Salt Lake Telegram | 1931-04-16 | Page 7 | Sees Revival in Legitimate Drama Near

Ss Sees Revival In Legitimate Drama Near While th the so-called so moribund road is still full of ot zigzags and de detours detours detours de- de tours the public will see e a a. strong trong revival of ot the legitimate stage u in two o or three years perhaps five This is opinion of William Thornton the young romantic actor who vho arrived in Salt Lake today as ashead ashead ashead head of or the Shakespeare Guild o of America troupe of ot twenty which wll will open a three days' days Shakespearean festival with th the presentation Thursday Thursday Thursday Thurs Thurs- day night of Hamlet at Kingsbury hall haJJ at th the University Un of Utah Thornton firmly believes that he knows whereof he speaks for he and his bold companions in art have been en braving brn this this- self same road for several sev sev- eral months with a success which has been surprising to even e the most optimistic optimistic op op- op- op of the players Although we wc have had great difficulty difficulty difficulty dif dif- dif dif- In finding theaters we wo have managed to play to big houses everywhere everywhere every every- where as did Walker Whiteside who preceded weeded us The only conclusion is is that hat theatergoers are arc anxious to view flesh blood and productions anc that hat they will wUl not let the glorious old legitimate stage die 1 if it they are given good pla plays s 's and performances We never miss the water until the well runs dry and the public ap ap- wants to have water come comento Into nto the well again but it wants good water The rho pendulum is swinging back ack but Just how long it will take Is a moot qu question Producers must not attempt chicanery They must not send out inept nept actors and shoddy productions with the New York label on them They must keep faith with the pub pub- ic lic I believe that a community community- owned playhouse operated by a local manager who knows the genuine in drama rama from the trash will be a real factor actor in the comeback of the stage Such a a. theater should be ten cn by the community preferably by subscriptions those 0 subscribing agreeing to take two or more tickets for or every play presented I Thornton discussed the theater Ina in ina ina a voice olce prophetic of ot a rich rounded handling of ot the roles he is to play His Us slight build seemed admirable forthe for forthe the he Hamlet role he will interpret to- to I night As he talked he busied himself himself him- him I self elf about the university playhouse while members of the company were placing long arrays of or striking costumes costumes cos- cos I about their dressing rooms The Taming of ot the Shrew will willbe wille be e the second play on Friday night The Merchant of ot Venice at the Saturday matinee and Romeo and Juliet on Saturday night