Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 258, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 November 1911 — OPEN-AIR THEATER POPULAR [ARTICLE]

OPEN-AIR THEATER POPULAR

Danish House in Denmark Is Thronged by Patrons of Drama in Dear Park, Just Out of Capital. Brooklyn. N. Y. —Among the ftaost Interesting experiences of travelers in Scandinavia this summer has boen open-air theatergoing. For the splen did weather has induced numerous dramatic enterprises ’in scenes ol quite unusual beauty. Such has been their success that the forest theater Is likely to becoifle a summer institution in northern Europe. Probably the finest natural theater in the world la In Denmark. In the royal deer park, about six miles out of the capital. There the avenues of mighty trees serve as wings and background to a stage fronted by a beech encircled slope that forms a perfect auditorium. Eight thousand people can be accommodated at every performance and the scene, when the space Is filled with gayly dressed patrons of the drama, far surpasses that of a gala performance In more pretentious but artificial surroundings. For such scenery a careful selection of plays is needed, but when that has been done the materials arts there for infinitely greater realism than to possible in a brick and mortar playhouse. For Instance, there is space shade and distance in which to operate advancing and receding players, while the effect of the singing is con vlficlng because it has no reliance on behind the scene* tricks. With no performance marred by the weather, the Copenhagen open-air theater has had a wonderful season

Their “playhouse” has been the one cool spot in all tbe range of entertainments. Four plays have been given— “A Midsummer Night’s Dream," Schiller’s “Die Raueber,” Sophocles "Antigone,” and an old Danish love story with a tragic vein. As the stars In those performances came the chief actors and actresses from the state and other leading Copenhagen theaters, so there was the best of talent as well as the most ideal setting. Spectators, both from home and foreign points, were thrilled by the fight in “Die Raeuber” between tbe brigands and a -troop of pursuing horsemen, and charmed by Mme. Clara Wleth’s original conception of Puck In "A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Reluctantly have they returned to town by the' light of the moon and from this fascinating playing In tbs noble forest under the blue sky.