THEATRE MAY BE BETTER IN 200 YEARS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 56, 28 May 1927, Page 22 (Supplement)

THEATRE MAY BE BETTER IN 200 YEARS

AN AMERICAN DESPAIRS In the American “ Theatre ” E. H. Sothcrn, in an article “The Theatre May Be Better in 200 Years,” despairs of the present America h drama. Air. Sothcrn, perhaps th' I most famous actor on the American legitimate stage, made his first appearance in 1579 in New York* since then he lias been intimately connected with the American theatre, both as an actor and as an author. His should be the soundeestimation of all: If one can, by chance, persuade i listener that there is some way ou: of our troubles regarding the preser.' condition of the theatre, there mig! follow a result. I have spoken an: written on this matter for years, ar. others have done so, too. Each generation cries out, as we are crying ou: and nothing is done. The facts ar obvious and one nfiterates them. The number of idiotic books writt about the theatre and the conduct theatre affairs by people who cann possibly know about these question* and who evidently do not, increas 1 * daily and masses of uninformed peoi reply. Despite all of which, the a** l6 of affairs remains the same. j Clean plays do succeed. The acw is, and should be, the theatre, so * as the best interests of that IDSt jv tion are concerned. The actor everW* in his best development, stood for is fine and noble in his calling. The era of great actors has the era of the great theatre; bu y. . circumstances which make pt- \ actors possible are passing awa *\L regeneration of the theatre dep»« upon the return of such condition' which should be brought about design, not by accident. Perhaps in 200 years from America may awake to the fact the theatres into which so lions enter each night and day an influence for good or ill on all ta ■ citizens, and some tardy made toward the Municipal TW“_ wherein the great plays of all b*. shall be presented at a merely nom price. jju These standards of literature acting may be created and U P where again those capable of ; acting in great plays may opportunity to develop, for tne ; way to learn to act is to act, to is to write, to paint is to pam