
afraid to attempt it. Of course, I be-
gan to do it when young, but l believe
that with practice each day, any one can
perform this feat with ease. Originating
the dances which we (meaning his part
ner, Louise Groody) do in this show
was not difficult and they took only
little over a month to perfect"
MORRIS GEsT is an ideaist at
4n heart and an astute manager by
adoption. Over in New York he is
SNNtihS wv pay Will JuSL IEE
poslte appeal. First he raised the ire
OF the puritanical by his production of
the. undraped drama in "Aphrcdite"
and now he gives the stage The Light
of the World" In seeing the first of
these productions, one is awed by the
scarcity of fabrics. In the latter, how
ever. there is much covering of body
and uncovering of the human heart.
The Light of the World is designed
10 take the I1la1a pf tapan IJr,.ss nj
Experience and it is likely to bring
to the theatre those who now only ven
ture out for a travel lecture or q re-
Cital. 1t is a forward moving drama.
Though the action is slow the story
advances to a grand climax when the
man who lmpersonateS the Christ at
Oberammergau walks out of the humble
carpenter shop to take up his role in
the Passion Play in the Bavarisn vii
lage. The play IS very affecting and
eXalting.
Coming at a time when the theatres
bave a surteit of jazz and nudity, this
drama of life as IT is found in every
byway and hamlet carries message of
spirituality. Persons seeking just to
pass few idle hours until the midnight
cabarets are opening or their dance is
to begin will not find the message in
this play. Others Will. Representation
of the Christ on the stage is handled
in reverent way, for He IS presented
as the man who portrays the Saviour
in the play which the people of the
town give, every ten years, The result .
is a tribIte to Morris Gest in his mani
festation IS artist ldealist and /
dreamer.
A DEMAND among film men in this
IN CITY for a film laboratory capable .
of coping with every phase of the in
dustry has resulted in the formation of .
company, IT was announced yeSter-
day, trading under the firm name Of the .
W. S. D. Pictures, with offices and .
laboratories at 1905 Arch street.
The formation Of this concern comes
as a relief to those IN the industry, for
heretofore when quality work was re
quired or some really technical Job had
TO be done. II was necessary to send the
work to New York for accomplishment.
With the new studio in operation every
thing from the making Of title TO the .
duplication IF q scene can he under
taken.
ITO THE list Of native Philadelplians
4 who have won success on the stage
ehould be added the name of Louise
Brownell, the dainty blonde dancer who .
pirouettss so enchautlngly in the per
formance of The Rose Of China. "
While her birthplace was small town
in the Middle West, Miss Eropnell was
brought to Fhlladelph!a when two
months old by her mother. who at that
time was a member Of the Aborn Opera
co. at the old Grand Opera House on
North Broad street. Through the en-.
Couragenent given her by the famous
si..seHse, Pcv'owa, who mapped out q
course of training for the child. she
studied with Alexis Koslof. who stages
the ballets at the New York Winter
Garden II is safe TO venture the pre-
diction that in the near future Louise
Brownell will blossom forth in one Of
the leading roles of Princess Theatre
musical production.
HCOMETHING ought TO be done about
~ the young actor said May Irwin
6S she sat in her dressing room between
nets of con the Hiring Line" "By
that ! mean that there is need for a
rehool of instruction. Today in Amer
lea young people come to the stage with
out any preliminary training in the dra.
matte art. Then they think that they
are actors. They are surprised when
Ihe men and women of the stage who
have served an apprenticeship do not
take the youngsters at their own esti-
mafe.n
Miss Irwin had attended matinee
and the subject was fresh IN her mind
l0r there she had seen a young man, of Il
'lssAnE manner aud 'Oi. reasonably y. :
T . -. u