Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-30
A CHANCE TO CAPITALIZE THE
NEW VITALITY OF THE. STAGE
Victory Hall Theatre Project Comedies
AuspIeiously with an inviting Ora.
matIc OpportunltX for This CITY

forces of vitality in the American stnge.
Much superficial nonsense is disseminated
concerning the so-called degradation of the
drama and the alleged appeal of frvo and
fluff seasoned with salacty - reincarna-
tions of the Gilbertian Micah Sowls, whose
"shouts and yells and howls' are not
wanting to proclaim the death knell Of art
and the triumph Of the meretricious.
II IS charitable to assume that these self
constituted harbingers Of doom are unen-
lightcned rather than susceptible to the spell
Of cheap sensationalism. There are evil
dences Of vicious taste calculated to mislead
the unthinking. But side by side with much
that is futile and foolish. an upward trend
of dramatic development can be discerned
which is in high degree tonic and in
spirltlng
The stage OF New York in particular is
emerging from adolescence and has become
a scene of healthful new movements be-
speaking n sincere respect for the finest
possibilities of the drama. While this ad-
venturing has occasionally taken the form
Of over precious cults and perhaps ex-
cessive emphasis upon toy theatres COM
mitted to the exploitation Of bizarre themes,
an impressive amount Of sane, constructive
achievement is on record.
Even the so called commercial manager Is
now often revealed as n creature markedly
dissimilar 10 the cynical. saturnine ma
tcrialist Of conventional CariCature. The
theatre IS fundamentally business in which
the public rules. Producers today are. ms
ever. taking orders from their great client,
but these mandates denote definitely in
creased enthusiasm in the best drama not
necessarily goody -goody and prin. but in
formed with a grasp of human character.
with literary distinction sound technique
and the indispensable art Of sustaining in
tcrest.
II IS n fact that New York at the present
moment is the theatrical capital Of the globe.
and this not merely on the score of guam
tity. but with respect to the variety and
intrinsic worth of purely dramatic offerings.
Since the stage has ever exhibited remark
able recuperative powers. 1t Is iudtcious TO
suggest that the old prestige Of London will
never he regained. The position Of Berlin,
a decade ago so secure. has been de!eteri-
oUsly affected by the war. On the French
stage Government wardsh,p sustains an ad-
derived from the privately managed Paris
theatres is at this time not particularly
noteworthy
The awakening in New York. whore the
failure Of the too famboyantly organized
New Theatre is recompensed by the brilliant
and deserved success Of the resourceful
Theatre Guild. cannot be reckoned as an
exclusively local product. The change is
reflective of genuine cultural progress
throughout the country and authentic elc-
walton Of popular taste. not to be confused
with aristocratic cstheticism. so vulnerable
10 satire In music this revolution has
been recognized. In the theatre tho activ!-
ties OF calamity howlers have obscured due
appreciation of facts.
In Philadelphia. to be specific. not only
are imperlshabc stage traditions evoking
memories of the old Walnut. Arch and
Chestnut companies In the heyday of the
resident stock era, but there is an under.
current OF sentiment on behalf Of modern
dramatic progress which needs only TO be
canalzed, co ordlnated. charted and routed
to become effective.
Dependence on New York for footlight
offerings has been the chief obstacle to the
clariicaton and expression Of this opinion.
The opportunity to release and encourage
the forces of initiative at home. not so much
because Of local pride as because Of the
possible spendor of results, ts at hand In the
Victory Hall project.
State Senator Woodward las nrorosed
the formation Of n subscription organiza-
ton, ConCeivably on Theatre Guild lines, to
back a carefully selected company to be de-
voted 70 the presentation OF the best plays
obtatnable, modern and classic
So far as physical conditions are CON
Ccrned the Victory Hall auditorium of 1000
capacity could serve as home for such an
enterprise Pending the completion Of that
structure other quarters in Philadelphia
could perhaps be secured.
The possibilities Of such an undertaking
are fascinating and by no means so fanciful
as they would have been ten or fifteen years
ago. before the dramatic renaissance gained
hcadway. Artistic authority, talent and
experience are available for the project,
notably that accomplished actor and pro.
ducer, Louis Calvert who has lately ac.
knowledgod Philadelphia TO be ripe for crys.
taIl2ing that new spirit OF endcavor which
has borne fruit in New York
Reform Of the drama" IS a suspicious
phrase, the use of which is to be dopre-
Gated. Should new theatrical movement
be launched in this city It would be scr.-
ously compromised by cultivating n spirit
Of protest or sermonz!ng belligerency. The
contemporary drama does not deserve
scoldlng Its offenses are decidedly subor-
d!nate to its merits.
What Is needed In Philadelphia is reaiza-
ton Of the vigor Of a revolution at once
artistic and popular, and organized determi.
nation TO extend and develop It's resources