Judge, 1920-01-03 · page 9 of 36
Judge — January 3, 1920 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis This page from *Judge* magazine contains theatrical satire and brief humor pieces. **"Stage Directions As They Must Be Written"** mocks overwrought, overly-detailed stage directions in contemporary plays. Kenneth Andrew parodies the absurd specificity playwrights demanded—from how actors should clear their throats to precise lighting cues to how white powder should coat an actor's shoulders after an embrace. The humor targets the pretension and impracticality of detailed theatrical instructions. **"An Obstruction"** is a brief joke about a policeman who arrests a speeding chauffeur not for speeding, but for "obstructing the road" because he was driving slower than the legal rate—inverting expectations about traffic enforcement. **"Rivalry"** jokes about a college football team disbanded because it was overstaffed with former military officers of various ranks, with only a former corporal as coach—satirizing the absurdity of military hierarchy interfering with athletics. All pieces use wordplay and situational humor typical of early 20th-century American comic magazines.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Dewrn by Exert Warsos op : — Tur Force Stage Directions As They Must Be Writter Ry Kexxetu Axprew TON enters the drawing room wearing ORD CARRIN his hat and coat.) (Claude lights a cigarette, throwing the match on the floor.) (Hermione enters carrying a large bunch of flowers which she had bought on the way to the theatre. She smiles gratefully at the people in the right stage box. whom she has never seen hefore.) (Upon the conclusion of this speech, stage hands should be instructed to applaud loudly.) (Since this is an Eng lish play the word “elec trician”’ should be pro- noufteed Aleck Tricion throughout.) (She kisses him on the chin and puts her arms around his neck—when she takes them away his shoulders, breast and sleeves should be coated with white.) (There is a pause Farley clears his throat Another pause. Farley glares ferociously at the wings and says, “Was Drove by Auoent T. Reso oF that the telephone, dear?” Before he has tinishe sell rings off-stage. It sounds like an alarm clock (Irene presses the electric light button on the wall. A little later the heavily shaded wall lights snap on with a loud click and the stage is suffused with a blinding glare from above and below.) (Seating herself at the piano, Corinne looks fondly at Ernest and lets her fingers wander idly over the keys. Faintly off stage a spirited fox trot is heard.) An Obstruction The Judge —Did you arrest this chauffeur for speeding? The Policeman—No, your honor. 1 pinched him for ob- structing the road. He was going thirty miles an hour, an’ he was com- plained about by them that was driving at the regular rate Rivalry Friend—What's — be- come of your football team? Sophomore—lt_— dis- banded. You see there were four former colonels, two majors, three captains and two licutenants on it, and the coach was a former corporal. sa kick in this.” comicbooks.com