Life — July 26, 1928 — page 12: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of "The Theatre" Page from Life Magazine This page discusses theatrical tryouts and reviews, focusing on "The Sinosset Follies of 1928," a summer theatrical production at a yacht club in Rhode Island. The small cartoon illustrations at the top show theatrical figures in various poses—likely representing actors, directors, and producers involved in theatrical productions. The main text critiques amateur theatrical productions, noting that tryouts often reveal "ingratiating" ideas and knockabout farce. The author discusses how "The Sinosset Follies" featured young performers in yachting costumes performing sketches and monologues, observing that the production was "not quite good enough." The satire targets the aspirations and modest quality of amateur summer theatrical productions, poking fun at their pretensions while acknowledging theater's cultural importance. The tone is gently mocking rather than harsh—typical of Life's sophisticated humor.