Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-12-27
Special Correspondence.

Special Correspondence.
New York, Dec. 2i.-There was no
nos production on Monday night In any
of our theaters, nor viii there be until
Christmas evening, when Clyde Fitch's
interesting comedy, "Tho Girl With the
Green Eyes" is promised at the Savoy.
This piece was written last summer
while the author lay sick abed. A pc
culiar and prolific dramatist Is Mr.
Fitch He sailed for Europe In the
spring on the verge OF nervous proslra-
ton, and threatened with every malady
except housemaid's knee, as Jerome
would say, Several times the cable
news informed us that our playwright
was at the point of death, yet he man
aged to sit up In his coffin and write
various comedies on the lid of II.
Worthy pieces too, for this playwright
has some trick In pleasing critics and
entertaining audiences. A time 'Nhen
other authors In perfect health are
tearing their hair TO invent ideas and
secure managers, Clyde Fitch, given up
by the doctors, designs plays and com
mands productions. His dramatic out
put sick or well, averages four plays
annually, which yield, without consid-
ering quality, is phenomenal. The ca
pacity OF pinero Is one play in two
years, of Belasco one play In four.
Bronson Howard the dean of American
dramatists used 10 spend a year In
smoking over the contract for a play,
another year In smoking over the con-
struction OF It, third year In smoking
over the finishing touches Of II, con-
suming nearly 1000 cigars in the opera
ton. The record for playwriting Is
held by Paul Potter, who locked himself
In room had his meals served
through hole In the door, and emerg-
ed six weeks later and 40 pounds lighter
with the manuscript Of "Trilby." out
OF that work Mr.. Potter received $780,
900 in royalties. But said he to your
correspondent, recently, II nearly went
crazy during those six weeks OF con-
slant application and | earned every
cent of the money" Clyde Fitch never
made so much wealth out Of a play. His
best work, Beau Brummel," was
sold to Richard Mansfield
for $500. 1t was his first
effort, and people with a new message
have to be content with little. Sousa's
greatest march, "The Washington
Post - was bought by a music publish
er for sS5, and II is said that the pur-
chaser cleared $4,000 out of IL. Mas
cagni sold all the rights Of "Cavalleria
Rusticana" for 500. Charles Barnard
received only $500 Tor "The Country
Fair" out OF which Neil Burgess
cleared 100000 After ~The Prisoner
OF Zenda" had been running In two
countries for year, its author. An
thony Hope, said to George Alexander.
There is one thing / cannot under
stand ! see you living like nabob
out of my play. am told that young
Sothern Is living like another nabob
out OF my play Yet. instead OF living
like third nabob out Of my play. |
have hard scratching to make ends
meet" As the French say, the first
step Is the hardest. Clyde Fitch aw0Re
next morning TO find himself famous
after the production Of Beau Bum
NELL" A new author Of quality II be.
sieged by managers. During the period
when he was writing his first work
Fitch was employed as a sort OF secre-
tary by Richard Mansfield at a salary
of SIS a week. His income from play
writing al present averages 5000 a
week. He has had as many as four
pieces running simultaneously in New
York theaters. His motto n quantity
not quality. He makes plays as they
block hats. while you wait, He can
turn out a comedy In less than no time.
Fitch keeps three or four pieces In pro-
cess of construction together, as a Jug
gler iuggles balls. He doesn't look II.
He looks lazy, plump and pampered.
His voice Is a high tenor, he Is an ex-
trayagant not 10 say eccentric dresser
and his manner Is efeninate. Many
people do not like Fitch personally. but
everybody seems 90 enjoy his plays.
which Is more material. lie has grown
rich out Of his pen. and al the age OK
five and thirty possesses the income OF
a millionaire. Last year he set out TO
manage theater. but gave II up rms
year he had no sooner disappointed the
doctors by escaping the grave than he
fell and broke his ankle, but conducted
rehearsals, as usual. OF crutches a
wonderful chap is Clyde Fitch, for he
has earned more money out OF play
writing In ten years than Shakespeare
made in a life time.
The heroine OF his new comedy. The
Girl with the Green Eyes, stepped
from the draWingToom 10 the STAGE.
-. tt.a.,at he opferppfn nj tho