Decorah public opinion., 1923-02-14
GREAT PLAY AT
GRAND FEB. 22
The University Theatre Will Present
The Merchant of Venice"
With Exceptionally Fine
Stage Settings.
RESERVED SEATS
WILL SELL AT $1.oo
The Play in Being Produced Here
Under the Auspices Of the High
School Athletic Associs-
tion.

When the University Theatre pre-
sents The Merchant Of Venice" at
the Grand Opera House Thursday
Evening, Feb. 22, the citizens Of De
corah will be given chance TO CO.
operate in an important drama move
ment as wen as TO enjoy first
class production. The University
Theatre makes all Of its bookings In
60 operation with the Iowa Commun-
ity Theatre circuit of the Drama
League Of America.
Mr. Walter Prichard, prominent
dramatic crt2ic of New York, is an
ardent supporter Of the Iowa plan
of circuiting plays. He says:
The Community Theatre Circuit,
started in Iowa, holds vast poten-
tialities, because IL can be extended
indefinitely, adapting itself to local
conditions, and because 1t can keep
alive the best spoken drama in places
now abandoned by the professional
theatre, take the spoken drama into
places where the professional the
atre never reached, and, above all,
because Il can call out the creative
energies of the people Themselves.
To realize the drama as a living
force which doesn't depend on pro-
fessional companies or even on
theatre in the conventional sense, but
does depend on the dramatic impulse
within people themselves, so that
anybody can have theatre who Wills
IL hard enough, IL TO give new hope
and encouragement.
"The Drama League has in the
Community Theatre Circuit idea
something bigger than even its origi-
nators guessed, perhaps. 1t has the
opportunity TO loose the creative
energies of the people themselves
and the opportunity 70 foster In
time-and not such long time, ell
ther-a local drama in various sec.
tons of the country which will make
the theatre more vital 10 the lives
of those sections than it has ever
been before. One Of the first things
for the league to do Is TO cooperate
with the universities for the training
of authors, actors and directors. Let
us get over the idea chat the theatre
means Broadway"
The particular play which will be
given at Decorah, Shakespeare THE
Merchant of Venice" has all the
qualities Of good acting play. Its
excellencies Of plot and character are
obvious. The points and situations
are 50 shaped and ordered and the
interest Is Of such appeal, ranging
from broad comedy ard sparkling
wit to pathos and tragedy, that 1t
has always been effective on the
stage. We are assured that the
stage settings will be exceptionally
fine. Elaborate scenic effects, pro-
duced by the use of velvet draped
stage and novel lighting, will add ia
the gorgeousness of the players cos
tunes in producing an unusual ef'
feet of richness and splendOr.
The play is being produced under
=, the auspices of the High School Ath
letic Association and the proceeds, II
any are left after meeting the ra
ther large expense Of moving Sc
: large a body Of players up from
Iowa City, will go into the Atheti'
, Association treasury which reall!
!. should be called the school activity
. fund however, as its sponsors all o
the High School activities.
q You will be doing a service, no
4 only to yourself, but also to th'
: local high school and TO the caus'
Of the community theatre idea b!
i making IL a point TO attend th'
o production. Reserved seats viii b
J. sold at slOO. No war tax will b
e charged.