The Daily Worker Newspaper, April 16, 1927, Page 12

By FLOYD DELL A working-class play is one about the working-class, for the working class. Yet a play about the working-class —like a play about the middle class —may be a good play or a bad play; it may tell truth or lies; it may be realistic, or sentimental; it may preach revolution, or the duty of obedience to the will of Goa and the master class. If Hauptman’s, “Weav- ers” is a good working class play, it is not because it is about workers, but because it is good for workers. The fact that a play is about work- ing people is not a significant fact. We do not line up the plays of Shaw, Pinero, Ibsen and Clyde Fitch to- gether because they are about the middle. class. We ought not to designate Gorky’s, “Night Lodging” by a term which équally includes “Nellie the Beautiful Cloak-Model.” So if we are going to. talk- about working class plays we ought to mean plays for the working class. None Too Good. . What kind of plays should be so de- scribed? As for me, I think the best is none too good for the working class. Trotsky seems to have the same idea about working-class man- ners. Soviet Russia uses her finest palaces for working class purposes. No matter if the palaces were built for lords and ladies; no matter if courtesy was invented by the leisure class. Manners will change, no doubt; office buildings may serve the workers’ purposes better than palaces. But they will still be the best man- ners of their kind, the best buildings. What is working class;medicine? The best that science can proyide! What is workins-class sciences? The best that the human mind can furnish! And working class art? The best art, surely! That leaves enough room for argument. Working class plays should be new } Plays for Workers — = WALTER HAMPDEN Is the producer, manager and prin- cipal player in the romantic drama “Caponsacchi,” which celebrates the 200th performance tonight at Hamp- dens theatre. and revolutionary? Yes—but it does not suffice that they celebrate Noise, Crowds, Steel, Steam, Dirt, Confusion, Chewing Gum and Hot Dogs— especially if they do so in terms of mouldy mysticism. But human con- duct is changing—and even more swiftly, our ways of thinking and feeling about conduct. There 1s something new to write plays about! And a good proletarian critic should be able to recognize the flame of revolutionary science in the character of jthe girl biologist in “The Silver Cord.” If he is unable to do so be- eause she is not a strike-leader (or a Black Bottom dancer!) then he 1s no, critic at all but a plain proletarian ass. The New Plays MONDAY “MR. PIM PASSES BY,” A. A. Milne’s comedy will be revived by the cast are: Laura Hope Crews, Dudley Digges, Erskine San- ford, Helen Westley, Helen Chandler and Gavin Muir. “LOVE IS LIKE THAT,” a modern comedy by S. N. Behrman and “LADY DO,” a musical eomedy with book. by Albert Cowles and Jack McClellan, lyrics and music by Sam Lewis, Joe Young and Abel Baer, is due at the Liberty Theatre Monday night. TUESDAY “THE GOSSIPY SEX,” a comedy by Lawrénce Grattan, will open Tuesday night at the Mansfield Theatre presented by hn Golden. Lynne Overman, Florence Mason, Grace Manken, Thomas W. Ross, Eva Condon and Norval Keedwell are in the cast, “THE THIEF,” a revival of Henri Bernstein’s play at the Ritz® Theatre Tuesday night with Alice Brady and Lionel Atwill. William A. Brady in association with Lee Shubert are the sponsors, “THE COMIC,” from‘ the Hungarian of Lajos Luria, adapted by James L. A. Burrell and Lawrence R. Brown, opens Tuesday night at the Theatre Masque. J. C. Nugent and Patricia Collinge are the principals, WEDNESDAY “WALL STREET,” a melodrama by James N. Rosenberg: will be presented by The Stagers, at the Hudson Theatre next Wednes- day night. Arthur Hohl will have the principal role. “GOAT ALLEY,” a drama of Negro life by