New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-08-20
Duncan Sees
Hope for Our
Native Drama
Actors and Authors VIA
Evolve T'laealer Exprr sa
siye of National C,,arses :.
BY Augustin Duncan

Irishman" Of BoacicauIs and ~
tators.. The "stsge American
need of similar minded ea.m
for we have no American taesser ~.
an established standard Of PLAYA /.
American authors, able to eh,l,..4
the theatcrs OF Europe
Almost every other phase Of az. :.
tional life is sharply defined and IS
tinctly our own. Our stage s.;i /.
longs to the foreigner II ws 1s.
see what is considered the ks.s...
type Of dramatic performances nc 90.
the playhouse TO gee the dramati. az
dcctions of other countries. bv an. so~,
Influenced by modes Of life and tbours..
alien to US. As natural result the..
foreign plays are generally acted j,
SO unreal style that their er.at.,,
would probably be astounded By A..
strange sea-change their brain easl.,
dren had undergone. A more or ,s..
modified form OF the tecanioue a,
farce comedy or our native negro min
strels still serves our native ular.
wrights. The grand manner of our
stage-American is apt to descend "a
the pathetic dignity of YellowpIvsh
Hall, while in softer moments we fall
into the cloying arms Of PoIIyanns.
In quite colonial spirit the Amer
lean manager often casts New York
heroes with London actors; giving
decidedly cosmopolitan tinge to our
honest native Long Islanders. far
there is quite an established opinion
that American gentlemen are better
represented on our stage by Engi;sh-
men. In this respect our theater is a
colonial as those Of Australia and New
Zealand. do not know whether
this is due to the native born actor
excelling in rural character. a field Id
which ne is practically unchalIenesd
Perhaps it is for these reasons that
American drama means to most Of Q.
something "down on the farm
We have reformed that indifersnt,y,
you will say--well, why net reform !,
altogether? On the other hand cur
actors are not always able TO realizs
the intentions OF the author in foreign
plays. We are apt as actors to stress
the foreigners manner, for instaace,
when our native actor attempts the
British idiom in the same east With
actors Of that isle.
No matter how much such haiscxss-
ing may divert US, it cannot sueesed
in moving Us as sincere presentation
Of American character and ideals. To
show the American at home, in bis
attitude toward life-love, marrisgs,
children-caIls for the thorough
understanding for which the Amssi
can actor possess essential advantages
An English company in an English
Play. Russian company in RsF-
sian play, or a Greek company In
Greek play. can never be as ensirsls
lntelligible to US as native actors II
the accents Of our native speech, de-
picting our very selves. When TIE
mirror is held up to reflect scenes ur-
natural to Us only the interest Is
achieved that one gains by gazing On
the form and pressure OF some strange
prehistoric wonder. Showing seornhtr
own image is q much more Intrinsic /
job. The look Of surprise sad horror
on Scorn's face should be nora thrill
ing than the faces of the crowd gaping
at mammoth's footprint
Our own sriefs, sorrows and 3eys
will move and interest us much more
than the sorrows of Werther, and We
will get a great deal more enjoyment
and benefit out of it. What is Hecuha
to us, when we have our own troubles
Give our authors field whore thsy
will have full play and you may trust
them to evolve a drama for US fuiis
expressive of our national charactss,
and which will plant itself as deeply
in our affections and be as distinctly
American as our national game, Our
greatest play creation, American bass
bail.
A group of competent. JOYOUS expen
american actors, valuing their art o
a medium Of national expression
working together to form nations
theater. must be served by writers ~ 4
spired by the same ideal.
Ii we seek first this ideal, eer' I
mercial success will come after, for ~ !.
American repertoire theater wss'e
have to make the meat it feeds ess
create its own repertoire, for noas
exists at present.
What life and significance the re'E
vival of any American play that ass
passed into history or oblivion xouia
reveal is hard to imagine. ATTEMPTS
at such revivals have shown no iiss
The old skeletons were trotted ~
and dangled and were not even lcsfe'. !.
There are some American legends knss
show signs Of Immortality, howeYs''S
and perhaps, an American EuripssN
will appear who will revitalizs sns.
old Hyths and show as Uncle Iopss /
70 hksfts Sy.a ssrrn~, Nys~axs ~, q Earfo6@N I'll