The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-05-02
The World of
the Theatre
NEW THEATRE. Organ of League
Of Workers Theatres. April, 1884.
Published at 5 E. 10Th St., New
York Price cents.
Reviewed by
HAROLD EDGAR

hAhGbl EbLhh
THE April issue of New Theatre,
1 organ Of the League of Workers
Theatres. is in many respects the
best that has appeared this year
There are fewer waste spots-hap-
hazard notes. ineffective articles
casual reviews. of which the first
numbers unfortunately provided too
many examples. Practically all the
plays reviewed in the current num-
Der are worth reviewing (although
they appear in a far too scattered
form and Ben Blake's remarks on
the production of ''They Shall Not
Die" are very valuable. He is the
only writer that has pointed out
the lack of distinctive approach to
the material Of Wexley's play on the
part Of the Theatre Guild: the alb
sence Of an idea for the production
which would be different from that
Of any other realistic play contain
ing a trial scene.
The two articles on the dance:
whittier Martha Graham?" by
Edna Ocko, and an open Letter
to Workers Dance Groups" by
Blanche Evar-particularly the lat
ter-both reveal a true critical
awsreness and genuine interest in
their subjects. Edna Ocko's article
is excellent for its Interpretation Of
Martha 0raham's actual work in
the DANCE medium, but appears to
us a little over enthusiastic in its
assumption that because Miss Ora
ham is fine dancer and a sincere
artist she is either capable or de-
sirous of applying her art to the
contemporary social scene. If we
admire Miss Graham's dance our
admiration may have to confine it.
self to that which she has already
created, and regret that she does
not satisfy our sense Of immediate
revolutionary needs may be some
what beside the point II we wish
to urge artists to a point of view
closer to our own, we must choose
those artists-howsoever incomplete
they may still be-in whom we dis
tinctly observe the needs of such a
point of view. But thus far the
emotional content of Miss Graham's
work has about it something coldly
passionate, unearthly and removed
which are not qualities for revolu-
tionary art. To tell Miss Graham
I'VE want our world presented to
us, +" is like saying, I'VE would like
you so much better if you were not
what you arel"
The two movie articles, an excerpt
on Dovzhenko from a Russian book
by M. Bajan, and a review of Harry
Alan Potamkin's pamphlet, 1.-THE
Eyes of the Movies"-are likewise
interesting and appropriate, though
the first is much too brief and
sketchy. There is also a short ar
tiele, Hollywood or Lenin Hills"
the last of Potamkin's work.
DERHAPS the most exciting con-
tribution to the present New
Theatre" however, is the account OF
the recent ''upheavals" in the ranks
Of the Actors Equity Association
Cthe actors union. This narrative
and explanation of the movement
that is attempting to make Equity
an organization to represent and
fight for its members, both in It's
exposition and In its suggestions
addressed to the actors, is first
rate. 1t is clear, accurate, peril
nent. Not merely that, however: it
is almost the only adequate report
that has appeared anywhere. The
Theatre Arts Monthly stands aloof
from such matters as the difficulties
OF Equity organization, Variety (the
theatrical trade-paper) is gossipy
and Indifferent and like the daily
newspapers picks up its news
through hearsay and clever SCOOPS
that are generally superficial and
misleading. 1t is encouraging to
see that New Theatre" has been
on its toes in matter that concerns
the intimate life Of the American
theatre.
Also included in the current issue
is q short technical article on light
ing which is useful, and notes on
various Workers Theatre activities
the world over. II you are inter
ested in the theatre as part of the
revolutionary movement you Should
read New Theatre"