El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-12-29

ONE would Ike to the experiment tried Of giving
~ Shakspere plays Robert MaHteu gives them IN LIB
ery hall at popular prices instead Of in small theater
usual rates This is criticize the prices charged
the theae for not only the seat prices lower than
those charged in larger cities but more important than
that the performances well worth tie prices charged
Every of the Mantsu plays brings pleasure and pema-
nent profit that cannot Be measured IN money but that if
suck measure be applied count higher sterling values than
most other ways Of spending Ike amounts IN pursuit OF
entertainment.
But the unfortunate fact Is that most people IN this
generation VIII not spend ShaksPere what they willingly
spend waste worthless ephemeral indulgence. One
cannot be blind 70 the significance Of the fact that at the
Manre plays the higher priced seats the main floor are
generally vel SHED while the cheaper balcony is scarcely
occupied There enough people Of intelligence and good
taste always to take enough fst class seats to meet the
guaranty But the Disappointing fact IS that the great mass
Of the people depves itself Of the pleasure Of Shakspr
This Is due partly to sort Of shyness fear contempt
vague notion that Shakspere is aighbr0w and dull
Even many who have at one time OF another read some
Shksps either have 70 conception Of the beauty charm
ana inspiration Of good dramatic representation, else
they are afraid Of being bored by something classical
Shakspere wrote and dramatized for the Of the
people Of his day his plays IN @hghbrow
STUFF then, nor they now, IN the sense IN which the
term . commonly used They appeal 70 intelligent ana
cultured folk 70 persons Of discriminating tIs but they
intensely human mighty IN their inspiration and
their dramatic power fundamental In their hum9r as5
philosophy, their passion and sentiment that IN fact they
do appeal strongly 70 children and TO the unea-Hsd and
al Who love swift strong action and manifestations Of Val
human purpose and he play Of the human spirit under
cEmstancss Of infinite variety.
Contrary tc TIE common idsa It Is not necessary TO
think IN order to enjoy Shaspers Most people nowadays
shy e the very thought Of thinking when they 70 take
their amusement and what they cali recreation The comic
paper type Of the stirred business an1 Is not so much Of
sHEgsraou and the type might be extended to women
and boys and girls with truth. But natter
Of fact anybody ho takes the chance Of exposing hsf
to It's influence really enjoy good ShakspeTe preseHta
ton without burdening his mind.
If to listen atteutiTsly and enjoy the play
words aud the lH Of artistic reading the majestic rhythm
and the music Of atcess poetry he get an that, and
80 home refreshed But If he TO stop his ears
and consider It all IS mere pageantry and pantois, he
could not help but enjoy. At Shakspere play there is
much to see as vel as hear
There must Be great part Of the population IA civ
Of this size that would like to enjoy Shakpsre ten cents
worth . cents worth, maybe Is cents worth and yet
gs to the dollar and the $780, rather thoughtessiy
guaass greater and undeTesmates the real worth
Of Shkspers to the faded human spirit and the duIed IN
tenecb BY way Of stimulus.
Above an every school boy and school girl ought to
and hear Shakpee plays at every opportunity They do
not realize Il now but in after years they VIII look back at
the Shakre nights and maness With pleasure and almost
afeconate longing. One feels the unhappness Of depv
ing the thousands Of 81 Paso school boys and girls Of the
profit and pleasure and lasting delight o. Shakspers merely
because they are too ignorant to insist and their parents
are too tight sted to pay the pce Of tickets for the
children
Many children If they were forced to 90 to Shakspere
play would 60 grudgngy and poutngy, and think Of It
But II nine cases out Of ten they would thor
ougy enjoy every minute Of the performance and remem-
Der it all their lives with gratitude
Now if Robert Mantsn and others continuing the fine
shakspsre traditions Of less hectic and genuine age
have the facilities offered them to play to thousands
instead Of hundreds not only would those thousands be
pleased ana beneteds but the entire dramatic world would
be the gamer Those thousands would Learn that certain
standards have real for being and that the cheap
and coarse consrazng Of the theater IN these times
has not meant better ausezts pleasure for the
people.
Take the recent experiences Of e Paso with popular
concerts and the grand opera Of the 1900 tickets for the
opera purchased It i1 probably true that 10000 different
persons shared the benefit Ten thousand persons enjoyed
the music and felt the better for having been there the
opera had bean gwen the local theater available not
nd
thau 1900 1000 different persons would have been su
lated By contact with the worlds good music Thousands
attend each popur concert whereas in the days before
had L5sry han the audiences would have numbered only
few hundred at best.
People starved for good smusements, but they do
not quite want to pay the prices necessary to bring first
class attractions here 70 play house Of email seating
capacity The l shows m the house, but seldom others
ztter how ertorous Yet It is almost certain that If
antsn and others Ike him could play to thousands With
sats low z5e OF for children there would be
osa houss Thousands 70 and hear and enjoy, with