El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-05-07
LITTLE CHILDREN LOVE TO
PLAY SOMETHING WORTH WHILE

THOSE who would Ike to see 50 little children act and
speak delightfully."- and naturally play that every
body can enjoy would do well 60 to ST. Clements parish
half hour before the hour set for the performances
the Blue Bird for too few to hold all who come
10 the door.
Eineteuths Of the audience are cldren-hundreds come
spend the hours the afternoon that ordinarily their
very busiest what with the movies and the candy shops
the dancing and the idling
It is wonderful work that is being done at the Chill
drens heater IN q Pas0. trained and experienced
dramatic Interpretation and management happens also
be devoted ehuTchan whose prime delight in life is
TO with and for little children and whose object IS
two-old to make folks happy while the time help
ing them te employ their leisure time to advantage and
thereby feed the spiritual life without imposing deprivation
It is not hard for anyone who witnesses one Of these
delightful little plays sense the importance Of the work
that being IN the parish house Fifty children are
trained for months natural self expression IN
operative play study, and work in nemorzng poetic lines
IN observing and interpreting the traits Of human nature
appIecatng harmonious coong and grouping in myth
mic gesture and dancing and above all in knowing how to
derive pleasure from occupations that not in the least
harmful to body, mind, spirit.
And then the other side Of the footghts, hundreds
and hundreds Of children and elders are given the
opportunity to have all these things by reflection and
entertained thoroughly that they have desire TO leave
the little hail and wander down town to the movies and the
sweet shops spend the hours in wasteful ideness
Tt is something 70 keep 50 children interested IN such
serious pleasure for two months; It is greater
achievement keep several hundred interested for three
hours Of their most valuable time
The Blue Bird is difficult for professionals and
elders child actors it presents many hard problems
But there be nothing but praise for the way in which
the little people have caught the spirit Of the thing and
lave thrown themselves into the play Some Of the parts
vel carried through that the possession Of special
talent is clearly proved All spoken and acted with
science and understanding
And there much beauty and harmony there with care
Jul study Of costumes and groupings and With such decaey
and appropriateness Of stage setting often elaborate and
intricate from mechanical standpoint to make
wish fer larger hall that could enjoy It al
The cynic VIII wonder if the children understand He
VII weHder If child audience find amusement IN such
play. He VIII cease to wonder cynicay if he VIII sit
there and look and listen to the applause and to the
lnents Of the little people around him
There was group Of newsboys and bOotbacks and
sengsr several Of their Spanish Americans One little
fellow making fun and pretending that he bored.
Another in the group Tebuked him. and turning around to
The Others said, "hat dye think Of that jim says this
isn't fairy play what dye think Of that? call it q
fairy play, and good oneH @here the faries?" said
the unconvnced They're all fairies said the ether and
the debate ended.
The Chdren's thsatsr Is little thing, Just slight at
tempt to depart fem drudgeTy and routine and open
window IN the sky, 70 do something different, something
worth while and give the little people idea Of pleas
But like many other little things In this world It
VIII leave its effects in many lives they win all
remember, their attitude toward the world viii be
hanged and they VIII less for the ugly and wastsful