MOSCOW ART THEATRE

Hawera Star, Volume L, 15 January 1931, Page 9

MOSCOW ART THEATRE

REASON OF SUCCESS. REMARKABLE LIBRARY. Th world-wide fame of the Moscow Art Theatre lias been enhanced, by the spring productions of: Tolstoy’s “Resurrection,” and “Othello.” Meyerhof d and Tairov are being acclaimed all over Europe. Yet. despite, the established reputation of the contemporary] Russian theatre, one of the most important factors in its recent -development remains practically unknown outside Russia, says the “Manchester Guardian.” ■ The Moscow State Theatrical Library claims to be unique. It recently celebrated its eighth anniversary as an independent academic institution, subsidised by the State. Its functions are manifold' but it is primarily intended to serve the theatres themselves: (producers. actors scenic artists, etc.), theatrical sections of workers’ clubs, and students of the theatre. In addition to a remarkable collection of books on every conceivable aspect of the theatre it -has a research department and a, service section. The research department concerns itself with the larger problems of stage decoration, production, theatrical and cultural! history, and' theatrical bibliography. Jt includes a large foreign section. Even the actual library is not limited to books. It also supplies costume plates, architectural plans, pictures of interiors, furniture, and appointments of any given period. These are of immense -service in the production of historical and costume plays.

RORTRAIT GALLERY

For the historian of the theatre there is a. portrait gallery of famous actors and the programmes -and notices of outstanding -productions. A<l this wealth: of material is catalogued for immediate reference. In less than ten minutes you can know, all there is to be known about any given play, costume, or actor, from the nebulous origins of the drama to the latest developments of theatrical engineering. , Tlie service station consists of a reading-room, furnished! with literary as well as- theatrical -periodicals, a lending library, and an exhibition department. Two of the most interesting ■of recent exhibitions were the “Oth-e-do’ ’ exhibition and an exhibition of theatrical architecture. There is no doubt that much of the -success of the decorations and costumes, as well as the individual make-up and* gesture of the -actors, in “Othello” was directtly dependent on the library’s exhibition. The Russian actor thinks, nothing of ransacking a library to find justification for a single gesture. But no one who has seen the finished production would accuse him of taking his art too seriously.