The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-08-26

would prefer to produce an American play than
the best foreign one that could be bought or
stolen An right says !, I've got onc I'll
read II myself and I promise you that II tie
good it will be Produced We'll. | went home.
and put up two comedies OF mine in white rib
bon. packed them in n nice box with letter.
and sent them at once to the Office of the mana
ger ought to tell you, though. that took the
prccaution to slightly gum together certain
pages Of the manuscript, so that they could
not he read without my knowing it, At the end
Of eight wccks | sent for my plays, and. after
some ittlrtroublc got the box back. The manu-
script had not been disturbed. On the day
got it read in one Of the papers most de-
lightfu interview with this same manager in
which he stated. with great warmth. that he was
still hungcring for n native play. but could not
gct one to read
81 have often heard that complaint before. but
never gave II much attention or crcdcncc."
"Othcr managers who are more honest say 10
me: Mr.. Gaylcr. we have read your play; it's
good in plot and strong in situation; but we
have received play from Mr.. French which
has run two hundred nights in Paris and If we
are to risk our money we must risk 1t on a
known Success Besides. these managers buy
what they call a sole proprietary right in their
French plays for 5000 francs. and then control
the whole country. In England. and especially
in France the manager is exceedingly fortunate
II he can secure good play from an author Of
rcputc by the payment Of a large sum Of money
As soon IA he gets II new play he sets all the
forces Of his theatre to work to produc" it. He
acts on his own judgment of IFS merits. The
American manager depends entirely upon Tie
verdict of the foreign public.
" II the pircc fails in spite Of all the French
managers Efforts, what does he do? Does he
20 bowling through the press that French au-
thors can't wr.trY No. he goes to him and says:
We'll. my boy. We didn't hit en- that time
wen have TO Try again And the same author
receives an order for another play. Take Mr..
Mu,.nus. for instance. He wrote Conscience
which was a reasonable success; at all events it
showed what might bc done with encourage
mcnt Docs ne write another; No; he drops
10 spccialti"s and IL engaged 10y Mr. Florence
Ia do Patchwork Look at Ndot | am told he
has local melodrama called Gotham. which
is acknowledged by all the managers who have
read 1t 10 be- we're strong picturesque and
thoroughly dramatic piece of work. Not one Of
them darcs to tou ia it. however This depend
rncc ~ the New York manager upon the for
e.n public il initiated 10y the provincial man
ayers IN America. none of whom will touch a
play till il has had u New York success
" Then you do not feel at all hopeful with re-
gard to the future Of the American drama -
NO. | don't. Commercially it will hc n
money making affair. Art.Sticaiiy. it has not
got much chance. The managers shut the doors
ia the face of the young IlayWrislt- who
might turn out an occasional genius. and ai the
/ sam time the press how'- ior an American
drama With rrdoubl"d cncrgy. So those OF Us
who know ID" ropes writ for the actors. aud let
! the managers take earc of thom- Ives"