THE THEATRE.

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18875, 20 February 1933, Page 8

THE THEATRE.

DAME THORNDIKE’S VIEWS

OPTIMISTIC REGARDING FUTURE.

BRILLIANT YOUNG DRAMATISTS. Dame Sybil Thorndike and her husband, Mr Lewis Casson, who arrived in Hamilton to-day, are optimistic regarding the future of the legitimate stage. There has been a pronounced revival in the theatre in London,” said Dame Sybil. “ The standard of the British drama to-day is higher than it has been since the Elizabethan period. Shaw is undoubtedly the leading dramatist of the day. Some of his later plays may have lost a little in dramatic form, but there is indisputable evi- ' dence that many of his works will live. England may not yet have a dramatist to take Shaw’s place, but there are a number of young men with brilliant futures. I do not think we have yet

seen the best work of Noel Coward, who has real genius, nad other young men, like John Van Druten, have ability of a high order. Many of the plays produced in London to-day are above the general level of theatrical appreciation. Not an Enemy. “ I believe that it is only at the present lime, when we of the theatre have been faced with extinction, that we realise that the theatre means something more in our lives than just a method of spending an evening in more or less sleepy fashion. We are realising that the so-called ‘enemy of, the theatre ’ proper—the cinema—need not be an enemy at all, since its function is a different one; for there is something which the theatre can give us in the play that is created anew at every performance—which the audience creates anew at every performance. This is not within the power of the cinema, showing as it does a play performed once and repeated In exactly the same way without any variation at each successive performance. In the theatre proper every mood of the audience —every thing It feels, thinks, and is—is reflected in the players; thus the play is partly created by those onlooking, and becomes consequently, a living, healthy art.

Value of Amateur Stage. “We are also realising that the amateur theatre is as vital a part of the theatre proper as the professional. The amateur can do more than just keep the flag flying until times arc better and the professional can he more in evidence; (he amateur can adventure —find new paths—new ways of producing old writers. Since, they do not have to depend on the stage for their bread and but ter, they can afford to leap bcynaul what the average commercial theatre audience will accept—a tiling which is 100 often disallowed professionally. “ The Repertory Theatre movement has proved itself an adventurous and courageous one—that is why we adventurers from the professional side applaud their efforts. This movement has kept alive in so many British countries the real live theatre wo serve—and that deserves the salute of all pioneers!

Taken Itself Too Seriously. “ The stage in the past has taken ilself too seriously,” said Mr Casson. “ Somerset Maugham said recently that a play should he 1 written in a fortnight, rehearsed for a fortnight, and played for six weeks.’ There is more than a grain of truth in this. Rapid work always has more inspiration in it.” Dame Sybil and her husband have played in talking pictures, but neither desires to leave the stage for tho screen. Their daughter Ann has won a prominent place on the screen.