The Washington times., 1932-10-18

about the theater partly by the process VI
many of the most famous of his contemporaries
Theater-Not Temple.
An admirer of Mr. Smonson said, giving high praise,
"It is remarkable how much of the theater he has
managed to keep out of the book'-meanng how
much of other things he has managed to get ln Inc
theater is never shut-off, isolated event for Mr.
Smonson and some of his most effective pages go to
prove that it wasn't isolated-a pure artistic dream
even for the Greeks. He is practical man of the
theater and takes infinite and mocking pleasure IN
Topping off the towers of Gordon Craig proving that
they could never be set stages we know them.
One of the first things he does destroy the theory
flaterng to himself that designers of settings have
created the modern DRAMA and he rejects the religion
of the theater in favor of the art.of the theater.
the Theater Guild produced "The Tidngs Brought to
Mary the virtues of which quite blind to; it
came the climax of several productions, and they
had been received with the rapt, soulful attention
people gave in those days to the Guild and all its
works. Writing, obscurey, for month magazine, l
protested against the religion of the theater l
quite willing to have play with deep religious feel
ing brought to the stage but did not like the idea of
bringing deep religious feeling into the auditorium,
to welcome any and every play. l now can give Mr..
Slmonson my retroactive support.
Enjoy More.
There dozens Of points about which I am willing
to quarrel with Mr. Simonson but do not quarrel with
his directness his energy and his sharp tongues. His
book is about the theater it affects you and me- the
audience. Read his analysis of the for placing
table at a certain point in the production of arms
and the Man 1t discusses the faults of system de-
pending rich patron; it discusses the drab words
of which most contemporary plays composed Above
all, think it its real purpose which is not to
put over Mr.. SimonSons principles much to make
the reader understand the theter better and get
out of and ask from it. The book is exceptionally
we'll made and Messrs. Harcourt, Brace Co. may
take pride in its form we'll as in it's content.
Popeye and Steig
Of all the companions of Popeye (not Mr.. Faukners
but Segar's) like Mr.. Wmpy best. Wimpy is the
who says, Lets you and him fight and is always cadg
ing for hamburger sandwich; Popeye is very good to
him, because fundamentally Popeye is kind SOUL Mr..
Wimpy appearing in colors on Saturdays, hasn't yet
times remind you of him is out: MAN About Town."
by Steig Steig and Soglow and Arno are the New
Workers. most popular artists and with this publication
each of them has book am not going to the trouble
of comparing these artists; since want to praise
Steg, will I beittle the Others
Savage Faces.
Some of Steg's humor from the jolt you get
from hearing familiar phrase in the wrong place: "My
youngest is terror We can't do a thing with im"
conversation between two in jail. But more
and the better part of the fun-comes from his pictures
themselves the creation of savage faces eerng bras
dowagers expressions when doctors tell them they are
like old rusty gates. may have been in peculiarly
amiable state of mind when first went through the
book and found not page which did not amuse me;
but amabity doesn't last and I've done the thing
with the same happy effect every day for week,
really must like Steig enormously 1t is made for your
Christmas list by Ray Long and Richard Smith and it
is probably the best book they've done yet.