Platt, Livingston

(1885-1968)

   A native of Plattsburg, New York, Livingston Platt was a force in the triumph of European-inspired New Stagecraft through his work at Boston's Toy Theatre following a period of art studies in Europe. For Margaret Anglin, Platt created scene designs and costumes for The Taming of the Shrew, Twelfth Night, Antony and Cleopatra, and As You Like It, all in 1914. In these and most of his subsequent productions (for which he usually designed lighting as well), Platt created stylized settings resisting the realism typical prior to World War I. He demonstrated versatility in a wide range of plays, including East Is West (1918), Shakuntala (1919), Rain (1922), Daisy Mayme (1926), The Racket (1927), Behold the Bridegroom (1927), The First Mrs. Fraser (1929), Grand Hotel* (1930), Dinner at Eight* (1933), and The Pursuit of Happiness* (1933), after which an arrest on a morals charge ended his career.