DAY OF THE MYSTERY PLAY
One of Iho changes that is coming over the theatre is tho gradual supplanting of the melodrama by the “ mystery play.” Melodrama is putting up a game fight. Tho triumphant Lopdon runs of ‘The Rat’ and ‘ The Green Goddess,’ and tho moderate success of ‘The Fool,’ show that tho playgoer is still fond of heroes and villians whoso true colors can ho seen at a glanrc; and there are theatres in the suburbs and the provinces wire re the cry of “Curse you, Sir Jasper,” still pierces tho quiet night. But tho present trend of theatrical advance is away from melodrama. Wo are not often treated to those clear expositions of heroism and villiany which once delighted us, and, although plays like ‘Rain’ and ‘White Cargo’ arc sometimes called melodrama, they are nothing of tho kind. They arc “just drama,” which is quite different. Even ‘ No, 17,’ which calls itself a melodrama and might easily have become one, is so complicated by mvsterious strangers that it is really a u mystery play.” Such plays as ‘The Bat,’ ‘The Cat and the Canary.’ ‘ In the Next Room,’ ‘ The Creaking Chair,’and ‘9.45,’ form a sequence which cannot be ignored. Melodrama has many faults (writes Bland Holt, in a London paper), but at least it is a straightforward kind of entertainment. The actors have to portray tho primary emotions of love, hate, fear, and so on: tho authors have to construct a coherent and exciting story; and the' audience has the pleasure of watching, after a long obstacle race, tho best man win, which is one of the keenest pleasures that can be obtained anywhere. The average mystery play, in Holt’s opinion, is bad for performers and audience alike. Instead of honestly portraying their particular characters, tho performers have to wrap their actions in mystery, so that the audience cannot distinguish between hero and villain. Robbed of good acting and of good play-writing, the audience is given a, long chain of surprises as its solo theatrical food. “ From every point of view,” ho concludes, “ the mystery drama is a less worthy form of art than melodrama, and I hope that melodrama will not ho entirely displaced by this new game of ‘Find tho Criminal.”’
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Bibliographic details
Evening Star, Issue 19298, 10 July 1926, Page 15
Word Count
376DAY OF THE MYSTERY PLAY Evening Star, Issue 19298, 10 July 1926, Page 15
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