The following list will suggest short plays suitable for informal classroom training in dramatics. Most of these are also general enough in their appeal to serve for regular production upon a stage before a miscellaneous audience.
Aldrich, T.B. _Pauline Pavlovna_ Baring, M. _Diminutive Dramas_ Butler, E.P. _The Revolt_ Cannan, G. _Everybody's Husband_ Dunsany, Lord _Tents of the Arabs_ The Lost Silk Hat Fame and the Poet_ Fenn and Pryce. _'Op-o-Me-Thumb_ Gale, Z. _Neighbors_ Gerstenberg, A. _Overtones_ Gibson, W. W. Plays in Collected Works Gregory, Lady. _Spreading the News The Workhouse Ward Coats,_ etc. Houghton, S. _The Dear Departed_ Jones, H. A. _Her Tongue_ Kreymborg, A. _Mannikin and Minnikin_ Moeller, P. _Pokey_ Quintero, J. and S.A. _A Sunny Morning_ Rice, C. _The Immortal Lure_ Stevens, T.W. _Ryland_ Sudermann, H. _The Far-Away Princess_ Tchekoff, A. _A Marriage Proposal_ Torrence, R. _The Rider of Dreams_ Walker, S. _Never-the-Less_ Yeats, W.B. _Cathleen Ni Houlihan_
Producing Plays. Any class or organization which has followed the various forms of dramatics outlined thus far in this chapter will find it an easy matter to succeed in the production of a play before an audience.
The Play. The first thing to decide upon is the play itself. This choice should be made as far in advance of performance as is possible. Most of the work of producing a play is in adequate preparation. Up to this time audiences have been members of the class, or small groups with kindly dispositions and forbearing sympathies. A general audience is more critical. It will be led to like or dislike according to the degree its interest is aroused and held. It will be friendly, but more exacting. The suitability of the play for the audience must be regarded. A comedy by Shakespeare which delights and impresses both performers and audience is much more stimulating and educating than a Greek tragedy which bores them.
The Stage. The second determining factor is the stage. What is its size? What is its equipment? Some plays require large stages; others fit smaller ones better. A large stage may be made small, but it is impossible to stretch a small one.
Equipment for a school stage need not be elaborate. Artistic ingenuity will do more than reckless expenditure. The simplest devices can be made to produce the best effects. The lighting system should admit of easy modification. For example, it should be possible to place lights in various positions for different effects. It should be possible to get much illumination or little.