The record-union., 1896-08-30

The cast of characters here viii be as
follows: Rudolph, a poet, William Fa-
versham; Durandin, his uncle, a man of
business, L. Y. Backus; Marcel, a
painter, Robert Edeson; Schaumard, a
musician, J. E. DodsOn; Colline a phi
losopher, Ferdinand Gottschalk; Bap-
tiste, a servant, w. H. Crompton; NJ.
lie Comte de Beauchose, Jamison L.
Finney; a Collector and Sherif's Dep
uty, George C. Peares; servant, Charles
Day; Mimi, Viola Allen; Nine. de
RCuve, Annie Irish; Musette, Ida Con-
quest; Phemie, Jane Harwar; Nine.
Benoit, a lodging-house keeper. May
Robson; Nine. Padetout, Ellen Gail;
Clarisse, Lotta Nicol; maid, Katherine
Mulkins.
Very nearly at the head Of the list Of
modern women playwrights stands the
name of Martha Morton, whose clever
sketches of character have made many
pleasant hours during the past few
years for American theater-goers and
whose promise for the future is bright
er even than her unbroken past career
of successes. a representative of the
New York Mirror found Miss Morton
in her CHEEKY study in New York,
where she chatted entertainingly about
her work and her methods.
L am toiling." said she, literally
night and day, for a playwright's lot is
enc of unceasing mental labor. A new
play for Sol Smith Russell is my pres
ent care, and it must be ready in Sep
tember OF course. it is to be distinct
lively American, Mr.. Russell's prejudice
IN favor of thoroughly American works
being well known and having my
hearty approval But my new piece
Will be very different from anything he
has done as yet, and SO is something
of an experiment for both of us Al
though the plan is already well marked
out, no name has been determined up
to date. There is plenty of time for
the selection of a title between now
and September This is point not to
be hastily considered, for there is much
in a name. and l firmly believe that
some measure of the success that has
attended my previous playwriting has
been due to a selection of titles that
the people easily take hold upon and
like to remember.
Another task now before me is the
completion of a new comedy for Will
lam H. Crane written to order, and TO
be called THE Fortune Hunter" 1 may
not now disclose its story, but there can
be no injustice in stating that it viii
be something entirely new to Mr.
Cranes already varied repertoire. and
is to be a reflex of metropolitan life
with a typical New York business rnan
fer a central figure. In my desk there
now reposes a recently completed
strong domestic drama, not yet placed
and still unnamed, which should prove
successful. / believe. if it falls into the
right hands. So, you see, / am far
from idle in these torrid days.
e. d. Frawley has obtained, for use
by his Pacific stock company, three of
my PLAYS. His Wife's Father Brother
John and the 'Californian-the last
named being Jeoffrey Middleton re-
christened for its appearance on the
Western slope His Wife's Father is
also to be produced in Swedish at the
big theater in Stockholm. John Hare
wanted this piece for England, but Fred
Terry applied Just before him, and Mr..
Hare has. therefore, taken Brother
John intending to produce 1t in Lon
don next season. Mr.. Crane will con-
tinue in his repertoire the several plays
Of my writing which he has heretofore