The Daily Worker Newspaper, April 23, 1927, Page 12

The Artist in the Theatre Louis Lozowick Puts Him in-His Place and Warns Him of Traps Louis Lozowick designed the settings for George Kaiser’s “Gas” when it was produced as the first play in the Goodman Memorial Thea- tre of Chicago. More than any American artist, he understands the place of machinery and machine interpretation on the stage. His draw- ings in the New Masses and other journals are well known, and he has had several successful exhibitions of paintings. He is a leader among the artists who are trying to give the machine age expression on canvas. By LOUIS LOZOWICK. | QF all the arts the theatre is perhaps | the most sensitive to social trans-| » formations; the art which more clear- | ly than any other reflects the collec- tive temper of an age. It is not sur- | prising therefore to find that the Rus- sian Theatre, seeking to express the radical, change in the collective life of the entire country, should have surpassed all other theatres of the world in its daring experiments and unprecedented departures from ac- cepted practices. The Russian Theatre is no longer satisfied to reflect pas- sively the petty tragedies of passing and past generations; it wants to par- ticipate actively in the creating of a new social life and in the ‘moulding of a new social personality. TT need hardly be added that just as the forces of social rebellion are not the exclusive privilege of Russia alone, neither are the theatrical innovations | its exclusive property. In various de- grees the revolutionary theatre has become a fact in most European coun- |’ tries, and*is gradually becoming aj * fact even im the United States. Continues in the chief role of the In this new orientation the modern a Blane Davis ‘drama sak igs _ beer as been a Ladder,” which is in its seventh So much so, indeed, that he has out- ‘ stripped all other factors in the the- nee: = Candi sail sso 0 ; atre—text, actor, music, etc. The | faithful copy of reality, he gives “his function of the modern artist in the | imagination free reign. He no longer new theatre is in brief to bare the| conceives stage settings as simply an essential character of the play, to}enlarged canvas, a magnified easel clarify the meaning of the text, to set | painting, but builds in three dimen- in relief the movement of the actor, | sions, adding to the art of the painter, to create an atmosphere in harmony |the art of the sculptor and architect. with each play. For the sake of brevi-| But this practice is fraught with ty and clarity one may consider the}danger. Once absorbed in his work, work of the new artist in the theatre|the artist is tempted to disregard the (artists, not stage hands), from three | requirements of the play and to turn aspects: the stage into an art museum, thereby . 1--Pictorial. Never before have so| invariably killing the play. American many excellent artists given their ser-| audiences will recall more than one vices to the stage. These artists are | play in the last few years annihilated not merely stage hands following un-|in this manner. thinkingly the orders of the stage di- Must Suggest Locality. rector. They are original, creative! 2.—Associative. This danger is minds and excellent craftsmen. In |casily avoided if the artist pays strict consequence they do their work with | attention to the play—as is indeed the much more regard to its pictorial|case with the hest among modern quality than was ever formerly the|stage designers. The settings must case. Whatever the theme of the play,|be related to the theme of the play, all parts of the settings are so organ-| must accentuate its essence, create ized in color, line and mass as to form|the proper environment and back- practically an independent work of|ground for the action. The settings art—rhythmic, expressive. must be based on the text and action, And since the new artist has no in-|and action is always local. The action tention of hiding the fact that the | of every play dees not take place just stage is, after all, a stage and not a! (Continued on Page 7) The New