The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-04-09
AUTHORS AND MANAGERS.
what Caterer 10 The Amusement
Public Says OF Their Tastes and

In conversation the other day with a
manager of prominent travelling combination the
question arose as to why It thar few managers
were willing to risk producing pieces written by
American authors, and ventured to remark that If
some arrangement could be made like the London
much talent now latent because Of the difficulty our
native authors have In securing careful perusal OF
their productions.
- My dear sir - said the manager ''if you knew
the amount OF trash managers wade through every
season. in the hope OF securing something the public
will appreciate and the dull unvarying mediocrity Of
most pieces submitted To them, you would view the
poor manager as a patient, suffering martyr rather
than the unapproachabie autocrat these wOuld-be
authors would make him appear. -
But Is there never exception to this Must We
admit that, although in every other branch Of ltera
ture America stands In the foremost rank, dramatic
composition Is entirely lacking?
~ by no means. There are plays to-day upon our
stage whose success is undouDtsd, aud which are
solely of American authurshps But they are Vet the
exceptions which prove the rule -
- How do You account for this: asked our
reporter.
ut Is principally because managers have preferred
to produce works which have been proven elsewhere,
ana which are the production OF school of authors
which, having passed through the transition state OF
existence, has become an assured and accepted fact.
Notice how many OF the plays to-day upon the Ameri
stage are OF foreign origin. Their experience
ables foreign authors Ia produce acceptable work. and
managers assume much less risk in presenting
this work 10 our teitregoers than in fostering home
TALENT
''Then it is mostly considered a risky speculation
to present play by an American author 5''
- by any unknown author, unless the play Is ex-
CeptiOnally and marYelOusy strong.
- But cannot that fact he ascertained by perusa
Of the play -
By no means There are plays which when read
most Interesting, but when produced appear iat,
stale and unprohable. assure you, sir, 1t Is not
always the question ia the manager mind. Is the
piece meritorlonS' but ottener, 'Wil 1t please the
publicE' -
as it then so dimcult to decide what VIII please
them9''
''NTore dncult than the public generally aware
OF. successful manager is great deal like =
Al lA
To hazard u certain course of treatment, and then
awaits anxOusly tie result prepared, II 1t Is unsuc-
cessful 10 withdraw 1t before much damage is done
and, If successful, 10 push 1t vigorously TO happy
termination. And as In medicine the course
which a new departure experiment all managers
may denOunce unsafe and fOolhardy may be at
tended with the most beneficial results. recall
present which Is ali illustration OF thsthe
Tourists, who are next week Ia FUrl's. About
three years ago MIR. W. a. Mestayer, at that time
PRINCIPAL comedian Of Rice's Surprise Party
showed to various managers anunsensiGal IMPOSITION
claiming TO he compo'ed entirely at fun and music
and happening In the Interior Of Pullman palace
car some managers smiled patronizngly upon the
actor author lie unfOldei his scheme, aud said.
An original idea, sir, admit but fear 1t will not
work At any rate, l have NO time money for
such experiments.' Others buntly refused 10 listen
at all At last accident brought Mr.. Mestayer into the
presence OF MIR. John T.. Smith, manager of many
years experience ana acknowledged reputation, aud
with considerable hesitation, the much rebufed
author spoke of Il piece lie had which II rightly
handled would probably be a success 10 the au-
thOr's surprise the manager first listened then began
to question, and at last requested reading OF the
piece. The result Of this reading that the other
author agreeing 10 furnish his talents comedian
10 secure proper production of the piece and the
manager his business qualifications, trial was de-
cided upon, and 1t announced for the forthcoming
season. AS soon as this fact WAS made public with
wonderful unanimity his fellow managers began 10
cOmmaeTatd with Mr.. smith, Insisting that the
speculation must prove an unfortunate SIN the
firm preserved, and When in September 1873 they
Were ready for the initial performance Of the piece In
PittsbnTg Pa, II not without nervous
hess and anxious wondering Of the result. Could 1t
be that all the managers wrong and themselves
right, was troubled thought 10 Mes-rs. Smith and
Mestayer. The opening night came and the per-
Torrance so few had faith ia success beyond
description, II was ius what the public wanted, and
they proved 1t with their dollars. sun managers held
dUuDtfully alOOf, and modified their former remark
by saying II may succeed In smaller towns, but
II never can gain metropolitan roputatiOu;' but
when II came 10 New York City and for weeks
crowded the Fourteenth street Theatre to It's utmost
10 accommodate those who would come, All Joined Ia
prunOuncing 1t thorough and undOubted success. -
Aud the new firm was financially wen rewarded
for their yenturef''
''IIandsomely. Their profits 80 far cannot be far
from $780, 900, and may continue no one can say how
much longer. -
And why could not other managers do as Welliu
their speCEatiOns as these have done 20
''lhcy might " they would ind good novelties and
have iiith enough Ina them 10 present them 10 the
public IN excellent style But they must take chances
aud the trouble Is most managers have not the grit
To do this. 80
90 But YOU my dear sir
- am Ike the majority Of them, apt 10 be too
cautions There goes the car. Good bye Ola fellow,
VIII see you tonight at the theatre 80