Maeterlinck's château is especially interesting: a medieval structure with a great court. It was here that one of his leading plays was given first, before a large company of his friends, with Madame Maeterlinck in the part of the heroine. No scenery was used, but the action took place in different rooms and in the court. Reference to this may be found in some of the magazines of the time.
X—THE AMERICAN DRAMA
1. William Dunlap (1798-1815), "Father of American Drama"—His numerous plays. Influence of Kotzebue. Study with Benjamin West.
2. Campbell, Howard, and DeMille—Bartley Campbell (1843-1888): Matrimony, Siberia. Bronson Howard ("Dean of the American Drama"): Young Mrs. Winthrop, The Henrietta, Shenandoah. H. C. DeMille (1850-1893): Lord Chumley, The Charity Ball.
3. Gillette, Belasco, and Klein—William Gillette: The Private Secretary, Secret Service, Too Much Johnson, Sherlock Holmes. David Belasco: His training for the stage. Early melodrama. Stage scenery and effects. Miss Helyett, The Heart of Maryland, Du Barry, The Girl of the Golden West. Charles Klein: The Music Master, The Lion and the Mouse, The Third Degree.
4. Fitch, Thomas, and Moody—Clyde Fitch: Brief Biography. Beau Brummel, The Liar, Nathan Hale, Captain Jinks, The Blue Mouse, The City. Compare Fitch's skill and ethical standards with those of Thomas. Augustus Thomas: Alabama, Arizona, The Harvest Moon, As a Man Thinks. William Vaughan Moody: The college professor as playwright. The Great Divide, The Faith Healer.
Books to Consult—W. J. Moses: The American Dramatist. Norman Hapgood: The Stage in America. Walter P. Eaton: The American Stage of To-day. W. D. Adams: Dictionary of the Drama. 2 vols. (English and American).
After this program have a discussion on the question: Are women responsible for the character of the modern drama? Take up also women's theater clubs, designed to pass judgment on new plays. Does the weight of their expressed opinion influence the management? On the whole, are the morals of the drama improving?