| Show I The People Want Comedy Says Harry Darry Corson Clarke I The vogue vo ue of the problem play piny is a i topic topi that has formed the basis of r many an interesting discussion in these c days dys hn hezi plays of ot of that description f permeate the theatrical atmosphere The question queston when fined down be becomes be becomes c comes come one not not as a so many mal of the most a ardent supporters of this style of play pIa ii have seemed to consider of commer commercialism c and the th box office but rather c of or the true aim and end of the stage j in the life of or a nation If I it be con eon conceded conceded ceded and this is the Uw writ writers writers writers ers view vies that tho the stage is the educative force of the people today toda then the te raison rai on detre of the problem pr blem play pIa H i is established at once Then it itis itis itis is the mission of or the stage to portray life life lite as it i is and not as It I seems and if Ii it do so it must show fallow not only what men do but also al o what men think And there is the secret of the position position position I tion of the problem play or rather of I the position that the sex play pla should have in the scheme of the world I theatric But that the play of this type or the shamelessly indecent French farce faree should hold the place A Happened to Jones ol es and now no he is starring starrinG in His Absent Boy Though it is some som time since sinco he was vas seen on Broadway Mr Mr Clarke Clarko has a warm place In the hearts of the time people He has made the west the south the north and the far west w his happy hunting ground and there st his is a name to conjure with withA wih A few afternoons ago the waiter was talking with Mr Clarke and a remark made mae not long JOIS ago aso by Florence llorence Rob Roberts Roberts Roberta erts erta wa wab quoted to the effect that problem plays plas of the Camille Camle order were the only ones one written today that gave an emotional actress a a chance Its all al nonsense said the time come COlne comedian comedian dian dlan this idea that there are no good clean virile virIe plays written toda today There are lots of good god plays pla s being turned out today that give an emotional actress s sal all al the chance in the world The ques question QUES question tion Uon is that they have to be paid for to fo Then Ten you dont believe beleve in using I these plays Not by b any means I never had anything to do with wih problem plays or with wih plays pla s of the French farce order one knows the money that that play has brought in These hese problem plays plas serve th their ii ir end Commercialism not art rules the te stage today They make money mone Time The Tie papers call cal them immoral and naturally the public flocks to see thorn In Iii fact then you ou agree with the aSee dictum o the London Lond n who isho when he was wan questioned on this same subject said faid If Ir I the beats beat will wi go so to the he the time theatre theatre atre to the time b beasts we must enter cater c te 2 just it I returned Mi Mr 11 Clarke To my mind too a great deal de do depends ponds on the star who jis Is presenting this type of play pla People go in a great measure to see the star Amelia Bingham Mrs Mr Campbell Campbel Nance ONeil Florence Florence Roberts Robert or whoever the lady ladymay lad ladymay may be Its Is not the play that draws The day da of the plays the thing is over now the mores the pity uTh Th Then n how do you vou YO sum it i up the writer asked In this way vay wa p was time the reply If you vou oU give ghe the the public good clean clan plays with without wih without out any an trace of vulgarity or i m m 41 i T j I I I i I L Lem em J I t I t I II II II e ev I I I I j j j 1 i v I i t j I I I I I 2 tviS S et i z 11 Li i ft 4 S 4 S SS SeS k 4 S 1 t 4 4 eS 5 Mal em 4 f a aS S 45 4 5 q y I S r 5 SA s i irr tj c rr 5 S 5 t v 4 S at 34 s ta 1 HARRY CORSON CORSO CLARKE a that without w hout doubt they do occupy py is isa isa a a matter for the deepest regret And I so 50 it is with intense relief reler that one I turns in this desert of Indecency Ind to the wholesome oasis of the Shakespearean eon ean on productions of or the earnest earn st artists artst who are presenting pres them orto or all the theall theal theall all al too few productions of comedy that thatIs that Is without the vulgar taint or the Ule 1 smirch of French extraction I IFor For these reasons ft t was as with great gr at t pleasure that the writer wrier was w s able to have a a a little conversation with Harry Corson Coron Clarke an actor who w o In the twenty years that he has bas trod the boards has never yet been connected with wih a a play of these thes types but who lies has ever striven tot fot the heb best bett t in the production of pieces After serving his hl time in the various positions connected with wih the end of the stage Mr Clarke took the step to the acting department In n Shook Colliers production of The Lights Light of or London After playing in various valious other productions he was cast east as the time stage manager i iii hi i Mamzelle and that gave him the start ou on the line lne of eccentric comedy roles that he lie has followed ever since His first starring staring venture was vaa in the name part In What I i dont believe bele e in them and a d you could never persuade me to use them tem My 1 plays are arO always clean clea and ad I try to impress it i on the the public that 3 I L will wi not countenance nce anything else lse se Even the th most rabidly captious s critic of the te morality of the h drama could find nothing to complain of in What Hap Happened Happened ened to Jones or His Absent Boy BoyThe The success in every way both ar at artistically a i and nd financially of the the for former f r mer mner play is w l known You may may take it from me that the t e latter play is run running ning jt a very close clos second uHs His Ab Absent sent Boy is scoring as heavily as any anything an anything thing thins I have l ever evel had and yet et there Is not a vulgar line lne in it much less lessa lessa a suggestion a Yet these plays pay Sapho Ca Camille Camie mule mille mie Magda A Modern Magdalen they all al draw money mone so 50 do the others oth of their thir class and the awful French farces Certainly was vas the answer anser but rOt for how long Ions They may have a long longrun longrun run at the start but then they are buried They y lack vitality WhY look at a niece piece like a a Broadhurst Broadhurt farce for instance ce Take rake What Tat Happened to Jones Jones as an example It I may may be e ed it will never die dJ io And nd every vc tion ton of at nastiness they will go on and with wih success My 13 own belief bele is that the public is sated with wih these plays plas that thought on 01 morbid and nasty naty naty subjects and on sex problems and that it I has had its It fill fil of farces I that are ar of French origin which are but the th bastard b offshoots of a dis diseased diseased eased Imagination I believe belee that what I othe he public nants at today toda o Is comedy not of the slapstick order but clean cean wholesome some fun that v wU will ill send a man mani i I away with wih a good taste in his mouth I I feeling the better beter for a few hours hour hearty laughter or genuine pleasure better for having forgotten for a short while at least the grey Sey details of the some som besmirched and sordid world in which he lie lives lve I believe beleve that now is the time for comedy and I welcome the revivals of the classic comedies for that reason In IlY y own little cir circle circle I cle dc I am trying tring to bring mirth by pro producing producing producing only plays that are a e clean and that are real laughter makers maker Mr Mm lr Clarke has the courage of his lila opinion and is carrying out ut his con convictions convictions against all gIl l opposition May Mayhe he h continue to have the success that has hitherto attended him and amid may the harvest hanest be a rich one |
