The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-05-10

for the logical sequence OF the story, re-
lying upon the fact that most people who
see the play will have read the book and
will understand and MI I'm, mentally. all
the lapses and gaps. . No matter how
popular a book may be unless the play
IN itself Is good, II viii not succeed, Tor
something more that popularity Of that
kind is necessary. This is true OF books.
"A short time ago every publisher
deemed IL necessary 10 boom his books,
and large sums were paid prominent re-
viewers TO put the publishers books
among the most popular books OF the
month as the phrase runs. This adver-
tising. for II is advertising pure and
simple. is gradually being done away
with. and the publisher who has n good
book will find that the book reader will
ferret his book out and It's popularity and
sale will grow as IL is recommended by
one book reader 10 another. not being
among the greatest I'm demand Some
of the most successful books have been
turned into very bad plays-for Instance
The Gad1y. which was sumptuously pro-
duced by poor Stuart Robson. and was
a dismal failure; Richard Carvel. with
which John Drew struggled The Only
Way. in which Henry Miller and Martin
Harvey lost money: The spenders. Serio-
Comic Governess. The Right OF Way. To
Have and to Hold. Alice of Old Vim
cennes, Gentleman From Indiana and
others on the other hand, some have
-heen- -suecnSaful-- -as-paXid- -Harunl--
The Christian. Tess Of the D'Trbervlles.
Two Orphans Sherlock Holmes. Uncle
Toms Cabin. Soldiers OF Fortune and
others all OF which had long ana money
making runs
PITY the actor who. blindly, accepts
an engagement 10 play a role in a book
play on the strength OF the fact that,
in the book. the character was an inn
portant and good one. The ruthless
hand OF the dramatist often so disfigures
the character that It Is beyond recogni-
tlon. Beerbohm Tree purposelv reads
little modern fiction. and viii never read
a book which Is 10 he dramatized for him.
When The Eternal City was read 10 him.
he quickly saw the gaps and lapses in IL,
and inquired what happened here or
there. That's where the girl strangles
her lover. and this act Is directly after
II. don't you remember? NO. declared
Mr. Tree, there's nothing says that she
strangles him In tho play, and I'm 10
play this before many people who
probably will not have read the book In
this way. he was able To find the weak
nesses In the play. whereas II he had
previously read the book his mind would
have filled in the gaps
You like Soldiers OF Fortune" I
asked Mr. Crane
Great he replied energeticaly.
There's some life and vim TO It,"
Guess the people like II. too 7 re-
marked Judging by those persistent and
numerous curtain calls"
Having declared himself upon the book
play. Mr.. Crane wandered Off I'm the di-
rection OF the stage. waiting a cue. his
stalwart figure towering above the numer-
Gus people In the augmented cast who
were standing about ] turned TO Miss
Hernc tho Albee companys dainty lead
ing woman. who has I'm a few short weeks
won tho hearts Of everyone who has seen
her. Her penslve. fowerlike face. bright
cped up animatedy az ! asked. What Is
your opinion about the book play. Miss
Herne Surely with n father and sister
who have a place high I'm the field OF
dramatic literature you should have
something worth hearing TO say about
book plays"
Sorry TO dlsappoint YOU" said Miss
Herne. but fear ] can't add very
muuch 10 what Mr.. Crane has said. /
agree with him 20 great extent I be
lieve that the bulk of the responsibility
depends upon the dramatist. II seems 20
me that an adaptation Is likely 10 be more