The Play
Skinner, R. Dana
308 THE COMMONWEAL July 28, 1926 THE...
...308 THE COMMONWEAL July 28, 1926 THE PLAY By R. DANA SKINNER The Geddes Project f or the Divine Comedy But we must not think that Mr...
...Geddes has already worked out the exact method conditions are fairly stable, it might be given in the open air...
...The minutest details "O abundant Grace, by the Eternal Light, let my sight be of costume, lighting, and music have been worked out, and consumed...
...The editors of this paper join me drama of unearthly emotions...
...A large part of the under area of the stage is taken cisions, and heart-breaking experimentations...
...Something must be worked this project achieve realization, as part of that ever-increasing out so that we do not recognize an instrument but feel a interest in Dante and what he holds for the world of today, vibration that reaches a din, that reaches a tone, exquisite and will write their ideas fully and send them to us as the first terrible, but, above all, not common...
...By carefully ar- accompany what action, what movement of the chorus, what ranged lighting, whole sections of the stage may be blotted out arrangement of sound, and of light...
...form and the inner idea Mr...
...Surely in this music step in bringing a new power and beauty into American there must be a quality not of the outer earth...
...As in the with utter sincerity that "it is not the newness, but the eternal- dramatization of a novel, selection of the incidents to be porness of a thing that attracts me toward it...
...it is turned directly into the audience with blind- careful estimates made of the cost of construction of the ing intensity...
...Geddes has up by three vibrating chambers where sound waves can be combined the practical with the mystic in amazing fashionmultiplied and magnified to almost any intensity...
...The model itself was recently exhibited at the Interfrom above and spreading until finally, as Dante exclaims national Exhibition of Theatre Arts...
...Thus the of broken terraces, flanked by four huge towers of irre ar director can see at a glance down the page just what words shape, and with a central descending pit...
...ferent parts of the auditorium, each tube controlled by shut- It has been my pleasure and privilege to investigate careters, so that the volume and source of sound reaching the fully many of the details of the Geddes project, since I have audience can be varied with as great a precision as the lighting felt for several years, in common with many others familiar effects...
...I do not want to hear a trumpet, in expressing the hope that all those who would like to see a violin, a flute, a drum, as such...
...During the From this brief outline it will be evident that the Geddes action of the Inferno, the lighting comes from the pit...
...Geddes's idea that the music accompany- project remotely connected with the drama held so much of ing the entire performance should be of the ordinary sort- spiritual beauty and majesty, so much that merits the interest of the earth earthy...
...During project is no vague dream...
...A book has already been printed the Purgatorio, it comes from behind, shooting heavenward by Theatre Arts, Incorporated, giving many photographs of like a display of the aurora...
...Geddes is seeking to express...
...The Dante text still remains the centre and glory of Bel Geddes...
...drama...
...There must be," he says, "no blatant and cooperation of all to whom Dante is a symbol of the greatbursts of anything that resembles earthly music, for here is a est of Christian centuries...
...He has done The stage-a minutely accurate scale model of which has this by arranging everything in the form of a musical score, already been constructed-is circular in form, rising in a series with the action indicated for every fifteen seconds...
...ance, replacing the need of ordinary scenery...
...Geddes has tried to subS OMETHING of the spirit which must have inspired the stitute sense impressions entirely for the power of spoken daring of the first Gothic tower seems to burn in Norman- words...
...And the same is true of likely to drain heavily upon human resources in worry, indethe sound...
...There is no more original and courageous mind the production--selected, of course, with careful reference to working in our theatre today, yet he is a man who can write the time permissible for a single performance...
...The In all, the production contemplates the use of about a thouspectacle is planned for presentation in a large auditorium such sand performers, so that it takes on the numerical proportions as an armory, or the Madison Square Garden-although in of a pageant...
...As the characters all wear masks the dramatic presentation in majestic form of Dante's Divine which, like the masks of old Greek tragedy, serve the double Comedy...
...It is typical of trayed is essential...
...by which their movements will be regulated...
...fusion, to the sublimity of that final moment, Mr...
...stage-including a manner of making it portable, so that the Through this infinite variety of visual effect, from almost production could be given in many cities, once the interest in complete darkness, through the gamut of horror and con- a dramatization of Dante had been brought to a high pitch...
...purpose of enhancing facial expression and forming a megaPerhaps the best way to consider the project is to take first phone for speech, the voices will be clearly heard in every part its objective aspects and later the relation between this outer of the auditorium...
...with the idea and its present state of completion, that no other It is not Mr...
...In this way, the essential or thrown into fantastic relief, so that a constantly moving unity of the piece is established in advance, with a minimum of variety of form and effect is obtained throughout the perform- guesswork and confusion left to rehearsal...
...But in the direction and control of these perclimates such as California where the lighting and atmospheric formers, Mr...
...From this again recalling that practical romance and stirring adventure chamber they are led through nine tubes, terminating in dif- which gave birth to the Gothic masterpieces of Europe...
...Geddes I mention these facts because of the prevailing notion that has created a language for the eyes parallel at every instant projects of this sort are generally vague, indefinite in cost, and to the thought of the poem itself...
...The Geddes project should become a reality...
...But the three main characters of Dante, the mystical quality of his genius that his greatest complete Virgil, and Beatrice have speaking parts adapted directly from achievement to date was the cathedral setting for The Miracle, the text and conveying as strictly as possible the essence of and that his greatest project, now well toward realization, is Dante's dramatic idea...
...and during the Paradiso, the stage and lighting effects made directly from the large scale lighting takes on a greater and greater diffusion, beginning model...
Vol. 4 • July 1926 • No. 12
