OCR Text |
Show CITY A2TD COUNTRY PLAY. Rural Dramas Liked by Residents of tlis Cities. " 'Way Down East" is on tho ' bills again, after a very extended run of plays any one of which might havo been called " 'Way Out West," and others for which the title " 'Way Down South" would not have been unfitting. If there Is no " 'Way Up North" on tho boards, It is becauso thc dramatic possibilities of tho great north wood3 or the Canadian lumbar camps havo not yot been, realized. Plays of this sort aro an evidence of tho interest inter-est to city people, and, Indeed, of common com-mon humanity, ln typical and supposedly characteristic scenes from real life whero it has been least sophisticated. The cltv loves to refresh Itself with tho contemplation of representations of country coun-try llfo. Just ns country people llko to seo a "real city play." Is It any derogation to the country that tho rural play Is generally gen-erally broadly funny, or ldyllically scntl-monlal. scntl-monlal. while the city play Is likely to bo tragical, or darkly melodramatic, with a "comedy clement" that runs through It as If to Intensify its shadows? Wo-still turn to the country for what Is blithe and simple and sweet. The city 8 shadows oppress us. If crlmo Is not Introduced In-troduced ln tho city play, lt-seoms always waiting In tho wings ready to como on. "Leah Kleschna," which Is all woe and burglary In Its city part, but ends In light and gladness in thc country, Is typical typi-cal Whether It should really bo so is a question. Tho usual city homo Is wholesome whole-some and homelike Tho streets aro cheerful with thc laughter of children at their plav. Melodrama Ubols the averago aver-ago condition of town things. Yot always there Is tho tragedy ln the next street. Where men are massed, woo Is massed. Therefore, on with " 'Way Up State" and "Far In tho Backwoods." and let us seo L'ncle Reuben and little Emelino gambol on the green. New York Mall. |