BOOKS TO CONSULT--E. E. Hale, Jr.: Dramatists of To-day. W. Archer: English Dramatists of To-day. W. Nicholson: The Struggle for a Free Stage in London.
Mention the many plays written rather for pure literary purposes than to be acted. Notice those especially of Tennyson, Browning, Swinburne, and Stephen Phillips. An important factor in the English stage is the censor, who must pa.s.s judgment on all plays before they are acted. Mark the effect of this in excluding many French plays from England. Note the relation between the modern English novel and the drama as ill.u.s.trated in The Prisoner of Zenda, The Little Minister, The Seats of the Mighty, Vanity Fair (called Becky Sharp as a play), The Eternal City, The Garden of Allah, etc.
VII--IBSEN
1. _His Life_--Hard youth. Connection with the theater. Struggle to gain a hearing. Publication of Brand. His pension and financial independence.
Life in Rome. Life in Germany. Change from poetry to prose. His friendships. His death and public funeral.
2. _His Temperament and Its Influence on His Writings_--Realism, originality, revolt against conventions, individualism, pessimism, irony. Views of woman. Is Ibsen critic or prophet?
3. _Influence of Ibsen on Modern Drama_--His technical skill, daring, problem plays. Are Ibsen"s themes suited to the stage and the average audience? Should the theater preach or amuse, or both?
4. _Study of Three Plays_--Peer Gynt, The Pillars of Society, A Doll"s House. a.n.a.lysis of plot, description of chief characters, and readings.
5. _Study of Three Plays_--Ghosts, The Wild Duck, Hedda Gabler.
a.n.a.lysis of plot, description of chief characters, and readings.
BOOKS TO CONSULT--Brandes: Henrik Ibsen. Gosse: Ibsen. Bernard Shaw: Quintessence of Ibsenism. Moses: Ibsen, the Man and His Plays.
Ibsen takes a place to-day with the philosophers as well as the dramatists. In fact, the most interesting aspect of his work is his relation to social thinking and the revolt against conventions. It would be interesting to compare views on the points suggested. In what differing ways do Ibsen"s plays affect the club members?
VIII--BERNARD SHAW AND THE IRISH MOVEMENT
1. _Life of Bernard Shaw_--Dublin. London. Beginning of serial novel-writing. Fabian Society. Help of William Archer. First play: Widowers" Houses. The Philanderers. Mrs. Warren"s Profession (rejected by the censor).
2. _Shaw"s Successful Plays_--Arms and the Man. (Mansfield"s rendition.
Musical version: The Chocolate Soldier.) Candida. You Never Can Tell.
The Devil"s Disciple. Captain Bra.s.sbound"s Conversion. Man and Superman.
Showing up of Blanco Posnet. f.a.n.n.y"s First Play.
3. _Bernard Shaw"s Qualities_--His mannerisms and style. His att.i.tude toward social conventions. His socialism. His att.i.tude toward religion.
4. _William Butler Yeats_--Dublin. Encouragement from Oscar Wilde.
Stories and verse. Plays: Land of Heart"s Desire; Diarmind and Grania; Cathleen in Houlihan. Influence of Blake, Sh.e.l.ley, and Maeterlinck.
5. _Synge_--Riders to the Sea. Well of the Saints. Playboy of the Western World.
BOOKS TO CONSULT--E. E. Hale, Jr.: Dramatists of To-day. G. K.
Chesterton: Bernard Shaw. H. S. Krans; Wm. Butler Yeats and the Irish School. J. M. Synge: Works (4 vols. Dublin, 1910).
A supplementary paper may be written on the question, Has Shaw a positive message of any importance, or is he merely a negative critic?
In addition there may be selections from his plays, showing his wit and clever satire. The amusing comedy, You Never Can Tell, may be read, the parts being taken by members of the club. Notice also the appearance in America of the Irish Players under the management of Lady Gregory.
