MODERN PLAYS UNDER CRITICISM

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 261, 31 July 1919, Page 5

MODERN PLAYS UNDER CRITICISM

THE DRIFT FROM DECENT DRAMA. Frank criticism of the. drama was expressed at the inaugural meeting of the British Drama League .tit the Haymarket Theatre recently. The bitterness that many actors themselves feel about tho trivialities of the stage was pointedly expressed by Miss Lena Ashwell,' who declared that nothing could bo moro detrimental to tho wholesome life of the nation than "the rottenness, the lowness, and the futility" of the onertainments she had had to sit through. at' various theatres where she had spoken on behalf of tho work of her parties in France. "What astounds me is," she said, recalling her visits both to the great cities and to tho House of Commons, "that there is no apprehension and no comprehension in this great country of the power of the drama. The nation has deliberately turned its back upon the essentials of'success for the t illusion of success." , Whilst Germany during the war sent Shakespearean companies to Switzerland, || English dramatic art was represented in Paris, she recalled, by a revuo; and at j the time of greatest stress none of the j men from overseas who came to tho great | contre of tho Empire had the oppor- i Utility of seeing any of the plays which • represent our national ideal. i Mr. John Drinkwater saw in the league | an institution that might be useful m ; helping to establish repertory theatres in the country, and by repertory he explained that ho meant a theatre which never produces a play, which is not worthy of being kept permanently in the repertoire and frequently revived. "People," he said, "aro ready for fino drama if you will givo it them, but it is not the slightest use to form a league if vou are merely going to talk about it." Ho mentioned an 'experience in Manchester, a city which is making millions and millions a year, but was unablo to guarantee JJ3OOO a year for fivo years for a repertory theatre. "Now it is the job of tho Drama League," ho held, "to send out emissaries to the right people and see that it gets its .£SOOO a year, and not only' to Manchester, but to Sheffield. Bradford, Nottingham, Edinburgh, Dublin, and all over tho country" . , „ „, The point of view of the Church was | put by tho Rev. H. R. L. Shoppard, who declared it to lie "quite monstrous that (he Christian Church docs not possess its own theatre in London, whero it-might amplify tho messago it gives from the pulpit." Speaking of his experience of Shakespeare in tho East End, ho said: "The West End does not realise how the poorer veoplo love good stuff. It -was the same in France. Mr. Atkins does not want a. bedroom scene any more than I. It does not shock him any. more than it shocks mo. It insults my intelligence. Mr. J. R. Clyncs expressed his conviction that the spirit of the league might be made to flow through all the organisations of workers, and to tho worker himself ho said: "Turn your increased hours of leisure to the very best account." The great choirs of Wales, Yorkshire, -Lancashire, and tho Potteries, and the great brass bands of some of tho villages, had all been developed because there was en- j Ihusiastic leadership with a faculty and | spirit of organisation. That; spirit would live, ho thought, in the Drama League, and in its tendency to make people read I and think drama it could broaden the outlook and brighten the eyes of millions. The chair at the meeting was taken by | Sir Michael Sadler, who, in an earnest i address, spoko of the drama and the arls I as an essential part of true education, j Mr, Geoffrey Whitworth, the Secretary of tho leaguo read a sympathetic letter from Mr. 11. A. L. Fisher, Minister of Education. • ■ '