Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-10

Two fine performances encountered the
chill of election week in this city. Otis
Skinner is an actor of magnetic personality
and his support is of exceptional strength
Prince Otto" gave him fine opportunities
and the attraction was a formidable oppo-
nent to The Sprightly Romance of Mar
sac Public interest was far away from
the theater. and centering itself on election
returns. In the matter of patronage Mar
sac got what was left, and that was not
great deal The play deserves to rank
with the best in refined comedy, and the
company that produced it is beyond re-
proach.
There was bad bungle on Monday
night; one of those ugly little episodes
which may attract but little attention from
the auditor who cares nothing for the pride
of authorship and seeks only to be amused,
but which threaten discord in a COM
pany. After Mr.. Arbuckle had bowed his
thanks, there was call for the author,
and as Miss Seawell was in box it was
naturally supposed she would appear and
claim at least a share of the honors with
William Young, who is described in the an
nouncementS of the management as CO.
author with Miss Seawell But Miss Sea-
Wen did not appear. The audience kept I'D
an unsuitable demand for the author, and
an AWKWARD moment seemed inevitable,
Wnen, to the relief Of the audience some
one came on the stage to make an explaua-
ton He presented himself as the stage
manager, said that the author (rneauing
Mr.. Young was in New York and proceeded
to express thanks for everybody connected
with the enterprise with comprehcnsive-
ness almost on a par with that of Tiny
I'M God bless every One,' But he
forgot to mention Miss Seawell. who was
SittlnS not It dozen feet away 1t was.
evident that he regarded Mr. Young as
the responsible quantity in the iramatiza-
ton. and that he had not been Informed
or MISS Seawelrs presence in the house
w hen the cal for the author was made
the manager of the company found the
stage door next the box occupied by Miss
Seaweil locked and when he got around to
the front of the house the stage manager
was speaking 1t was doubtless a disap-
pointment to Miss Seawels friends in front
that she should not be permitted to re-
ceive compliment which was obviously
intended for her. A little foresight on the
part OF the management would have pre-
vented the faux pas. Miss Seawel was
thanked for saving the occa sion as far as
possible. by quietly ignoring the whole
thing.
The division of honors as to the authcr
ship OF the play is made more difficult by
the fact that Miss Seaweil originally wrote
the piece in play form. and then turned it
Into story.
That Mr.. Young's services are held in
esteem by the management is shown by the
reading matter which they circulated about
MIN Just prior to the production.
For many years. (to quote from their
onc1al typewriter manifold eulogium) "he
haa made his residence III New ork C ty
where he has been enormously successful,
Dotn as 4 dramatiSt and Il poet, his classic
style being universally admired. Mr. oungs
greatest effort was his ORA matization Of
Lew Walace's Ben Hur.' which bids fair
10 run FOR many years and from which he
Will realize great fortune in royalt es In
his dramatization of Miss Seawells charm
Ing story. The Sprightly Romance Of Mar
sac" 1t is said that he has taken consid-
cradle liberty with the lady's work and has
used free hand in the development of the
dramatic interest. 1t will no doubt great
ly surpr 90 Mr.. Young's admirers to sec
how deffly he has handled the farcical in
cidents in this story
From this announcement by the de-
partment Of publicity 1t would be inferred
that the company during rehearsals looked
upon Mr.. Young as the responsible dramat
1st, occupying about the same position that
e. E. Rose occupied in fitting Anthony
Hopes novel for the stage. But M IS Sea-
wells contract gave her much AUTHORITY in
the play. She gave Mr.. Young a free hand
ana agreed to let his name appear az a
co-author. owing to the fact that she was
out or the country until a few weeks ago
The extent of Miss Seawelrs authority is
%
writing the third act this week and getting
1t in shape for the New York production
IN December. But It was evident when the
CT SIS OF Monday night, which demanded
that somebody say something, occurred thar
the man in charge of the stage had nor
been duly Informed of all these nice dis
trctions. 1t is lucky for the production
that the arrangements in other respects
Were as slip-shod they were in this de-
tail. ~
Another author misunderstanding of far
more serious proportions has practic,uv
wrecked what promised to be 4 valuable
theatrical property for Lieb,er & Co. ."rhe
Adventures of Francois" Unless an unex-
pected truce between authors and man.
ayers nave been declared, the show closes
tonight in Philadelphia. According to data
given To the newspapers. Liebler & Co.,
with their usual lberality. have spent SIG
w" III producing the play, and Langdon
Mitchell spent a year Gramatiz!ng it from
MS fathers novel. While Henry e Diva,
the star. has made highly fayornh,s ~,
preston in the role of the light ban ~
and llght-hngered hero, the man.gsn,
decided that the play lacked strength and
SION: VINO used to write plays like .1..av
ILL.,. was suggested and after hin, ~
D,trichstein, who wrote 1.-THE Song nf tba
."oro' Mr.. Mitchell declines to submit
playwright. and says that the present
proposition Is to turn the play into 10
~ and 3o-cent melodrama Figures ore
cited by Mr.: Mitchel"s friends showing a
steady growth in receipts and takinys which
represent profitable business The diffi-
Guilty in the affairs of poor Francois,
see ms to be that neither party to the dead
lock needs the money.
The death of Rev. James Henry warren
of Boston. which occurred November 3 Is
accounted serious loss to many members
OF the theatrical profession. His later life
was devoted almost entirely to literature
and journalism and his Information ON
topics pertaining to the stage was as high
~ valued and respected as he himself wa
personally esteemed.
Il wonder" said Mariyn Arbuckle as he
was array:ng him in the sartorial eleeance
which "Marsac'' affects In his hours OF
prosperity. what some of nv old-t,nne
cowboys in Texas would say II they saw
! me In this forgery"
They'd shoot you," was the laconic an
swer.
On the whole. Washington has little 10
complain Of IN its treatment by the man.
ayers of theatrical attractions 1t sees mos.
l