THE TRAGIC DRAMA

No industry in Boston has suffered more from the current depression than the theatre. Although the plight of the drama is acute in every large city, Boston's theatrical doldrums probably represent the nadir. Only four of the legitimate theatres are open at present, and of these, two depend for their drawing power on cautious revivals of "old faithfuls" of the stage. Nor does the approach of the Christmas season promise any substantial increase in now plays.

Even when due allowance is made for the influence of the depression, it still seems that Boston is being under-nourished theatrically. If the city could look forward during the course of a season to a reasonable number of good plays they would almost certainly be patronized more generously than at present. The decline of play-going in New York seems to have paralyzed the nerve of the producers. That is easily understood, but the situation will certainly not be remedied by inertia. It grows more and more evident that the future of the stage depends on the revival of the road and the spread of the subscription idea. If Boston, among other cities, could count on a schedule of intelligent plays, it would almost certainly respond. At least it would not go through a season with more than half its theatres dark.