Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-10-31
PLAYS REQUIRE
USE OF "GRAY NATTER
i.The Right TO Strike" "'Thc Cross
:. ing" and "'Thc Unknown"
Arc Typical.
MAsEEIELD MAKES COMMENTS
Greatest Living English Poet Says
He Believes PlayWrights Still
Prefer Legitimate Stage TO Screen
for Their Works.
ny HUGH DRYDEN.

(Sta6 Correspondent Cross Atlantic
Newspaper Service. inc.p
LONDON. Oct. 23.-I, cannot be
urged against tho London Heaters
now. as il WAS during tho war. mat
they arc given up TO l,roth. tr.yo!lty
Anear-normal conditions has brought
back more substantial class of dia-
matte fare, Gud some OF the plays
think, WiiRcs, The Unknown. -
whcl appeals 10 the deep spiritual
emotions. Hsrr!e's MARY Rose,
which raises "n eerie wonder aud
iickles the agination: The Blue
Lagoon" and THE Gaiicn OF Mlah.'
with their exotic appeal. the high
brow plays AZ the EVeryman Thea
ter, and tho Grand Gulguoi thrillors
Another thought -compeliing and
immediately tor!Sal PA! !s ne
Thea;or. Big labor leaders ike j..
IL. Thomas and ~. NJ. Iiyudman were
among the iirst-uiEht audience, and 4
contingent OF the rark-and hle in the
gallery raised a protest al what they
called capitalist done which was
quickly drowned in the general APP
Another play that is causing dis
matter. is THE Crossing" Mt tho
Comedy Thcater This is written by
.hgcrnon Elackwood, author o( many
weird and uncanuy tales. and Ser
tram FORSYTH. whose name Is not so
familiar AZ time when spiritual
ISM ard psychic matters generally
have so many dcvotccs. euCh play
IS hound g. get II big following.
Every Womnn's Privilege is. of
course the traditional one of chanG-
ing her mimi. Miss Marie l.ohr, ono
nj orr most charming condolences
and actress managcrs, exercises the
feminine prcrocatlvo at tho Globe
Thcator in new play by J. Hastings
Turner. Dahlia Lavory. the daugh-
nj 10 Tory h0rnngt holds
TORY views. and has contempt for
such iTiNaiIiicS rs love. She Spurns
The advances cal. Mortimer Jcrrold, =
wealth. man cf hcr own class. and
forces Harold Glaive, Il young So
ciaItSt, INTO q CamouilaEc engage
mcnt. With which she expects 10
3vhcn Glalve really falls in love with
Her il leaves her cold. Then Ter
rold makes his grand assault, with a
inrced entry 10 her rooms and ardent
I. kisses, ard she SucCumbS Dahli1
!5rclcascs uarold. only too glad To he
free, and becomes engaged To Morti-
ncr The play Is saved from the
5ilosuc and wcll-contrivcd incidents.
and The compelling charm OF Miss
lschr.
John MaseHcii, perhaps tho great
est living English poet. has Givcn
ont gone interesting views on the
4 present state os the British drama,
which is alleged to he suffering from!
y a. StaItl'N 81 SbNUi ilsiN VIE ms anu
new ideas. Personally, never knew
4 n time when the Same complaint was
( not just a;s rife ] is declared that
producers. get tho kind ~ plays they
q want, and that the movies arc mo-
(. nopolizlny all the talent for their
Fcenarios Any way, this IS what
Mr., MaseHcld says;
The suggestion that II" play
wrirht IN this country nHy have
found a new outlet for his talent In
writing for III" cinema, Is. ! fancy,
hardly satisfactory answer AS far
"s | am aware, playwriuhts prefer
20 continue writing for tho thcatcr.'