THEATER CHRONICLE
PLEASURES AND PAINS OF PLAYGOING
The last play I saw, prior to this season, was
Harvey.
The
role of Ellwood P. Dowd was interpreted by Bert Wheeler. I have not
been able to forget that evening, though I have tried. It was not Bert
Wheeler who made it memorable but a foreign gentleman, a Frenchman,
one of our party, the new husband of a charming young woman of my
acquaintance. He said that the drunkenness of Americans was not funny,
and with this we could only agree. He further said that we, in America,
were given to the most childish forms of fantasy and kindergarten amuse–
ments, and much more to this effect which we took to heart and dis–
cussed with great gravity and unconscious annoyance. Everything that
is said about us we are compelled to discuss. I was soon out of temper;
Toffenetti's cake lost its taste, the coffee grew cold and the party became
tense. I felt that the gods were unjust, and that
Harvey
and the French
critic were more than one should be asked to bear in a single evening.
And the strawberry shortcake! And Broadway after the theater! In my
anger at the inescapable conventionality of situation after situation I re–
solved-since I was fond of the young lady who had married the
Frenchman-that I had to choose between the theater and my friends,
and so for a time I gave up Broadway altogether.
This season I became a playgoer once again. The following is my
report of what I have seen.
To anticipate a criticism, I am not a highbrow, though I do not
disclaim intelligence, and I do not go to the theater in quest of ideas
but to be diverted, delighted, awed, and in search of opportunities to
laugh and to cry. I do not feel that I ask too much and yet every time
I go to the theater I find that my expectations are about as realistic
as a high-school girl's visions of love and marriage. The actors seem to
have no notion of play. I don't know why. Is it too frivolous to play
in
the theater? Does it lead to disrespect of their theories? The behavior
of the actors is very businesslike. But of course the whole enterprise is
serious. Backer, producer, director, technician, trade unionist, all are
engaged in protecting investment, job and livelihood. Also, serious
people do not idle away their time--I am speaking now of the pleasure–
seekers of the audience. No one should pretend to exhaust any mystery
