Evening star., 1938-03-13
No Laughter
In Antics of
DictatOrS
And Save Me the
Waltz Refused
To Be Serious.
By Richard Watts, Jr.

Waltz" is no longer with us and
its stay was so short that even
now perhaps few playgoers will
remember it. And. so far as its merits
went, there are few reasons why any
one should recall it. Nevertheless,
hope that you will forgive me if use
the departed play as the text for
today's sermon. 1t was, should re-
mind you, tale of a dictator, and it
no doubt deserves certain mild con-
sideration, because it attempted the
feat of sneering at its imperious hero
and being romantic about him at the
same time. 1t is my guess that any
such effort is doomed from the start,
even if imbedded in far better COM
edy than Save Me the Waltz" but
that Is not the only reason for my de-
termination to consider the departed
play at greater length here I think it
also merits added contemplation be-
cause it will be remembered in dra-
matte history. If at all. as the theatre
cal work that caused Mrs. Roosevelt
to depart from her usual vein of fine
tolerance and join the popular sport
Of batting her fellow newspaper work.
ers. the dramatic critics.
Nevertheless, with all due respect to
Mrs. Roosevelt. for whom my admira-
ton is but shortly this side of passion.
I would ask your and her leave to
speak of the play first. Save Me the
Waltz" which was written by Miss
Katherine Dayton, co-author with
George S. Kaufman of the successful
"First Lady" was essentially the senti-
mental love story of dictator, even
though it included its share of rather
kindly satirical thrusts at the institu-
ton OF the dictatorship. Its setting
was one of those picturesque mythical
Kingdoms that lie somewhere in the
vicinity of Graustark and Ruritania.
and the narrative possessed all the
graceful romantic trappings of an old
fashioned operetta of the Viennese
school. All it needed was Strauss or
Lehar score, and I think 1 would
have enjoyed it considerably more than
I did, say. Three Waltzes." But it
didn't have score, even one by Sig
mund Romberg, and the lack was fatal
Only in the presence of much graceful,
sentimental music can a curtain be
drawn against reality when the matter
OF dictator is being contemplated.
plays may be written in ivory
towers but they are not acted in
them: In the present state of the
world it is virtually impossible for a
play that pretends to deal with modern
matters to be satisfactory to an audi
ence when it attempts to be merely
charmingly romantic about the love
affair Of dashing young dictator. 1t
may be. as would frankly want it to
be. a bitter or sardonic or scornful
contemplation of its particular proto-
type Of Hitler and Mussolini. On the
other hand, it could conceivably be an
ardent defense of the tyrant and his
cause, done skillfully enough to make
those of us who hated its editorial
ideas admire it for the manner in
which it had its say. In either case,
1t would have sense OF actuality
about 1t and would possess a dramatic
meaning for us amid the complexities
Of our time. But Save Me the Waltz
made the mistake of pretending to
deal with a contemporary issue, one
that cannot be regarded without pas
sion of one kind or another. and then
made it the subject of a trivial ro-
nance.
am afraid of all esthetic theories
because there isn't one of them that
can't be shot full of holes by the SIM
pie process of bringing up an unques-
toned work of art that fails to adhere
to it. So. although I think it is vir-
Jually impossible for play to deal
with a matter so vitality important to
all Of us as that of dictatorship in
vein of trivial sentimentality and be
dramatically satisfying, will play
safe. Possibly next season dramatist
will turn up with such play and con-
found me, although I certainly doubt
it. But at least the work will not be
As lacking in wit and point as was
Miss Daytons effort Here was neither
good satirical comedy. shrewd melo-
drama or impressive love story. 1t was
just bad play, despite the handsome
production and the attractive acting.
! do not think that even George Kauf-
man or S. N. Behrman or Frederick
Lonsdale or Somerset Vaughan could
write fine comedy that was merely
debonair and lighthearted about Hitler
and Mussolini. But if they do, it will
be the greatest achievement that the
ivory tower school of playwriting has
ever achieved. It will be the escapist
drama at its most unconquerable peak
As FOR Mrs. Roosevelt's attack on
the critics as earnest fellows who
couldn't enjoy anything light and
frivolous, I don't see why she shouldn't
pick on the thick-skinned play re-
viewers If every one else does. But
somehow expect more of her than of
the average person. So I would like to
point out, just to keep her from erring
again, that really few of us attempted
to find the gravity or picking of peo-
pie to pieces in Brother Rat" Room
Service" ''The Shoemakers' Holiday"
and the Ed Wynn antics that she sug-
gests we must see in plays If we are to
like them But what grieves me chiefly
Is to discover my heroine saying that
she didn't have a pleasant evening at
"Our Town" because it was a serious
work. I think she was doing herself
an injustice. I am sure she doesn't
have to laugh to have pleasant time.
I really believe that she could enjoy,
let us say. Shakespearean tragedy
without cracking smile. If she set her
mind to 1t. No inferiority complex,
please, Mrs. Roosevelt!
Csk N1 ~