The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-26

A playwright Of limited practical ex-
usrisnoe but vide knowledge Of the drama
opsned an ofaos few years ago from which
AZ proposed TO disseminate information
Of Rreat value 10 managers. he was going
70 tel them before they produced a play
whether II would be successful. There
hAvs been unexpected failures OF plays
since that time, Just as there used 70 be,
and tbers have been SUCCESSES very difficult
10 explain. 80 probably the mAnagers
failed 70 take advantage OF this wise man
ofor.
II he GOULD do what he offered to DO his
iudRnsnt would be as valuable as that OF
. stock broker who could tell bis patrons
tust what stocks were going up OF down
II IL trlls that any man possessed OF TINS
knowledge would probably buy the right
stocks himself and avoid the bad ones
and thus be relieved Of the less prohtao'e
task Of advising others. This truth ep-
Plies 10 dramatic prophets also.
Managers know that they make MISTAKES
and feel little ssnsitiveness about H. h
the long run they mako more good Guesses
than bad ones else they would soon be OUT
Of business so II does not trouble them
TO be reminded Of the chances they lost
whsn playa ultimately worry popular were
refused by them.
A. NJ. Palmer, who died few days ago.
had for a year In his desk the manuscripts
Of my Partner the most suooessfu play
that the late BARLEY Campbell ever wrote
Mr.. Palmer Rad II and reread II, and
finally decided that the chences Of SUCCESS
were too light for him to produce IT,
Finally, Louis Aldrioh bought the play,
gathered a company and produced 1t IN
The late summer at the old Union Square
Theatre. Il made a fortune for him and
ts author.
Another similar experience In Mr..
Pafrnar's career came In the case OF
'AabamA,' which practically established
the reputation OF Augustus Thomas as
playwright. Mr.. Palmer was very much
In need Of a play at the Madison Square
Theatre during the last year Of his tenancy
thsre. Mr.. Thomas's comedy OF Southern
life was 10 his possession, and had been
for several years But the manager had
no conhdsnoe In It.
After a while bis need for a new play
became so pressing that he took what he
considered q desperate chance and pro
dUced Alabama IL was the greatest
uocsas Of bis later career and carried him
oVsr until Paul Potter made his famous
dramatisation Of 'Trilby,' which lifted
the veteran manager out Of many financial
embarTassments.
The Second Mrs. Tanqueray' was for a
year IN the possession Of Daniel Frohman,
Who at the end Of that time returned IL 10
Arthur Pinero without eIeroising bis right |
to produce II. II had not then been given |
In London, because the author had not dis
covered Mrs. Pat Campbell at that time |
and could find no woman to whom he was
wiling 10 intrlst the leading role.
Pinero's drama Of the erring Paula has
made a fortune since Mr.. Frohman refused |
70 produce it, but Mr.. Frohman'S con-
science Is perfectly clear az to his conduct |
In returning the manuscript.
In those days he had the old Lyceum
Theatre, which appealed TO special oil
entele II was his province TO see that the
plays acted there were innocent, whatever |
else they might be. Their strong card was !
IN every case 30 be their purity Nobody |
could attribute that quality TO THE Second |
Mrs. Tanqueray,' 90 back II went to Ia
author.
Five years ago Henry Miller was playing |
At the Amphion Theatre In Brooklyn. He
was then trying to find playa search |
in which be has encountered much din
oulty A popular actor, he has more than
onoa been saHihced 10 stupid dramas or
umNhtsble roles.
One night q messenger brought him word
that Richard Ganthony wanted TO speak
to him. Mr.. Miller had no recollection Of
having met anybody Of that name, but
after the play the visitor was brought TO
his dressing room. He said he had come
to get the manuscript Of q play which he
had ssnt 70 Mr.. Miller more than a year
before. He mentioned the name and the
character Of the pleoe.
Mr.. Miller racked his brain in vain 10
recall u and what he had done with IT,
'You leave me your address, he said
finally 10 the playwright, and I viii let
you have your piece. have recently
put some trunks In storage and II may
be that the manuscript is in one OF them,
A. al events, will look II up
The next day Mr.. Miller sought for the
manuscript among the trunks and uli-
patsly found 1t and returned il TO its owner,
The play turned out to be A Message
From Mare
Charles Hawtrey acted in it in London
for an entire year, and it Is still playing
With success In this country. Mr.. Miller
took this experience philosophioally as
an episode that might happen to any actor,
whose Judgment about plays becomes
After a while 90 clouded that Il is difficult
for him to tell what is good and what is
not.
The experience Of the Bernard Shaw
plays has been As curious in this country
a. In England Richard Mansfield several
years ago became an enthusiastic con-
vert to ShAw's genius and decided that
he must produce Candida He was 10
act II at the Garrick Theatre and brought
Janet AchuTch 10 this country on the recon-
mendation Of the author as the actress
best capable Of playing the leading role.
After two or three rehearsals Mr.. Mans
Geld, who was unable 70 decide whether
be should play the young poet or the hus-
band. gave up all idea Of acting the drama
and kept Miss AchuTch here for an entire
season on full salary rather than take the
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