The Theater: Arms v. Art

In its 19-year history, Philadelphia's Hedgerow Theater has garnered as much glory as any community playhouse in the U.S. Its director, disheveled, 49-year-old Jasper Deeter, is hopelessly stage-mad but brilliantly stage-minded. He has built up a permanent company who get no salary (only board & lodging on a comfortable farm), receive no billing (yet often turn down good paying offers). Indifferent to commercial success Hedgerow is content to pioneer with unknown playwrights and to pay tribute to great ones—Shakespeare, Molière, Shaw.

Last week glory went out the window while notoriety came in at the...