“Attendance compulsory?” I said. “But if Meccanians are so advanced in the cultivation of the drama, why should it be necessary to enforce attendance?”
“Perhaps it is not really necessary, but I doubt whether our scheme of dramatic culture could be carried out without strict regulation. For instance, there are some plays more popular than others. People would want to see these plays in great numbers and there would not be room for them; whilst the less popular plays would not be well attended.”
“Just so,” I said, “that is what one would naturally expect; and where is the harm?”
“Our scheme provides a succession of plays throughout the year, all designed as part of our culture, and if people were at liberty to pick and choose what they would see, and what they would not see, we should have no guarantee that they would have gone through the course.”
“Would that matter,” I asked, “so long as they were amused?”
“May I repeat that the Meccanian drama is something more than amusement,” he replied testily. “You will learn more of this subject from Dr. Dodderer. We need not pursue it further.”
“Then may I ask whether attendance at concerts is compulsory also?”
“It is not compulsory, but it is strictly regulated as regards the different grades of music,” he answered.
“I should like to know how you regulate attendance at concerts,” I said; “I have never heard of it elsewhere.”