Judge — November 9, 1929 — page 20: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

JUDGE | | | ¥ theatrical producers may bar critics from their ny, [have a conviction that I am acting upon I houses when such critics are distasteful to them, able impulses issuing from a very careful ap- I can see no reason why critics should not bar of their wares over a considerable period. | theatrical producers from their pages when the latter re honest men, I have no doubt; but that | in turn are distasteful to them. An intelligent pro- are fitted for reputable manuscript judgment | ducer is perfectly within his rights when he excludes and for accomplished play production I cannot per- from his plays a critic that he deems to be ill-equipped — suade myself. It therefore seems to me to be unfair and incompetent, and an intelligent critic is equally — further to subject them to the critical standards that within his rights, it strikes me, when he excludes [ stand sponsor for and I accordingly leave them to | from his further consideration a producer who im- their own devices and to those reviewers who must, presses him in the same way. Operating upon this often against their wills, willy-nilly attend any show | principle, I have already ordered Mr, Gustav Blum, — that advertises in their papers. | Mr. Butler Davenport and one or two other impre- As Tsay. Ip that Iam more intelligent in this ios to desist from sending me tickets to their ex- attitude than certain producers in the past have been hibitions. And I herewith issue the same injunction in my own case. One producer years ago barred to Mr. John Henry Mears. me from his theatres not because I didn’t know my T have known this Mr. Mears for some years and — trade—which would be the best reason in th world s found him personally to be a charming — for barring anyone—but simply because I criticized 1 > fellow. But, as a producer of plays, 1 adversely the acting performance of a woman that | have found him to be completely wasteful of my time — one of his partners was stuck on, Still another play- and efforts. I have open-mindedly and courteously — wright-producer, also years ago, invited me out of accepted his invitations to review his various pro- his theatre : I remarked that his piece. ductions and not one of them have I discovered “Bought and x was hardly “the 5 anything that was worth a moment of my critical the century” that he, somewhat recklessly attention. And so, after sitting through part of of Hauptmann, Rostand, Shaw and a few other such his latest doings, “The Nut Farm,’ in C. journeymen, proudly proclaimed it to be. And Brownell, I officially delete hin from the circ is of my — other producer still, Mr. Walter Hampden by name, aesthetic concerns. It is, in a way, the kindest thi a couple of years ago decided that [ was persona | that I can, as a friend, do for him. non grata because | wrote of him what almost every In barring such producers from my critical (Continued on page 27) ° Digest | “The Mut Farm” (Biltmore) —Not hing Lincata” (Forrest)—Old “Week End” (Golden)—To be re- | could be worse. Y A pares, vowed. | - ale Watch” (Times ' 's Sketch Boo! “) The Silver Tassie” (Groenwich Vile | | Regt ed thiee ‘i. fobs Hes —Lively itt show tastefully put on. lage)—The talented Sean Casey's | | I evening. “set oe si rs Spomats, Carey (Ch Se coed Yours Oh } ay" (Coamop ititan)—Some “Aes a Wise Child (Hela wor Shoring the othe “daarney’s Eng” (Miller)—War play | odies but a very unfortunate taking up a fat collection wit of some quality, but I still find myself 1 jow and comical farce. Pi “Ladios a oe =, (Exner = on. a step with the lavishly eulogist H Litcles Sramatuation of Vidvela 1S Lae tit tel Sos dir Sere gout all dete, Ppete” (Moreees)—Ean- Broadhurst) —The * (Barrymore)—One of ue: “ ia) -Fi | smaken 400-00 ina piece of tush " veo (nr renee ia itr Sweet” (Zee) Nou Ci os eee” (New Amterdam)—So, | | eects dina teliomeoaeds: sanMany Matere® (Liou) —A very dul ania maticcre muvical exhibit. Further 16 “ofcourse, will the ‘Sloas. Cantor Adeline” (Ilammerstein} ed nikcity prodaced « A ably acted bu company theatres in the long ago. | " } iS Tor comnmetation bere ACT fete Fee Menai | | Ust Us Be Gay” (Littke) Es rea | | ina comely ite bs “Among the Married” (49th St.)— | | 18 comicbooks.com