Word: sayler
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Oliver M. Sayler has sailed triumphantly through the dangerous sea of contemporary criticism in his latest book, "Our American Theatre". His motive in writing this chronicle "has been to sketch in the highlights of this period and to make our American Theatre live through intimate studies of the men and women who have been responsible for its record". Carefully and with much patience, he must have collected the amazing data in the book. And with equally amazing skill, he has presented his story. For the most part one is not conscious of the facts and theories, but is swept along...
...Sayler tells us that the American theatre is just awakening. We have passed the initiative period, and although achievement is for the most part potential, we have unlimited possibilities. A future for us to take, when we care to reach out. What are the signs by which we may know this movement? He finds us looking out to world horizons. Foreign plays and foreign actors come to our stages. Good, not because they are foreign, but because they have something new and interesting to offer. He finds our producers trying new means and methods in production. Theories of the theatre...
...look for proof? Witness the playwrights, producers, actors, scene-designers, and critics who have come out of Cambridge, or consider the Harvard Prize play, "most tangible mark of the respect in which Broadway holds Baker". Carnegie has given Stevens adequate equipment. Harvard denies Baker. "The next Baker" Mr. Sayler wisely remarks, "may rise at New Haven, Chicago, Morningside Heights...
...Sayler does not disdainfully pass by the Revue, Variety, and Dance. To him it plays an important part in this development. He finds, in his chapter on "The theatre of 'Let's Pretend'", that we have unlimited resources in this field. He draws, in his fancy, an American 'Chauve Souris', equal to if not surpassing its Russian prototype...
...Sayler sanely evaluates our theatre. His is not the unctious praise of the jingoistic orator. He sees and fearlessly points out our faults--and we have many. But his fault-finding is not discouragement. He lets us look at the future, perhaps a little too glorious, but yet a future towards which we are surely advancing. We shall learn by our mistakes, and grow, till we become "the refuge, clearing-house, testing ground for the theatre of the world...