Evening star., 1925-10-04
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.

The regular theatrical season.
emerges slowly from heterogene-
ouS mass of RECONSTRUCTED and un-
substantial material.
A play is little more than a white
chip in a game, OF chance, and the
American theater apparently regards
tire continent as having been con-
veniently mapped out to serve as
to roulette table.
x X X
It's policy toward this great Ma
tional Capital has been ruthless.
First productions no longer imply
compliment to the, taste of the
community in which they are held
Except in few cases in which
openings have been heroically post
poned in order to insure perfection.
first productions are largely in the
nature of rehearsals with the bene
ft of audiences whose response can
be noted i'll connection with efforts
TO rebuild and improve. 1t is All ad
vantage to the performance. but the
audience receives no compensation
whatever for patient service as an
Indicator OF psychological reaction.
The continuous display of poor
craftsmanship works hardship to
the theater and to its patrons. for
the lack of confidence in new ven-
ture can no longer be overcome.
even by the most earnest and SIN
eere representations in advance that
at last we are to have the exception
10 an almost unbroken rule of in
sufflciency.
II has become a melancholy maxim
,hat Washington will not patronize
a good play when it opens here, but
will crowd the theater after it has
had the distinction of run in New
York or on the road. The mental
attitude is justified by hard expert
ence. A tryout is an insincere, pure
" experimental enterprise, with a
few persistent theatergoers kindly
contributing, more or less, toward
the defrayal of preliminary expense.
New York is perfectly justified III
treating first productions OH any
stage with silent scorn and proceed
ING with the assumption that moth
ing whatever happened prior to lift
ing the curtain on Broadway.
*
To take the matter seriously
(which is one way of killing little
tine0. there is no city in the world
.vhosc theatrical expression should
be more carefully considered than
this center OF international interest
now attracting men and women OF
the greatest distinction and the
hroadest experience. The theater Is
reflection Of the education and
the ideals of the people who support
il. or at least it is traditionally SO
regarded.
In commercial theater it may
be possible to employ leSmanshir
to swerve public opinion. When
craftsmanship is gravely mentioned
as a legitimate factor in political
choice it cannot be blamed too Sc
yerely for appearing i'll theatricaia at
fairs.
In seeking to impress America
European nations have taken pains
to send over the best their theaters
afford and to produce things worthy
to be sent The American theater
however, reveals itself to Europe as
the nations HOW dsSCiiOio uy iSpi
sentation in this city from circles OF
finance. diplomacy, science and IN,
dustry, not as an institution designed
TO interpret the spirit of its time
and people. but purely as the express
sion of a closely organized industry
which does not hesitate to reveal
itself to fastidious eyes intellectually
slipshod and morally i'll grcomed.
X X X
Mission Mary is an example OF
ili-considered endeavor to go ster
further in humane forbeararce than
philanthropists have already done ii