Evening star., 1928-11-27
BROWN ADDRESSES
COMMUNITY GUILD
North Capitol Citizens Asso-
citation Reflects Henry
GiIIigan President.

The Community Dramatic Guild was
portrayed as an instrumentality that
fills "a universe, and. imperative need"
by bringing people together for their
pleasure and "some kind of expression"
bv John Mason Brown, associate editor
of the Theater Arts Magazine in an
address at the initial meeting of the
guild in the auditorium of the new
Mckinley Technical High School last
night.
Members of the North Capitol Citi-
zenS' Association, which had previously
met in a classroom cf the school, at
tended the lecture in body as guests
of the community center department Of
the public schools, which is sponsoring
the guild.
At this business session the citizens
unanimously reelected Henry Gilligan
president for the fourth consecutive
term. Other officers chosen were ,orge
A. Casey, first vice president: Mrs. Julia
II. LawleSS, second vice president; VIII
liam T. Richardson. secretary treasurer,
and Selden NJ Ely and William G.
Henderson delegates to the Federation
of Citizens Associations. The executive
committee chosen were NJ. E. Pittman,
Jesse w. Morgan, Robert M. YoSt, VIII
liam E. Wise, James O'Connell and
Mrs. Ada G. Payne. 1gnatius William
Nolte was elected to membership.
Calling attention to its close proX-
unity to the new l.igh school and other
advantages, the citizens asked that the
Mount Carmel estate. at Second and t
streets northeast, be purchased Tor a
park. -iley also requested two addi-
tional buses be placed in operation
from Lincoln road and Rhode Island
avenue northeast during the morning
rush hours.
DR.. Croissant Presidcs.
The association end all other guests
were welcomed to the guilds first meet
ing by Dr.. Dewitt C. Croissant of
George Washington University, chair
man of the organizations advisory
board, who presided. Stephen E.
Kramer, first assistant superintendent
of schools, spoke on the use of school
BUILDINGS for community centers, end
Cuno H Rudolnh, former District Com
missioner who is chairman of the board
of trustees of the guild, urged the CO.
operation of the citizens that the guild
might prosper.
Speaking on ''The Amateur Impulse,
Mr.. Brown noted that the audience
was, in effect, hitting the community
theater with bottle of champagne"
and warned that the tasks ahead were
not as easy as they appeared.
This seeming easinesS OF acting was
depicted as "one of the tragic things CT |
the theater" by the speaker. Every |
person secretly feels that he is a dan |
gerous contestant for the laurels of the |
Barrymores, and that the stage plat
form was just made for him." the editor |
declared.
Brown Describes Amateur.
+I,o .aor,Y1or ooanoYN-
ton of amateur" as "one who doesn't |
do something well" in favor of more |
accurate definition as lone who loves !
his task and does it because he can't |
keep himself from performing" f-r. !
Brown related a few of the handicaps |
of the amateur theaterS, including the |
current vogue for realistic" plays.
Characterizing as stupid" ordinances |
passed at the time of the American |
Revolutionary War prohibiting attend |
ance at theaters because it diverts |
men from the thought of defending |
their country" Mr.. Brown contrasted !
the current widespread use of the the |
ater in Russia as seen by him on trip |
last Summer THE Soviet government"
he said, "haS turned to the theater as a |
means of expressing its ideas, and |
living newspapers for the benefit OF |
the illiterate showing political charadeS, |
are popular throughout the country"
Briefly reviewing the community |
theater movement, Mr.. Brown asserted |
that it is at present run on flnan- |
cially sound budget basis under the |
patronage of patient audience that |
helps it develop more perfectly each |
year.
entertainment features included a |
group of dances by the Caroline Nc
Kinley Dancers and musical selections |
by the Mckinley Orchestra under the |
direction of Dore Walton.