IX--MAETERLINCK
1. _Life_--Early life in Ghent. Paris, 1887. Influence of Villiers de l"Isle Adam. First publishing and fame through Mirbeau"s article in Figaro. Translation of Ruysbroeck and his influence on Maeterlinck. His marriage.
2. _Essays_--The Treasure of the Humble. The Life of the Bee. The Buried Temple. The Double Garden. Death.
3. _Plays_--The Blind. Pelleas and Melisande. Aglavaine and Selysette.
Monna Vanna. Joyzelle. The Blue Bird. a.n.a.lysis of these plays and readings from them.
4. _His Place in Literature_--What is the meaning of his mysticism and his symbolism? What is his position with regard to religion? Is his optimism philosophically justifiable? Compare Maeterlinck with Bernard Shaw as to difference in spirit and method.
BOOKS TO CONSULT--Edward Thomas: Maeterlinck. Arthur Symons: The Symbolist Movement. E. E. Hale, Jr.: Dramatists of To-day.
Maeterlinck"s chateau is especially interesting: a medieval structure with a great court. It was here that one of his leading plays was given first, before a large company of his friends, with Madame Maeterlinck in the part of the heroine. No scenery was used, but the action took place in different rooms and in the court. Reference to this may be found in some of the magazines of the time.
X--THE AMERICAN DRAMA
1. _William Dunlap (1798-1815), "Father of American Drama"_--His numerous plays. Influence of Kotzebue. Study with Benjamin West.
2. _Campbell, Howard, and DeMille_--Bartley Campbell (1843-1888): Matrimony, Siberia. Bronson Howard ("Dean of the American Drama"): Young Mrs. Winthrop, The Henrietta, Shenandoah. H. C. DeMille (1850-1893): Lord Chumley, The Charity Ball.
3. _Gillette, Belasco, and Klein_--William Gillette: The Private Secretary, Secret Service, Too Much Johnson, Sherlock Holmes. David Belasco: His training for the stage. Early melodrama. Stage scenery and effects. Miss Helyett, The Heart of Maryland, Du Barry, The Girl of the Golden West. Charles Klein: The Music Master, The Lion and the Mouse, The Third Degree.
4. _Fitch, Thomas, and Moody_--Clyde Fitch: Brief Biography. Beau Brummel, The Liar, Nathan Hale, Captain Jinks, The Blue Mouse, The City.
Compare Fitch"s skill and ethical standards with those of Thomas.
Augustus Thomas: Alabama, Arizona, The Harvest Moon, As a Man Thinks.
William Vaughan Moody: The college professor as playwright. The Great Divide, The Faith Healer.
BOOKS TO CONSULT--W. J. Moses: The American Dramatist. Norman Hapgood: The Stage in America. Walter P. Eaton: The American Stage of To-day.
W. D. Adams: Dictionary of the Drama. 2 vols. (English and American).
After this program have a discussion on the question: Are women responsible for the character of the modern drama? Take up also women"s theater clubs, designed to pa.s.s judgment on new plays. Does the weight of their expressed opinion influence the management? On the whole, are the morals of the drama improving?
CHAPTER III
OUR OWN COUNTRY
In studying American history it is best to disregard the natural divisions of decades and centuries and take it up by periods; programs on these may cover as many meetings as necessary. The books suggested from time to time may be read at home, or aloud in some of the meetings.
One good reference book which all members can use is John Fiske"s History of the United States for Schools. It has maps, questions, and other helps. The first period is that of
I--DISCOVERY
Begin with the stories of the voyages of the Nors.e.m.e.n across the sea.
Are these considered historically true to-day? Follow with the three voyages of Columbus, what he accomplished and where he failed. Americus Vespucius and the Cabots come next, and the subject of the Spanish explorations in the South, particularly in Florida.
Ponce de Leon, Coronado, and De Soto are all fascinating topics for brief talks. The Huguenots made one settlement in Florida of peculiar interest, and this is written of in a novel called Flamingo Feather, by Munroe.