Word: playgoers
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Dates: during 1930-1939
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...golden Greece the Periclean playgoer knew by heart the Pride & Fall theme of classic tragedy. Hubris (???is) was the offense of the honest but haughty mortal who thumbed his nose at the gods and arrogantly defied fate. Certain as death, Nemesis followed to wreak the wrathful gods' retribution upon such a presumptuous creature. The hubris-nemesis pattern of drama unconsciously taught the Hellenic lesson of moden agan or moderation in all things. An Attic axiom: "Too much prosperity brings ruin...
After such a revival of Gilbert and Sullivan as Boston has just witnessed, the Playgoer approaches the newer musical offerings with an extremely critical eye. In such a spirit he went to see The DuBarry, and found it not wanting in pleasant tunes and witty lines...
...Playgoer shrinks when he realizes how coarsely some may construe his comparison with twentieth-century George White. A good fifty years ago when "Patience" was first played, the streets of London were lighted by gas, Bond Street brightened by a sunflower in the arms of a velveteen breeched young man, later known to his friends as Sebastian Melmouth. To understand this remarkable young man one had to read the Yellow Book, live up to one's blue china, grow long hair, be super-aesthetical, think of lilies, and have a sense of humor; the last qualification is, of course, paradoxical...
Those who have seen the original version of "Once In A Lifetime" will be interested to compare it with the stage version. They will probably agree with the Playgoer that the additions which the camera makes too often seem like a stupid man's laborious explanation of the point of a joke. They will also find that the humor, though still present, has been effectively softened. Hollywood is willing to laugh at itself--but not too loudly...
...Laugh Parade" is simply a succession of vaudeville sketches featuring Mr. Wynn or elss a specially performer to whom Mr. Wynn is an expert feeder of situations, and the before mentioned song and dance numbers. At the performance which the Playgoer attended, the audience showed its excellent judgment by reserving its enthusiastic applause for the scenes in which Ed Wynn dominates. Apart from his other talents, this comedian has an excellent reputation for his ability to build up situations for his fellow-players. Many of the specialty numbers in the "Laugh Parade" draw their chief merit from the running commentary...