Ernest Howard Culbert- son, will be presented by the Toussant Producing Company at the’ Princess Theatre Wednésday evening. The all-Negro cast is headed by Evelyn Ellis, and includes A. B; Comathiere, Doro- thy Paul and Edward Thompson, : ‘ } “THE FIELD GOD,” by Paul Green, the author of “In*Abraham’s Bosom, day night. will open at the Greenwich Village Theatre Wednes- THURSDAY “THE HOUSE OF SHADOWS,” a mystery melodrama by Leigh Hutty, will opén at the Longacre Theatre .next Thursday eve- ning, presented by Brady & Wiman, in association with J. H. Del Bondio. Tom Powers is featured. , “HIT THE DECK,” a musical version of “Shore Leave,” adapted by Herbert Fields, music by Vincent Youmans, lyrics by Clifford Grey and Leo Robin, will come to the Belasco Theatre next Thursday night. » the Theatre Guild at the Garrick Theatre Monday night, In Kenyon Nicholson, opens at the Cort Theatre Monday night. Basil Rathbone heads the cast. “The Theatre Guild Acting Company in ALL NEXT WEEK “PYGMALION” 52nd Street, West of Broadway. Eves at 8:30, GUILD THEATRE Matinees THURSDAY and SATURDAY at 2:30. Week of April 25th—THE SECOND MAN Week of May -2nd—PYGMALION OPENING MONDAY EVE., 8:30 A. A. MILNE’S COMEDY “MR. PIM PASSES BY” RA 65 W. 35th St. Eys, 8:30. GARRICK THEA. Mats, Thurs, &e Sat. 2:30. Week of April 25th—RIGHYT YOU ARE Week of May 2nd—MR. PIM PASSES BY ALL NEXT WEEK NED McCOBB’S DAUGHTER | JOHN GOLDEN THEATRE, 58th St., East of B'way. | CIRCLE Matinees THURSDAY & SATURDAY. 5078 Week of April 25th—THE SILVER CORD Week of May 2nd—NED MeCOBB'S DAUGHTER ed. & Ss TELEPHONE WATKID§ 7767 th MONT EVA LeGALLIENNE | WEEK OF APRIL 18 Mon. Eve., Apr. 18....“€radle Song” Tues. Eve., Apr. 19, “John Gabriel Borkman” CIVIC REPERTORY COR, 6TH AVE. 14TH ST. PRICES 50c, $1.10 & $1.65 Ww Sat. Matinge. Thurs. Eve., Apr, 21, aha ae N os “Master Builder” ri. Eve., Apr. -..- “Cradle Seng” Wed. Mat., Apr. 20....“Inheritors” Sat. Mat., Apr. 23...“Phree Sisters” Wed. Eve., Apr. 20...“Cradle Song” Sat. Eve., Apr. 23,...“Cradle Song” SPECIAL MATINEE THURS., APR. 21I—“CRADLE SONG” TIMES SQ. THEATRE, WEST 424 STREET. Eves. 8:30. Mats. Thurs. & Sat. 2:30. A. H. WOODS presents CR I By Samuel Shipman and John B. Hymer with JAMES RENNIE & CHESTER MORRIS and CAST of 100 “A vivid, gripping and absorbing mélodrama. I con- fess that I enjoyed it as I haven’t enjoyed a melo- ~—-Alan Dale, American. drama in seasons.” MADISON SQ. GARDEN, 49th and 50th ST. and Sth AVENUE | TWICE DAILY (EXCEPT SUN.) } 2 AND 8 { | } } | incl. among 10,000 marvels PAWAH tne| SACRED WHITE. ELEPHANT owwnma GREATEST FEATURE OF ALL TIME More People—More Acts—More Zoo- logical Rarities—More Freaks—More of Everything Than Ever Before ADMISSION toall {Pf 75¢ to $3.50 (Incl.tax.) Children under 12 at reduced prices at all matinee performances, ex- cept Saturdays, to $1.10 seats and over. Neighborhood Playhouse TICKETS NOW ON SALE AT GARDEN 466 Grand St Drydock 7516 BOX OFFICES, 8th Avenue entrance, Every Eve. (except Mon) Mat. Sat. Branch Ticket Offices (Same Prices), : mmedia dell’Arte in Annual Also a Good Lenten Play. Wald rf Th., 50th St., E. of B’way 0 Mats. Wed. and Sat., 2:30 GIMBBL BROS. and ABRAHAM & STRAUS, INC., BROOKLYN. Lyric Bill NUS JOE TILER 8 TRO Be THEATRE, 45 St. PROVINCETOWN H 133 Macdougal St, MARTIN BECK 8 Ave. 1 Evs. 8:30, PLAYHOUSE Tel.. Spring 8363. Mats. Wed. and Sat. Peete Re NAN SPREAD EAGLE’ MATINEE SATURDAY, 2:40. WALLACK’S Wert tind , stro FARE Vanities Mats. Tues., Wed. Thurs, and Sat. Thea. 7th Ave. & 50th St. What Anne Brought Home Earl Carroll gate: thurs. i ‘Sat, 2:36 A New Comedy Drama MUSIC AND CONCERTS HAMPDEN’S Gand st eineetun? Bvs. 8:15. Matinees Wed. and Sat. WALTER PDEN in CAPONSACCHI — PRICES BVWS, $1.10 TO §3.85. HAENSEL and JONES Announce Town Hall, Tues, Eve., Apr. 19, 8:15 ROBERT GOLDSAND Viennese Pianist : Knabe Piano Ampico Records ‘