New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-24
THE CRAZE FOR PLAYWRITING.
HOW MANAGERS ARE SHOWED UNDER BY
MeC

MSS
II there is no American drama worthy Of the Ma
tona name, the for the deficiency Hes mora in
the lack OF ability than IN the lack OF industry Of
would-be playwrights. A. NJ. Palmer said a few days
ago that in the of his management of the Union
and Madison Square Theatres be and his various read
ers had examined upward Of 1000 American plays.
This enormous number was not given as the result
Of an estimate, but DO proved TO be correct from
his books in which careful record Of each play has
been preserved. Now Mr. Palmers management
has extended seventeen years, 1t follows
that the average number Of plays yearly sent TO him
exceeded 400. 1t must be remembered that this was
the record of theatre, the two were never at
the same time under Mr. Panfer's management While
he was perhaps more favored than his competitors by
the aspiring dramatists 1t IL probable that tho number
OF plays submitted yearly 10 each manager Of stock
company In this city during that period at least
$50. One experienced literary man who assisted TOR
several in reading plays at wailaeks and at
tho Union Square Theatre when the latter was under
the direction Shook and Collier examined I'm
the last season of the Union Square $50 plays
without finding one that he could recommend being
worthy Of production even possessing sufficient
merit 10 promise compensation for tho trouble of re
writing or Tearangng.
What percentage OF those seven thousand plays
did Mr.. Palmer deem worth tho risk Of getting up for
presentation at the regular nightly performances
which would be tho equivalent Of Just four plays
It is of course, barely possible that Dir Palmer re-
jected plays which might have achieved success,
but II is greatly to the credit Of his judgment that
not Of the four he selected failed TO win con
siderable amount Of popular favor. This result Is
remarkable, out Of any four foreign plays brought
here with the prestige Of success abroad and pre-
sented with the usual managerial flourish OF trumpeSJ
not more than two generally proved remuneratiye.
The great difficulty in the way Of persons who
try 10 write plays here appears 10 be not so much
absence Of literary ability an almost entire
ignorance Of the necessities and limitations of the
stage. These aspirants do not as rule seem even
TO know what the length Of q play should De- many
MSS being submitted which were Intended 10 form
an cveninc's amusement but which IN some cases
would play one hour and in Others six hours. Now
40 simple q thing as the proper length OF play
can he easily determined by purchasing Ior hiteel'
cents printed copy Of successful ptece ana count
ing the number Of words. In the division OK plays
into acts the same earelessness or ignorance Is oeh
noticeable some acts so written as 10 occupy zen
minutes whlle others would take over an hour. The
r,oaern demand for one scene stand an entire act
"a GENERALLY ignored by the amateur dramatist, who Is
ant 10 call for as many his luxurant fancy
NAV require quite regardless OF tho riiinos expense
ertaslcd II ia not uncommon TO find among the plays
submitted many which demand from twenty "
twenty five scenes often these scenes VIII 20 nearly
ALI full sets7-that Is, occupying almost the entue
depth Of the stage The amateur dranafist calls ior
two NJ These I'm succession not knowing that such
an arrangement Is impossible and that between any
two full sets must come front scene long enough
TO allow the stage behind being cleared Oh the iorer
tabeau and reset with the to follow Even "heh
front scene Is provided By the novice he has rarely
any approximate idea OF the length OF time required
for setting scene. Many plays are offered IN NhieA
authors change localities from the polar regions 10
~
minutes for a change which, II either seems were
effectively mounted, could not possibly DC m~ae !"
less than quarter OF an hour
such minor but stin important details as the num-
her of times characters may come on ana on 'he
stage during one act the length OF speeches. tue huo
ducton OF the characters, their movement ana Ous
ness and the way to arrange speeches so as to get
the most effective words at the close, are points aoou
| which the novice can scarcely be expected 70 Kno"
ANYTHING There IS the greatest possible difference
| betyeen writing for the eye and the ear, ana inc
mowlege OF this difference Is one of the chlcf arts
Of the dramatist sentence containing eAactiy the
same words may be written I'm two ways, both equally
correct dramatically, but one eueesve when SPOKEN
while the other will fall dat Take a. an instance
| tho line
| {. A mothsr's love Is tho hoest thing on earth'
| Now though this sentiment should gain applause,
ta arrangement OF the sentence would nearly always
| prevent e. II any attempt were made TO emphasize
The end Of the line tho result would DO only absurd
| Rut LET the words be inverted thus:
9The holIest thing on earth Is mothers Iowa. and
tho accent can be put where 1t Is wanted. on the last
two. words and applause would be surely obtained.
The safest guide for tho aspiring playwright IS a
or,n,ed nlav Modern taste seems 10 run for serious
gor, 10 pieces in four acts each act being played In
s,ngle scene. In writing for a stock company NOT
| nver than twelve nor more than eighteen speaking
parts should be provided These should BIO arranged
| 10 a. the ordinary composition Of company, roles
being supplied for the leadIng-man, heavyman, first
old.rfan. character actor, low comedian, leading
ynman. Juvenile. woman, frst-old woman, character
| actress soubrette and wallslng-lady. Cher parts
NAV be distributed az tho necessities Of the drama
| or the authors fancy may dictate. lilo must not
however. call for two or three leading men women
as in such case the expense OF presenting his piece
will preyent its having any chance OF acceptance. In
writing dialogue on foolscap legal cap paper, 1t f
a fairly safe estimate that each page will take about
one minute TO play. piece therefore, should never
exceed 100 pages which with the intervals between
acts Will take from two hours and half to two hours
and three quarters 10 act The acts should be so ar
ranged as 10 be nearly all the same length, though
n is generally considered advisable to have tire las
| ACT the shortest the reason for this being that 4
| usually deals largely with explanations, and Otter
preceding act The closing scenes should be made a
brief as possible.
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