HIGHER STANDARDS AND POOR TASTE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1049, 11 February 1911, Page 13

HIGHER STANDARDS AND POOR TASTE.

■ ■ .*~ ♦"——' ' t'nr^ ta i nd " rds ., hi « her ™* tban ormorly,'- „ ld Miss Mary Mannering, tho famous American actress (shortly to visit Australia) in tho course of " vl cent interview. f ked * ll<3 interviewer, thinkng of tho drivel that gets set to'drivel!.e^^tL^a»ipa^adcß',,"p^ctio,,^ ''Because," said sho, "tho. sphere of amusement has widened in so many llerent directions. Thero is tho picture machine, the nickelodeon with a fow vaudeville, acts,' besides high, low, and- middlo class vaudeville with its vanoty of. appeal and its thousands of followers, musical comedy, light opera, big productions of spectacular drama recreation parka, cafe programmes, not to mention tho development of concert artists, symphony orchestras and medi-um-priced Italian opera companies, all of which have their cajoling force to attract patronage. A drama or a comedy must contain tho elements of broader, appeal - than formerly to bo a nig success. One.man goes to tho theatre for sensation. Tho play must bo sensational. Another goes to have-his emotions stirred..'., The play must bo emotional. Still another wants logic and another wants wit. Tho successful play must bo a great ono to compote successfully with tho, distraction in which tho prospective but uncertain theatre-goer finds himself before so many wares so alluringly put forth, 'lake 'Glorious Betsy,' for instance,!' , ur §» „l AVould J. 011 cail that a good play? "Glorious Betsy" was thb play in_ which Mary Mannering. appeared ?n 0 o n sho was at tno Novelty, in' March,

No." said she, "I would not." • ' Still'it was successful, wasn't it?" ( 'Very successful," said she. 'That contradicts "your argument about tho advartco in play standards, doesn't it?" I asked. "A poor play was a success."

'Not at nil," sho answered. "It is very possible for :n poor play to bo a succoss if it contains, enough elements of appeal to. attract tho interest of a goodly proportion of tho play-goers'. Glorious Botsy' would never 'go great' with ono who was ■ a stickler for dramatic form,, or-for thoso othors whoso considerations aro purely intellectual, but it was secure in its emotional appcal,»which was strong enough to win for it a temporary success, though the play is not ono that will'long endure tho slings and arrows of outrageous critics," sho laughed.