New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-05
THEATRICAL GOSSIP.
Row ANARCHY WAS WRITTEN

the author Of that piece, Steele Maekaye, who was
talking to a reporter I'm his comfortable Office Just
| of tho stage OF the Standard Theatre " During tho
building of the Madison Square and Lyceum theatres
and later when the Madison Square Garden was tch-
| porarly covcrted into theatre. ! was naturally
| thrown into contact with great number OF WORE
ingmen was extremely surprised 20 find how WHOLLY
spread Anachlstlc and Soclalisic ideas were among
/ them Now knew that this class has not, as rule
much acquaintance with history, certainly not WIN
European history, and Thought IL wonia De "eh u
the stage could be made to show how In the one most
\ conspicuous instance when Anarchy was most ram
nant true liberty was so vlcly oppressed The play
was finished some time before its production, think
! about two years and put II away with good many
other pIays have written and which Will probably
not see the light for some time, IL they ever DO but
| one day was revising the Ms. for the last tlmo
| previously to having 1t typewrten, when the name
OF we'll known travelling manager whom had asked
| TO como and sec on a business matter, was an
| nounced. without Thinking what was doing car
rled the first of the play in my hand when went
| into the room where he waiting for me- lie saw
It, and look OF dread and horror came over his face
| : Good Hcavens' he cried, You haven't got me UP
here TO read me a play, have your? Well, the humor
Of the situation tickled me- and told him that had
and that there was escape. He threw himself into
| an armchair turned his back me. and with an
| almost pful expression OF impending suffering dis
posed himself to hear as little as possible hadn't
read very far when he began to shift round little,
and long before reached the end OF tho act he was
| facing me, and leaning forward In an attitude
Of eager attention. At last finished the act, and
| laid down the us.
| 60 Go on he said
| Not much. didn't bring you mp to hear a play.
| But you looked so miserable such small provOca-
ton. that I thought l would punish YOU
| WELL he answered. you've had your joke,
| now I'm going to have NINE am an invited guest
| Won m |
| 90 till you've read all the play
| 81 objected. telling Lin that didn't gvo fig for
his opinion about play, anyway, and didn't think no
knew a good from a bad one, but couldn't shake him
or. Finally read to him all the play. Then he went
into the most absurd ecstacics about the piece. If
had been another Dumas and d Emery rolled into ono,
he could not have been more lavish In his praises
Then was called away for a few minutes, and when
/ returned he greeted me with these words:
90 See here Mackayc think that's Internally
bad play:
| "The change startling. but didn't tronble me
much, as l did not. as before said care about his
| opinion. Still l had curiosity enough to ask him
what he meant.
90 mean that It IS not the play, but the way You
read it. You've psychological me-
| "Thls manager Is a great believer In spruallsm,
mcsmersm and other kindred sms, and really be-
Ilcved that my will had subjugated his Intellectual
| perceptions.
|
home he said.
| 90 That's a challenge I observed.
a. Yes It's a challenge, and You daren't ac-
cept
| IL thought for minute two. and thon told him
when the play was type written would send him a
| copy. Accordingly, / did So and about five days
afterward ! met him. lie assaulted me with request
| TO take back my play. which, he declared, had been
| haunting him day and night / found he had been
generally talking about 10, and, as a consequence,
| there were numerous demands 10 hear It read. a
wellknown star and party of bis friends heard 1t,
and he immed itcy offered to buy tho play outright
for $4,000. This seems extraordinary sum to offer
for an untrled piece but It is the exact truth
fused, because If IT had failed should not have felt
| justified In keeping much money, and II 1t sue
ceedcd, wanted to have a good share Of the profits.
| was tired of seeing other people make fortunes ont
Of my plays while got very little. More talk about
the piece began to get around then the newspapers
| cot hold of II, ard probably 40 American piece was
ever more written about prior to its production.
| Mr. Wallack made offer that was excellent
| pecumarlly, but could not agree about the cast
| Some time after l received invitation signed by
over 200 of Tho leading citizens Of Buffalo, my ma
| tive CITY, to produce the play there. / did at a
cost OF ga 900 and with extraordinary cast. the
best in general effect IT ever has had and probably
then / was fairly dcugcd with offers to buy an IN
| tcreSt. Finally / sold a portion to some business
men who could help to run II ior @ was
Theatre with this last fall but the theatre wasn't
ready and II was impossible to keep the company to-
| cefhcr When the opportunity of securing this the
| are was offered took It, but VIC have had TO con
| tend with many difficulties. There regular
theatrical clientele, and cannot advertise as we
should like, for the theatre has no stands or bill.
| boards. We have abundance Of snowy printing. and
| cannot find any places to put It up So our success
has depended on the reports of people who have been
here and the paper advertisements. The play
| was fist called Paul Kauvar; or Anarchy Then
| thought Anarchy would he the best title, and
under that produced Il in Buffalo. After that pro-
duction the Chicago Anarchists hanged, and %
| avoid a possible charge of trading that event,
went back to my first title"
It Is OF the delights OF management" said Mr..
Frohman abiding to the OF The Wife" 70
have a play prohtahy hundred nights, and see
OF at least fifty Thorn Is hoMeYer