Evening star., 1936-06-21
T A time when Washington is
| discussing the proposed co-or-

~ discussing the proposed co-or-
dinated program Of recreation.
which Is to be effected with
out loss Of identity or autonomy of
the several public agencies, it is of
interest to note that coordination CT
recreational activity is not new in the
Capital. Team work of high order
has given to Washington, for the past
five years, a series of Summer enter
tainments, which are unique both as
to their nature and setting-the Sum-
mer festivals at the Sylvan Theater
These Summer evening rhapSodies are
much more than the thought and work
of any one person, group or agency.
They represent pooling Of ideas and
effort, with a resulting gradual de-
velopment of a type Of program pc
culiarly fitted to the outdoor stage and
broadly representative Of the artistic
life Of the National Capital.
To the park Office goes the credit
for the physical setting, whose beauty
is unequalled by that of any other
outdoor theater in the world. There
might be another Sylvan Theater.
There can never be another National
Sylvan Theater. The tall shaft Of the
Washington Monument stretching
toward the stars marks the spot with
hallowed significance.
To the Community Center Depart
ment of the public schools and the
Sylvan Theater Committee appointed
| by that department must be given
the credit for planning the program,
securing the talent, and managing
the theater.
To the many groups in the fields
of music, drama and dance who have
participated, tribute is paid for the
fine artistry for which Sylvan The
| ater productions are known.
Nor can the success of this, Wash
ington's most popular theater. If at
tendance be the gauge of popularity,
be accounted for fully without men
ton of the splendid service of the
park police and Boy Scouts in
handling the crowds, of the cooper
alton of the local press in publicizing
the events and of the enthusiastic
support of the public which turns out
thousands strong for the Summer
festivals and by its intelligent appre-
citation stamps them as good shows"
Truly, the National Sylvan Theater is
q community undertaking.
THE program for the current sea-
son Is one. filled with fresh in
terest Besides the Wentworth Opera
group. which proves perennially de-
lightful, the service bands. the Bekef1-
Deleporte Dancers, the Tempo Choral
Society and the Washington Players,
who have appeared in former years.
there will be seen this Summer such
well-known local Grama groups as
| the Blackfriars' Guild, the Arts Club
and the theater group of the United
States Bureau of Investigation. The
attractions to be presented by these
newcomers will de distinctly novel,
each being of q type new as yet to
the Sylvan Theater. To those who
have seen "Smilin' Thru" either on
stage or screen, seeing it presented
in natures own setting, with real
grass. real trees and under a canopy
of stars, will be a unique sensation.
To those who love the quaint. the
whimsical, the humorous, who enjoy
color and motion, Pierre Patelin,
the first English farce written in
medieval days, promises untold de-
light. To those who see in the Syl-
van Theater the perfect stage for
classic drama there is treat in
store in the Arts Clubs Greek play.
How fortunate for those Of us who
are in Washington this, the Sum-
mer of 1886, that in 1916, 20 years
ago. the director Of the once of Pub
lie Buildings and Public Parks. Col.
william w. Harris, needing the urgent
request of a group Of civic-minded,
drama loving Washingtonians, set
| aside this portion Of the Monument