Plays MONDAY. “THE CIRCUS PRINCESS,” the newest musical comedy by Emmer- ich Kalman, will be presented by the Messrs. Shubert at the Winter Garden Monday evening. Alfred Grunwald, Julius Brammer and Harry B. Smith made the adaption. The big cast is headed by George Hassell, Desiree Tabor, Guy Robertson, George Bickel, Ted Doner and Gloria Foy. “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 open at the Belasco Theatre Monday ANTOINETTE PERRY night, TUESDAY “MIXED DOUBLES,” a new comedy by Frank Stayton starring Margaret Lawrence, will be presented by the Shuberts at the Bijou Theatre Tuesday evening. Those in the cast include: Marion Coakley, Thurston Hall, Eric Blore, John Williams, Roy Cochrane, Marcella Swanson, William: Eville and Russell Mor- rison. WEDNESDAY. “ENCHANTMENT,” a new play by J. Jefferson Fargeon, will open Wednesday night at the Edyth Totten Theatre, the initial pro- duction of the American Theatre Association, Allison Bradshaw, Pamela Simpson, Alan Hollis, Edward Rigby, A. P. Kaye and CIVIC REPERTORY COR, 6TH AVE. & 7 ST. hg Sg 50c, $1.10 & $1.65 Wed. & Sat. Matinees TELEPHONE WATKINS 1767 th MONT EVA LeGALLIENNE 7 PRODUCTIONS IN ONE WEEK, INCLUDING: Mon. Eve., April 25..“Cradle Song” Thurs. Eve., April 28, Tues. Eve., Apr. 26, “Master Buflder” “John Gabriel Borkman” Wed. Mat., Apr. 27..“Cradle Song” Wed. Eve., April 27... Fri. Eve., Apr. 29..“La Locandiera” Sat. Mat., Apr. 30..“I'welfth Night” .“Inheritors” Sat. Eve., Apr. 30..“Three Sisters” The Theatre Guild Acting Company in —————— ALL NEXT WEEK “The Second Man” GUILD THEATRE 52nd Street, West of Broadway. Eves at 8:30. Matinees THURSDAY and SATURDAY at 2:30. Week of May 2nd—PYGMALION Week of May 9th—THE SECOND MAN PIRANDELLO’S RIGHT YOU ARE IF YOU THINK YOU ARE GARRICK THEA 65 W. 35th St. Evs. 8:30. * Mats. Thurs, & Sat. 2:30. Week of May 2nd—MR. PIy?t’ PASSES BY Week of May 9th—RIGHT YOU ARE ALL NEXT WEEK “The Silver Cord” THEATRE, 58th St., East of B’way. CIRCLE JOHN GOLDEN Matinees THURSDAY & SATURDAY. | 5678 Week of May 2nd—NED MC COBB’S DAUGHTER Week of May 9th—THE SILVER CORD $500 AWARD for the article of 200 words or less judged to be best cn the play “‘The Ladder”. Contest for third week closes Monday at 10 a. m. Money refunded if you do not like the play. “THE LADDER” WALDORF THEATRE 50th St, E. of B’way—Mats. Wed. & Sat. THEATRE, WEST 42d STREET. Eves. 8:30. Mats. Thurs. & Sat. 2:30. A. H. WOODS presents CRI By Samuel Shipman and John B. Hymer with JAMES RENNIE & CHESTER MORRIS oe and CAST of 100 “A vivid, gripping and absorbing melodrama. I con- fess that I enjoyed it as I haven't enjoyed a melo- drama in seasons.’ —Alan Daie, American. TIMES SQ. Near nae) ane Sn RAC reno MADISON SQ. GARDEN] ! Neighborhood Playhouse 40th SOth . and 8th AVENUE 466 Grand St. Drydock 7516 1 ye Every Eve. (except Mon.) Mat. Sat, | TWICE DAILY rt NOW (EXCEPT SUN.) Bin of Lyric Drama ; ’ RINGUNG BROS ano BARNUMc BAILEY «= | PROVINCETOWN I} 33 133 Macdougal St, PLAYHOUSE Spring 8363, RAPID TRANSIT Every Eve. Exc. Mon., incl. Sun. at 8:40 MATINEE SATURDAY, 2:40. ’ TR incl. among 10,000 marvels PAWAH the HAMP’ DEN Si dena st at t Broadway SA D WHITE| "wetter HAMPDEN ELEPHANT avoha in CAPONSACCHI GREATEST FEATURE OF ALL TIME More People—More Acts—More Zoo-| MARI, ° +. logical, Maridien sore Frente —More| “APRoLL Wanities ADMISSION to all Pf, 75¢ to $3.50] Bar] Carroll Thes.. 7th Ave, & 50th St, (Inecl.tax.) Children under 12 at reduced Mats. Thurs. & Sat. 2:30 prices at all matinee performances, ex- asnceeipnncnlalaasittaralchtceemndicnteatintenhdadiotonanineet date cept Saturdays, to $1.10 seats and over.| MARTIN BECK mis 45 oe Evs. TICKETS NOW ON SALE AT GARDEN BOX OFFICES, 8th Avenue entrance. Mats. Wed. and Sat. Branch Ticket Offices (Same Prices JED HARRIS Presents a Drama GIMBEL BROS, and ABRAHAM ‘SPREAD EAGLE’ STRAUS, INC., BROOKLYN, 42nd Stree’. Pigs) Stree ERT TNC) Ll .WALLACK’S West tent, St? | Bronx Opera House |; f Bd A Mats. Tues, Wed., Thurs, and Sat. Pop. Prices, Mat, Wea te What Anne Brought Home|“NEW YORK EXCHANGE” A New Comedy Drama The Sensational Comedy er