The San Francisco call., 1897-06-09
AROUND THE CORRIDORS.

Lorimer Stoddard is assuredly "the son of
his father" but is also considerably more than
that epithet generally implies. Charles War
rem Stoddard stands in the first rank of Amer
lean men of letters, and his young son has
already won enyiable position as maker
OF successful plays. In spite of his success the
dramatizer OF Tess" is more modest than
many people to whom q certain allotment of
fame has come. He is out here to superintend
the production.
al have been acting for about ten years, and
have written plays during the last six" said
he ain all have written twenty-five plays,
six of which have been produced Not quite
one-third OF the output to see the light of day,
but, after ALL If a man gets one play a year
produced it not bad average"
Possibly later on when the authors fame
gets noised about managers may be found
who will give the other sixteen to an expect
ant public. my first pronounced success"
continued the playwright, ''was my five-aet
drama Napoleon in which Mansfield ap-
peared for two seasons The New York critics
liked it, and it gave me some good advertising
Then actors and managers began to talk
about the dramatic possibilities of Thomas
Hardy's book, Tess OF the - UrbervilIes' Min
ME Maddern Fiske had seen the manuscript of
one of my pieces (by the way, il was the one
Mr. Frawley is about TO produce here) and she
said, The man who can do work like this
should be selected 10 dramatize Tess
II did the job, and with Mrs. Fiske in the
leading part its success was immediate and a
long run followed. About the new piece the
Frawleys produce here? We haven't hit on q
suitable title yet. Several have been sug-
gested, but none seemed to meet the require
ments. I believe the management is to offer
$50 prize to the person who finds the right
name for it,
"The play is laid in that artificial paradise OF
rich New Workers, Tuxedo, and one of the
scenes l think most effective is in woman's
club. l don't know as the San Francisco pub
lie is familiar with this idea, but woman's
clubs are much il evidence in the East 1
think the atmosphere of the place is well sus-
tanned in the play, as l have been on the
ground and carefully observed the ins and
outs OF the frequenters of these ultra-fashion-
able resorts.
"The couple in which the interest centers
unsophisticated people from the West
who have suddenly acquired wealth. Com
ing to the abode of fas hion and intrigue both
are thrown into contact with people OF a dill
ferent sphere, which contact affects each diff
ferenly.
THE woman with past. and not too savory
present, who is the society ruler of this
coterie, recognizes in the Western woman a
rival, her protector having ellen in love with
the newcomer. Then follows a combat be-
tween The ma tural woman and the society prod
uct, in which nobleness of nature is pitted
against subtle intrigue.
"The husbands contact with the denizens of
this hollow world serves TO broaden and
strengthen him. At the same time his per-
feet faith in the purity of his wife remains
steadfast, and when the mesh of intrigue,
aided by circumstance, is tightening around
her he comes TO her rescue nobly thwarting
the designs Of her traducers
at is not easy to describe the motive Of the
play" concluded Mr.. Stoddard.
"One must see it to thoroughly grasp the
workings OF the plot. However, 1 hope your
public will like it. for human nature is the
same the world over, and if this factor is well
brought out it is generally appreciated"
"lts all right" added Mr.. Morris of the
Frawley company, VINO happened to be pres
ent, land the piece ought to hit 'em hard
here"