THE THEATRE TO-DAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21855, 18 July 1934, Page 13

THE THEATRE TO-DAY

growth of realism The growth of realism in the theatre and the rise of newer developments tending to replace it were outlined by Professor W. A. Sewell in a lecture given to a very large audience in the University College hall last night. The lecture was the concluding one of a series arranged by the college authorities. "The basic idea of realism is that the stage is merely a room with the fourth wall knocked out, and that what takes iilace on the stage is as closelv as possible a photographic imitation of'real life," said Professor Sewell, in pointing out that the movement toward realism cam© as a result of dissatisfaction with the rather tawdry spectacle and melodrama that had immediately preceded it. Pointing out that Henrik Ibsen was the pioneer of the movement toward the more intimate theatre, Professor Sewell added that it had been greatly assisted by the repertory movement, both amateur and professional. "The spirit of the repertory theatre is the spirit of the. theatre at its best," lie said. The stage, as a result of the rise of realism in the late nineties, became peopled with men and women of real life. Middle-class problems became the subjects of the plays, and the stage became more and more photographic in style. "If carried to its logical conclusion, realism must finally defeat itself, however," said Professor Sewell. "It must revert eventually to the entirely commonplace. Something must take its place."