New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-17
4 NEW PLAY FOR MR.. UILLARD.
THE ACTOR TELLS About ITS PRODUCTION on
MONDAY NIGHT

THE ACTOR TELLS ABOrT ITS Production ON
MONDAY NIGHT.
The interest aroused by the promise Of PLAY by
J. NJ Barrie author Of The Little Minister to be
produced In Ncw-York by Mr. willard. Will make
acceptable 10 many readers some 0ccount Of "A con
vcrSaticn with Mr.. willard this subject The dis
ungu,htd English actor received his visitor cordially
and began ut once to reply the questions addressed
to him.
Yes said Mr.. Willard. many rumorS have been
anoat IN the English and American papers to tile
effect that the play by j. VI. Barrie entitled 'The
Professor which will b. for the first time on
any stage at the Theatre next Monday night was
written for Mr.. Irving or Mr.. Tocle. As a fact 1t
was not written on commission at all. TIL" history
Of the play +, briefly this While in this country last
season. impressed with the humor OF Mr.. Harric'S
My Lady Nicotine etc. and 10y the dramatic grip
frequently shown in The Little Minister placed
myself In con mLrlcatiOn with the author. and the
result that when returned 20 Europe Mr. Barrie
minded 10 me the first net Of the now completed play
shortly aftcrwaid Mr.. Irving expressed desire
10 some Of Mr.. BarreS work and that writer,
under mslpprhen>on as 10 my opinion OF the portion
ID the PLAY submitted handed the completed
manuscript to Mr.. Irving. who was 80 delighted VITA
II TINT he undertook TO produce II AT IN" Lyceum
Theatre during the present season or to forfeit con
siderable sum Of m ncy After considering the matter
very carefully he came 10 the conclusion tla' Their"
wa, no possibility Of placing II upln the Lycnum stage
within the period mentioned aud he Therefore, with
that generosity aud courtesy character H. 81 lin.
paid h, forfeit, SIX months Lcfore IN" time II due.
and handed back the manuscript TO Mr.. Barrie In od"
TINT The production Of the play might nor b" indrh
nllcly postponed. Meantime had some correspondence
with Mr. Barrie the subject and Immediately on
receiving his manuscript from Mr.. Irving j" M u
acfo>, the Atlantic 10 me. Rad II AT once. ana
within twenty four hour after n, receipt had -ecnrel
III. and Ia \ VI
Palmer With whom have Teen a-~odnt d ever sine"
NV arrival In America. also read It. was d"li-h
With It. aud IA" play was AT ono" put into rehearsal.
\ diincuiy ha. nr1,cn about rhr nth. winch has
already been used IN th, country a play hy VIZ.
Gillette having born" that name, and III" "prk j. Tor
the moment uuchu .icn,-l. However. ] nm I'm tnh"
communication with Mr.. Barrie. aud th, point VIII
doubles, De- satisfactorily settled. The story ~ III"
now play {, simple but AZ he same time very amusing
II /, that of . man Of science. an "."ctrcan - al
.orrL I'm III, studio, that b" has grown old beior" ho
time lie h,. allowed all The pleasures Of youth to
pa,, him los unhc'V'd, and although. when the la'
open, %, +, only about lhriyivr years old. he h"'
Won the highest honor, I'm connection with the ee"n'"
of electricity. H. l.. lwcv"r, practically m Oh man
f.. f., extremely absent minded. always doing some
thing nal apropos unlc>, prevented hy IN elderly 81
Ter who take, ~ him Is Il b" were u chllh.
Circumstance, scparai" these two for awhile, ana
during the period 81 their separation Ia" Professor dis
,harg. hi, secretary and coming 10 u Inclusion thai
men ar. no u,c M tnai capacity, b" engages young
gir for his amanucn,,. she has not been long IN ~
.mplovmcni when . great change cone, over the Pro
f,>,r H. has q di-ncnnation 10 work, ana generally
moon. about the hou-r wrapped In though Ills
great treatise on electricity. 10 complete witch iao
hitherto been hi, sol" nhl'c IN life. comes 10 stand
SIM and ~ be- i, eager TO revert - hi- old working
ruov,> hc call, I'm hi, doctor 10 ask what l. She
matter The doctor /, puzzled Tor s,m" thc lu'
eventually Discovers the state Of the cast ana tells
In. Professor that hc +, IA low, The Professor Is
horrnci ~ the IDEA, he having always regarded Live
q. merely a woman device i1r wasting iiuI".
.You'r. in love- .I,, "a" doctor. and ~
,nir AZ. II b, bound 10 be- had case.
Nou ought T. have had 81 years ago
The professors horror ia" suggestion; his night
prc.,ncc OF IN" rirl be- lov,; M. ignorance - the
cai- OF that appiuc,-. hi unconscious betrayal 81
hl, alteration for Arr. h, eventual discovery n ~
lo,r. hi, unhappne~, when il" think II utterly mop"
.-- ahd hi, ultimately successful wo"n- nav" All brrI
treated bN MIR. Barn." IN 'l'arningN humorous
mariner ~ tl' treatment j. the gradual
rcj.vcnaton Of thu professor. who begins tn play
n man of sixty and end, II n man oi fwrutYiN"
tie setting win b, extremely pretty one y the acts
~ the play taking place IN wheat field ~ harvest
time. m
mi, /, Ny Barrlc's third dmmatIr attempt. rl"
hr-i play produced by him wa trnc c1iI"l 'lb'll
Gia.-l' ~ when the scandinavian dramaii~t VA, bril-
llantl, sailriy,d. The second originally Gale!
mo UDri>rhoat bu the til" chosen by Mr.. Barir
Lad already been used and the play was. therefor.
ran,G Waller London II wa, produced al Iool"'~
lhcatir. In London. during 'ictOhcr 1901. AMI Ia
Icrn acted there continuously from that dat" uniil
now MI rool' writes 10 M" that hc cApr,,> II T.
iiI another year at least.