The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-07-23
Signs of the
Times

Christ on the stage--a periious |
,y0sdient ia the caption under which |
.Tsrert issue of the Chicago Tribune |
snsaks about the new play The |
snoi" which Charming Pollock will |
.rodure with Richard Bennett as |
in,d.ng man. the initial perform |
80 10 be given in Los Angeles |
,t,e soon, The article Is interesting !
h-,sr,urh as It is a daring thing TO |
u as the author of this new play |
s.ears 20 employ o rare and perilous 1
ynodfent-that OF Introducing |
Christ as a character in the play |
Tbis has seldom been ventured In |
,he purely commercial theater and
Mr. Pollock, as tho Chicago paper
savs has never been rated as one
81 the playwrights from whom any,
,bing so daring might be expected |
Ta is not without his precedents TO
he sure. There ia an apparition in
postond's lie Samaritaine," played
no, 60 long ago by Nine. Barnhardt |
n, the screen Mr.. Griffith achieved
with lovely dignity and no mint OF
offense. Christ in Intolerance"
Ard there are several instances OF
Indirect appearances such as the
shaft Of light in Ben Hur" and the
central character In THE Servant
|. rhereIn the reference Is historical
ire M lease wholly indigenous TO the
theme. In the Pollock play. II Is
neither. as Christ appears Mt the
end OF the first act. The rest Is mod
orn, secular and not ut all mystic.
being propounded MS an answer 20
the old question, What would hap
non today to n man who tried 10
i've according 10 the teachings and
example OF Christ
quoting Mr.. Pollock in the TrI-
bure:
10 years" says Mr.. Pollock--have.
in fact, been working on II off and
on the whole time. The idea came 20
me one night when ! was reading
ny Bible. It's a thing, I'll admit,
that I had never done before. Per-
hlDs that Is why | was so immed!-
ately impressed. II struck me then
that the real Christ was very SIM
pie. living parsonage. dwelling by
truth alone. and that he had been
very much befosged by his follow
ers. Perhaps The Foor won't at
tract the usual crowd to the thea
ter after the first curiosity Is worn
Of But what OF the people who
don't usually 20 10 the theater be-
cause they don't care for the usual
PLAYS? Perhaps some Of them will
come 10 see my play" The Tribune
stated in its article thet a group of
Christian Scientists saw "The FOOL
In rehearsal recently, read II, and
cfsred 20 buy It for production un-
der their own auspices. II seems
that Mr.. Pollock has started some-
thing The question OF him being
impervious to censure from the cler-
ry and the thinking world remains
10 he seen. The crux Of his arau-
ment II Il may be termed "a such,
CT better still. the thought that in
splred his unusual orrangement or
play as ~ chara cters. IL found in the
remark that II seems TO him that the
real Christ was a very human SIM
pie living parsonage dwelling by
truth alone and that he had been
much befogged by his followers
interviewing certain local mem
bers OF the clergy-at least those
who could be found over phone,
most interesting ard broad View on
the subject was given by Rev. Ralph
Pomerov Crum, rector OF Trinity
Episcopal church who eays: THE
presentation OF the character OF
Christ on the stage Is venture
which should be entered inta with
the greatest hesitation However,
X the subject Is handled with rever-
ence and devotion IL cannot but
have a helpful influence. There Is
no reason why in our day and in our
own country we cannot have the
same spirit that motivates the
Ooeremmergau players. There have
been several moderniZations of the
Christ In plays on the secula- stage,
and think. speaking generally. that
ihese have made people think with
greater regard for the Master OF
mems souls. THE Passing Of the
. Third Floor Back" "Ths Servant in
the House" the rnysteriousc ph!los-
opher OF the -Four Horsemen OF the
Apocalypse" all these are evidently
Te!ncarnstions OF the Christ spirit,
and I do not think one could see
nose plays without being impressed
oy the sermon that they preach.
For be Il remembered that the
stage as we'll as the pulpit has a
preaching function. II may preach
the Propaganda OF the devil, or II
may preach the highest Christian
ethics. II is for us 20 encourage
every intent 20 improve the stage
rather than. because OF its abuse
70 condemn II in toto. Unless we give
pom our moral and financial sup
port 20 every sincere effort which
y made 20 improve the stage we are
. N reality consigning II 70 be an In
't!uenoe for evil In society"
- And with the thought OF the stage
Ralph Talbot. manager OF one Of
Tllsa's very modern and splendid
moving picture homes, had this q
ay which is in itself indeed another
interesting viewpoint, though mucf
AKIN 20 the opinion OF Mr Crum
have seem" said Mr.. Talbot, "th'
pays, From the Manger TO N.
Cross,' biblical story produced !.
years ago by the Kalem company
slso The Passion Play produced o'
we Pathe Film company when 4
vas French concern, This wa
was about eighteen years ago. Boti
re sun in use and are being use'
oy churches. As 10 having Chris
a character on the stage, m
opinion is that II would not be goo'
polcy 20 have n secular play m
matter how serious and produce m
character OF Christ. In doing such
.Alng. the producer or playwright
YOU'D certainly have 20 do so Will
leh reverence and devotion an
th!ully depict Christ ip A relig
.o1s setting and one most profounl
N order not 10 offend either adul
drsn.
-, There are companies maxim