The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1922-08-09

WOpafandiat az wen hh an htiiH' Nv
must needs be explaining what he
creates. Fortunately for us, how
ever the practice comes irst and
then the theory. II IL the practice,
the art the ccasclcss activity OF the
man that is OF Importance. and IL ~
mainly with this that We need con-
tern ourselves
~" Craig Il . Bad Sitter.
Twenty years hence II may be poH-
slblc. as II will indeed be desirable.
TO rcduoe Gordon Ciaig's writings 10
n single volume and IL will at that
time be found that the essence can
he further reduced 10 the space OF a
few hundred words. But let Us con-
slider the mans art and turn TO the
drawings. We need no explanation
OF these. they cmanatc beauty. and
| am sure that In speaking OF them
the philosopher could at best do 10
more than give the lie TO the artist.
At the international Theatrical
Exposition. recently opened at Am
stcrdam. | spent the greater part OF
my time In the Appia Craig Room
which was devoted entirely to tbs
work OF the two great lnnovators.
The moro | looked at the hundreds
of drawings and models in the other
rooms the more firmly was con-
WINGED that In the work OF Appia
and Craig alone IN TO be found a SIM
pie and practical solution OF tho
problems OF the modern theater.
Whore the younger men differ from
the initlators they reveal an uttei
inability 10 conceive the limitations
and the possibilities Of the theater;
they seem TO think that the drama
has nothing to do with the theater
and that the theater Is place where
they may express themselves with
the utmost freedom.
There are, naturally, some OF the
younger men who, deriving their
IDEAS more or less directly from
Appla and Craig have enhanced tho
art Of the drama, remembering that
the theater Is primarily n place
where drama is 10 be presented, and
not public square where the show
man exhibits himself. The extrem.
lists have sought to debauch the
theater. and have succeeded only in
debauching themselves. A great
part of the Amsterdam exhibition
was devoted to the daubs of these
young cyclists.
Success Of Apps and Craig.
The most successful experiments
of the followers of Appia and Craig
have Of course sought inspiration in
the work of these men. and their
success is due largely to their hav-
ing brought beauty to the service of
the drama.
One of these disciples has summed
up the situation In a few brief and
wise words. Says Jacques Copeau,
director Of the Theatre du Vieux-
colombier Of Paris: "Adolphe Appia
and Gordon Craig. who initiated the
modern movement and who remain
the two outstanding figures in it
have alone established simple and
enduring principles, tracing the ele.
ments Of a theatrical style which is
of value not because OF its novelty
but because it revives the oldest
traditions. Their work, all of which
was done far from the theater. in
solitude and quiet, breathcs a spirit
Of grandeur and serenity. Every
thing else at the expos lion is either
: imitation, reformation. complication
or abuse OF tb .ir underlying ideas"
/ have elsewhere recorded my
opinion that Gordon Craig. apart
frc.n the theater. unable to secure
the millions he ought to have at his
disposal, is still the fountainhead
of those ideas which are now free
to every one, and which every one in
the modern theater has generously
used. I must add the name of
Adolphe Appia, from whom Craig
himself has received ideas. These
two artists, neither of whom has a
theater, remain and will for years
remain, the chief source Of inspira-
ton to every one who works for the
betterment of the art of the theater.
Craig Needs No Drama.
At the Amsterdam Exposition Mr..
Craig exhibits large number Of de-
signs, many of which are new;
though great many Of them were
made years ago. not all of them
have been shown in public. and few
of them have been reproduced
These are series of etchings, and
three series of what appear to be
wood blocks, designs for marion
nettes. The etchings, Of which there
are twenty. are principally studies
in light and shade. Many Of these
date from score Of years ago, but
are familiar only to those who have
attended Craig exhibitions. They
have not yet been reproduced.