Abstract

Drama
L., L. | November 15, 1919 issue

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In sentimental comedy, the purpose of clouds is to have a silver lining. The silver lining is carefully "planted" from the start and in the last act irradiates the visible horizon. It is a perfectly open secret; the playwright would fare ill who refused to play the game. The public will endure physical but not moral suspense. It likes to be puzzled to know how the crooked will be set straight. Indeed the crooked must not be crooked in its real being at all. The clouds must be delusions. Straightness and radiance must be seen as the normal order of the world. And this normal order must be reestablished and rendered clear by a half-humorous, half-sentimental character of native birth.

See Also:

PERFORMING arts; THEATER; COMEDY; WIT & humor; DELUSIONS; CULTURAL industries
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