The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-10-14

lookout for new plays and novel ideas,
and as the brain Of 4 playwright is sub
sect to the same limitations as that of
any other man. it is natural that he has
to be the constant lookout for ne"
material. Three or four prominent man
ayers, among tie number Daniel Froh-
man, of Days Theatre, New York. were
recently discussing this subject and inter
changing their ideas. with a view to future
productions, and the question arosa
among them as to what source play
wrights in the last Ten years had been
most indebted for the plots and schemes
for plays which had made tie greatest
popular successes during that time. Diff
ferent opinions were advanced, but they
finally all agreed with Mr.. Frohman upon
one point.
Whatever othr plays said he, have
in late years been successful and money
making, it is certainly a fact that no
class of play has been more successful
than the dramatlZatiOn Of a popular
novel. The reception given by the PUBLIC
20 the dramatic value OF the incidents
in a book is one of the surest tests as to
how these incidents will be received when
Crystallizsd into a dramatic situation.
'Novelists are quick to see this. and
write with a view to dramatizaton, for,
while a novel is doing we'll if 10000 are
sold, a. successful dramatiZat ton VIII carry
the authors name 10 the ends of the
earth, as we'll as substantially increase his
bank account"
The Literary Pathfinder would be q
capital cegnomen for Anthony Hope, for
ther4 is no denying the fact that he
opened a, new road into the realms OF
romance by his original and novel hand
ling of his The Prisoner OF Zenda,' that
heretofore remained as dense as the forest
OF Zenda itself. The play, which is
announced for presentation here Thursday
night, abounds with adventure and
excitement, toSether with a wealth of
romantic atmosphere under which there
is 9; heart interest that permeates every
situation and incident. 1t is full of
fascinating surprises. and the exposition
of the story is handled and presented in
a mastery manner by carefully selected
company. many of whom have been
identified with the play since its incep-
ton. The original scenery, costumes.
effects, and music, add additional worth
to what appears to be one of the best
attractions of the season.
NAT GOODWIN COMING.
The announcement that Mr.. Nat Good
win Will be at the Academy on Saturday
night, for one performance only, in the
play when We Were Twenty-One'' will
be OF unusual interest.
No actor who comes to Richmond, per
meets with so much spontaneous enthusi-
asm as does Mr.. Goodwin. He is recoG-
nized. not only in this country, but by
all the foreign critics, as the first and
most representative American coined IAN.
He has risen to this eminence in spite
of the paradoXical circumstance that his
feliow-countrymen have always regarded
him as one of the funniest of living
actors. Some barbaric pervorsity long
IN ivyrjn in ne
artistically mental position of mere jester
to its Majesty the Public, and to deny
him the opportunity of making any scri-
Gus appeal
1t was in burlesque that he first won
applause and reputation, and to burlesuua
he was practically confined for many
years by a delighted public which indi- |
cted. its unintelligent preference by the |
simple, but forcible. device of turning its
back upon ali experiments in other direc- |
tons.
But in the long battle between Mr.. |
GooGwin's Self-apreciative ambition and |
the stupid conservatism of his admirers |
the actors persistent en6eavor finally pre- |
vailed and he stands to-day, beyond all |
quest the first of American comedians. |
TIE following interesting facts in Mt !
Goodwin career are not generally known
in Richmond. and may, perhaps, be read |
with interest:
He was born in Boston on July %. 1857
He was educated for the legal profession,
but started commercial life in the CONT
ing-room of Wellington. Brothers j. Com
pany's sdry-goods store as entry clerk.
At the stage door of the Boston Museum
he is still recalled as enc of the most
persist eat. applicants for the position Of
"super'' that ever besieged that portal.
The greater portion of his time being
given to theatrical pursuits, Messrs.
Wellington Bros. & Co. finally concluded
o give him entire liberty to pursue his
iramatic ambition
He placed for time under the In
;trnctioa 5of Madame Mitchell. an actress
once favorably known in New York. At