The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-12-06
A Timely Editorial
The American Stage
From the Washington Star.

From the Washington Star.
A serious effort is being made by
dramatic producers in this country
to elevate the stage" They have
recently appointed a director in
chief, or executive chairman, SINH
lar to those of the movies and base
ball, himself a dramatist of note,
and he sas just announced in New
York the organization of national
theatre, with which it is aimed
to further the American drama.
Several specific objects are declar-
ed. 1t is sought to Increase the
interest of the public in the drama
as an art, belonging both to litera-
ture and the theatre; to advance
the interest of the drama in this
country by furthering the produc-
ton of the best plays, interpreted
by the best actors; to- encourage
the establishment of a national
theatre, holding up lofty standard
before all other theatrical enter
prises; to stimulate the study of
the drama, present and past, in
universities, colleges and schools,
and to organize throughout the
country subsidiary associated
groups to further these aims and
purposes.
Such movement is much needed
in this country, and there will be
earnest hope on the part of great
many Americans that it will sue
coed. The stage. to speak of the
theatre as an institution, is at this
time at low ebb of originality,
sincerity and wholesomeness. 1t IS
given in the main to entertain
ment," with a plethora of color,
form-human and otherwise-me-
diocre music and eccentricity. Good
plays are being written and acted,
but they are exceptions. They
must compete for favor with a
form of dramatic diversion that
has gained popularity without merit
through its appeal to the lower
tastes of the people.
Several times IN The past tins Ell
fort has been made to bring up
the American stage to its former
standard and to make the theatre
in this country an agency OF real
cultural development. But many
elements have handicapped them
because of their failures. Now and
then sincere producers have with
out regard to profit persisted in
the presentation IF admirable
works, but their successes have
been few and not encouraging.
Now an organization has been
formed which embraces most of the
larger enterprises. and it is this or
ganization that has now proclaimed
its purpose to proceed along the
lines of restoration and recovery.
A national theatre" in the sense
used in Augustus Thomas an
nounccment is not to be a fixed,
physical institution, but rather an
organization of the best available
dramatic talent doing the best plays
on tour regardless of cost and re-
turn-a travelling national theatre,
as it were. to carry the ideals of the
stage to the people rather than to
compel the people to come to it over
long distance.
The movies and the musical
drama" will still compete for puo-
lie patronage against such a worthy
work of art, but it cannot be be-
lieved that American taste has been
so lowered in the course of the
past generation or two that the best
drama, produced in the most eff
cient manner. will not succeed. All
over this country the people are
striving to create their own drama.
Little theatre movements, amateur
groups and community theatres ex-
list in numbers, signs of instruction
against the tendency of the Ameri-
can stage during the past few dec
AIDES. They are wholesome tokens
of a readiness on-the part of the
people of this country to support
national theatre" wherever its
location.