The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-25
PRODUCING A NEW PLAY.
DIFFICULTIES ATTENDING THE
GAZE LAUNCHING OF A DRAMA.

n =
The Comedian and the stage MAJ
sger.
From, the Neto York Recorder.
Many a play fails for the lack of those
,;,tle humorous touches which depict every
dsv life and "hold the mirror up to nature. 1"
rsnecially is this true of plays OF "contem-
7oraneous interest" to borrow the favorIte
5brase of g prominent New York manager.
Vet if the dramatiss could get into his
rIsv half as much humor as crops up In its
rsbearsal it's success would be assured.
Not long ago l attended the rshearsals of
a play with whose author was acquainted,
and in the course of its preparation for the
.tsge enough funny things happened to
make farce-comedy in themselves. The
company appearing in the play was
travelling organization headed by star Of
tbe gentle sex. Like most theatrical COM
rsnies it contained two factions-one led by
he stage manager, a young man for his
POSITION. the other by the leading man. a
vareran who had played with Forrest, and
their chickering's often distracted the star
whose amiability allowed them to impose
on her.
distracted was my friend the author, whom
I shall COLL CIllbLls as no uOJ care TO
see his name ia print in connection with
this account of his experiences. His
troubles began almost with the acceptance
of his play. When play is produced by a
travelling organization, unless it was writ
ten for il, changes are usually necessary to
ft it to the personnel OF the company. The
play in question was not an exception to
The rule. Smith agreed to make the neoes-
sary changes There were more characters
rlaU than fhara IN tho
company so he agreed to eliminate some Of
the characters. Then there was an actor
II the company who was good ia comedy
bits but there was no character in the
play precisely suited to him. AS he was a
favorite with the star she wanted little
part written for him. This, too, Smith
agreed tn do. The dramatist who is dis.
Outraged by such slight difficulties as these
will never succeed. Smith, nothing daunted,
said he would make all the little changes
needed to fit the play to the actors
But he had hardly begun to make the re-
uulred changes when he received long let
ter from his star. That amiable and charm
ing woman had been listening to her stage
manager. who had poured tale into her
ear. Between them they had coDoocted a
plan for improving the play. and she sug-
gested the Incorporation of "a few incl
dents" which she thought would greatly
strengthen the plot. The use of these in
cidents would, in fact, have necessitated
the making OF an entirely new plot, and
consequently the writing of the dialogue.
The result would have been that scarcely a
vestige of the original play would have
teen left After reading this letter the au-
thor with wrath IN his eyes went to the actress
a I'd informed her that he would not adopt
the suggestions; that he was not willing to
ruin his play, and that he was ready to
cancel his contract with her Then the
enis5le lady acknowledged that the sug-
gestions we're probably ill-advised. She
would not hear of. canceling the contract,
and it was settled that the author should
make only such changes as he thought adj
visable. Smith retired in triumph. He
had won his first victory.
he resumed the work OF putting his play
In shape for production. His lsbors were
only interrupted by few visits from the
stage manager, who kindly stated that un-
less his Suggestions we're adopted the drama
would surely fail, and by another suggestion
on the part OF the star that one of The acts
should begin with situation which the au-
thoT intended for its climax, all of which
advice he ignored.
AT last the day of the first rehearsal ar
rived. Then began the process of grinding
The play and the author between two meta
phorlcal mlllstones, the factions in the COM
pany already referred to. Though the star
was radiant aud full OF hope, the stage
manager was sour and pessimistic. His
suggestions had not been followed, there
fore failure" was written all over his pro-
phetc countenance. But at last even he
was propitiated by the benignant influence
Of the star. He put spirit into his work,
s.dthe rehearsal proceeded with some hope
OF accomplishing the desired end, the ade-
quate representation of the play.
In the meantime, however, O slight diff
al h.
ters in the play was a strong old woman.
The actress cast for the role was young,
altogether too young to play it effectively
The author wondered why she had been en-
gagged. Some said it was because the star
liked to have young and pretty women
about her, while others-surely they were
enVlous whispered that it was
because young amateur was less expensive
taan character actress OF years and ex-
perience. But what was to be donea It
would be mauifestly unjust to discharge the
girl Just after engaging her. especially as
she had not pretended to be able to play old
women.
All! Mr.. Smith. l have an ideam ex-
claimed the charming star, her expressive
lace radiant with the light of the aforesaid
Idea, as she laid caressing hand on the
shoulder of the perplexed dramatist. II
nave an idea, Mr.. Smith. You say the
character is too old to fit Miss Jones. Then
why not make the character young? 1t
Will cause little rewriting But what is
eaSer-for youW
The author had known of things easier of
accomplishments than the proposed meta
morphosis. Yet it was possible, and he was
persuaded to do it. He sat Up late the ensu-
iag night and dipped the "oid woman" of
MS play in the fountain of youth. At the
next rehearsal Miss Jones was the happiest
person on the stage. She had character
suited to her years.
r., 4he star was delighted with the change.
ohe praised some of the new lines written
tor the reJuvenated character.
an "! that is lovely line" she exclaimed.
But why did you not write that in nv
part, Mr.. Smith, 1t will sound better in
my part than in Miss Jones' Listen"
she delivered the line, and with excellent
eject She delivers it still. Miss Jones
part was not the only one that was made 10
pay tribute to the stars role. Some Of the
men even CALAMITY surrendered lines that
were coveted by their fair leader, even the
man who had played with Forrest.
though the rehearsals proceeded with
apparent smoothuess the warfare of long
sanding between the leading man and the
sTSase manager was still quietly carried on.
tue man who had played with Forrest
looked down on the more youthful stage
manager as "a mere boy" and when it be-
tame niece jsary for him take Instruction
nom nom That quarter in regard to the stage
business Of the play it went against the
s'ain' when he was called upon TO do any,