Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-01-13
Colby English 4
Professor Speaks
To Waterville Lions

SeCll INoAllIlS, pAOAS'N'"A ~ -c
lish at Colby college, speaking before
the Waterville Lions Club at its
meeting at the Elmwood hotel last
evening on "The Little Theater
Movement" expressed the belief that
the little theater. meaning that the
alter which was devoted to giving
the people the best in the test pos
sible way, was worthy of a place be-
side the public library and art mu-
scum in any city, In opening his
talk the professor said that the term
little theater" is misleading ana
that on-commerciaT' would be
better word as the object of such
theaters is not primarily to make
money but 60 present drama in the
most artistic way.
He devoted considerable Of his
time to q discussion of the history
of the movement. But before be-
ginning to trace its development he
gave as his definition of art, Life
strained through the brain Of a man
and allowed to set in mould of
beauty and meaning" Ireland was
the first country in which a little
theater was established. William
Butler Yeats, during a visit in this
country, took offense, said Prof.
! Rollins, at the manner in which the
Irish were portrayed and, returning
TO his native country. he determined
to start a theater of his own. This
he did In Dublin, in a purely anna
teur way. Plays were written by
such eminent writer's as Yeats. Lady
Gregory and SINCE, to be presented
there and the theater became a most
satisfactory success, producing much
poetic work of merit and affording
an opportunity for national express
sion.
In the United States the move
ment was started in New York with
the Washington Square Players. AL
though this was an amateur pro-
Ject. devoted only to works of true
artistic value, it grew and developed
| into the Theater Guild, which has
been responsible for some of the
outstanding theatrical successes of
/ the last few years and which now
compares with the large, CONNER
cial enterprises in a business way.
The speaker also told of the Prov
lncetown Players, of whom Eugene
ONeil is the most conspicuous pro-
duct. The players were formed at
cape Cod by group of vacation
lists who did their own producing
ana acting. Winters were spent in
Greenwich Village in New York. The
work of this organization was stop
ped at the end of the wa. but after
years rest its activities were re-
| sumed and it's contribution to the
drama In America has been great.
Another phase of the movement
which Prof. Rollins treated was the
experimental theatre as it is found in
various universities. BY far the most
eminent of these is the al Work.
| shop" at Harvard University, in which
the speaker said he had worked This
was started as court in English by
George p. Baker and in time it grew
to be the most famous course of study
In the world. The speaker mentioned
the names Of a number of people
prominent in theatricals who have re-
ceived their training there. Yale. with
gift of million dollars to carry on
the work and the acquisition of Mr..
Baker. is soon to go into the work on
larger scale than it has ever been car
ried on before.
In speaking Of the community thea
tres, the speaker hoped that the time
would not be far distant that Water
vile would consider establishing such
an institution. These are usually
found Off the itineraries of the traye1-
ing stock companies and are devoted to
the presentation Of superior dramatic
works. He pointed in particular to
the theatre in South Weymouth. Mass.
This is supported by public subscrip-
ton, a producer is hired. but the act
ing is done by the people themselves
Some of the plays produced in this
theatre have become singular successes
on Broadway.
Prof. Rollins pointed out number
of advantages Of the community thea
ire. He said that in each community
there are some who feel that suffi-
cient effort has not been made to bring
beauty and art into the lives of the
people. and he was of the impression
that these might be realized through
the community theatre. Beauty and
power" ha said in closing will be
brought to life and the young will be-
come welded to them.
A tenor solo by John TiSbetts vas
much enjoyed.