The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-19

Actor WheelOck Turns Himself
Loose on Dramatic Critics.
cRAwFoRo's RETURN TO ITALY.
Mary Z. Wilkins Writing . Play -Boye-
sen Finishing . Novel-Kipling's
Rebuke to Society Woman.

NEW York, March 13.-[Special Core
spondence. THE literary men and women
OF New York have been greatly stirred up
by the failure of the new play, Shadows"
at the last performance of the Theater of
Arts and Letters. l attended q meeting
held the other night for the purpose of
discussing this play. the causes of the
failure, and l have rarely been more en-
tertained. Several of the best known peo-
pie in the literary set were there. 1t
would be invidious to give thei- names,
for the whole discussion was extremely
ridiculous. One of the speakers in criti-
cising the play made some severe stric-
lures upon the performance Of Joseph
Wheelock, the we'll known actor, who had
q leading part. No sooner had he finished
than gaunt. hollow-eyed figure arose in
the back of the hall and announced in
quiet. yet dramatic tones: II am Joseph
Wheelock. The scene that ensued may
be imagined.
The people sat back aghast and listened
to the imprisoned speech in which the
actor denounced the audience that had
ridiculed himself, his associates and the
play. Several other very warm speeches
followed and the meeting almost developed
into disagreeable wrangle.
The result of the recent fasco will un-
doubtedly be beneficial. In future all
plays submitted to the management will
be read first by a committee of skilled
literary men. and those plays which they
approve will be submitted to the judg-
ment of another committee composed Of
members of the club of about 80. 1t is.
therefore, quite unlikely that such a
Of
shadows" will ever again be accepted by
them. 1t is my belief that Mr.. Mcdowell.
who is the moving spirit in the new under
taking. is sincere in his desire to encourage
men and women engaged in literature to
write plays. and l believe that if his work
is properly encouraged it may do much to
bring out latent talent for dramatic writ
ing. At any rate. it is an interesting ex-
pertinent and it can do no harm.
The management expected to produce at
Its last performance Mercedes" T. B.
Aldrich's charming poetic drama. This
work had already been accepted by A. NJ.
Palmer, who expects to produce it at a
time not yet decided upon; but both Mr..
Palmer and Mr.. Aldrlch gave their consent
for its production at the Theater OF Arts
and Letters. and Mr.. Mcdowell agreed to
pay $3.50 for the privilege. But at the last
moment Mr.. Aldrich broke the contract
His reasons for this peculiar action are
rather amusing: when my play is pro-
duced," he says. 81 want it given in a reg
ular theater with the glare and trumpets,
the sawdust and all the accessories of a
first night in the regular theater." He
evidently regards the Theater of Arts and
Letters as a kind of diicttdntc institution.
Speaking of dramas written by men
whose work may be regarded as literature
reminds me of the first performance in
this country OF 1.-The Intruder" by Mae
terinck, the famous Belgian writer. whose
work during the past year has caused a
sensation in London. 1t was very well
played. and made upon the audience a
really profound impression. The curtain
goes up on a family group. The blind old
grandfather sits surrounded by his child