THE STAGE AND SEX

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 34, 8 August 1925, Page 16

THE STAGE AND SEX

MODIFICATIONS OF OBJECTION-

ABLE PLAYS

The Public Morailty Council's intention to petition the Government, requesting a tightening up of the theatre censorship, with a view to preventing the production of sex plays, has aroused the keenest controversy, says the Special London correspondent of . the Sydney "Sun." The movement represents London churches of all denominations, and aims at making the London County Council the licensing authority, with power to withdraw a theatre license in the event of an objectionable production.

Mr. Seymour Hicks, in an interview .published in the "Daily Mail," says: "Obviously there" is something wrong, apart from the question of decency. The Deity's name seems to have become accepted as part of stage dialogue, and frequently is used in th» most light-hearted way, merely as a colloquialism, and not as .an emotional expletive. Nevertheless, because we are living in days when women smoke between the acts and youths cover their brains with Oxford trousers, don't let us lose our sense of proportion and make a cockshy of the censor, wlio is a benevolent person in an extremely awkward position. He has a difficult course to steer. A policeman can decide what is basically indecent, but the Lord Chamberlain is forced to decide whether delicate subjects, which, perhaps, are in bad taste or are mildly suggestive, are sufficiently obnoxious to deprive .a hundred people of their daily bread. I have seen the most beautiful words in the language, 'I love you,' made grossly indecent by a pause and a gesture. I favour a vigilance committee to urge the withdrawal or modification of objectionable plays, but the censor must be the final arbiter."

Mr. Frederick Lonsdale, the playwright, says: "A preacher is forced to mention sin in his pulpit,, and if wickedness were omitted from plays there would be no opportunity of presenting, a conflict, ending in the triumph of virtue, which is the dramatist's trump card. My contribution to 'immoral' drama —'Spring Cleaning'—is really an unintentional sermon. I cannot conceive anyone being incited to vice by witnessing 'Spring Cleaning's' castigation of modern degeneration."

The "Daily Sketch" says: "Only four plays in London could be described as indecent or pernicious, namely, 'Rain.' 'White Cargo/ 'Fallen Angels,' and 'Spring Cleaning,' yet the last, as ii whole, purports to run down vice and nold up virtue. Bishops should see more plays and not listen to prejudiced stunt merchants who are su will-