Evening star., 1950-10-01
Barriers Producer
Is a Stubborn Man
Myerberg Likes His Race Theme Play
Even if Woshinqton Did Not
By Joy Cormody


Michael Myerberg best agree with his bitteres
enemies on one point They too think he should
about making himself lovabe human least more
OF conomis to the polite by another
tolerabe ~ ~
his earnest consideration.
years. however he has learned live with him
self and he thinks that rather do more in
that direction Besides spite everything or because of an
excess of goodness in others he has made numher of % ~
sod friendships He regards this tact acceptance
broad Judgment of himself that his merely
desire to make the theater better institution
He's Accustomed to Critical Rejection
That is why he produced "The Skin Teeth the
plays this generation Lutte one
the oldest and yet most successful and at
Gayety Barrier ~
raped his knuckles and the public STAYED
in staggering numbers Barrier" Myerberg re-
mained unruned AL this producer
of the Langston HughesJan really would have
been surprised had not happened of giving up
other producer might Myeberg action
production New York and rehearsal naT and
plunged into the revsons which he thinks will
Barrier" the success OF of his other
The for this decisive
been with Myerberg He likes play he he can
make what he likes about it brilliantly visible critics
performance it will be another triumph.
Hos Faith in His Story Judgment
Like Carol Reed and Stanley Kramer
successful OF movie Myerber thinks he
good dramatic story when he go
and he has years public
another ostandard project to work the
Barrier" it opera dealing
terms of Southern households destruction through miscegena
tion.
attributes failure here to two causes:
The first night performance what had hoped
he "and is play with theme
comfortable The first coectabe and perhaps
people who face reality the discomfort
rghtness of THE Barrier After ALL deals
inequay-but sujcet
freedom his right dignity
II this command much attention does battle
fields the pulpit and living where discussed widely
and vehemey Myerbeg does not why dramatic
enough for the theater
Not Committed to Message PIoys
Yet committed message plays per pro-
vocatve. or stimulating
T would have been glad to produce The Cocktail Party he
People keep thinking that it has but they don't
know what the Well frankly
idea either did find interesting the theater
which is what found in Skin Of Our Teeth what
The Barrier. That is why like them myself
Another play would like have Ladys
Burning Maybe it has significance that don't but
know has observation make life that amusing
This is why like it and why I'm got into the bidding too
late"
Although audiences agree with him. in fact
they not times Myeberg thinking that
cannot be too unlike them wanting something different this
then the of
Christopher has produced Wilder
would be glad the others refresh
ngly entertaining they
Sow "Borier" as Grecon Tragedy
Myeberg first as race play
He it something meodramatic
terms which have not been since the ancient Greeks
All right he lit
larger than that is that presents human beings in situation of
nescapabe tragedy They caught
and external that must them nothing could be
dramatic"
Thus to him. the THE represent
humanity its most exciting and lasting conflict Myeberg had
to put them stage If he must later and quite quickly take
them off again, he still will believing them.
And, in Michael Myerberg