The San Francisco call., 1905-06-25

II is my prophetic souls busy week.
7 have on my conscience not only the
prophecy Of a coming Patti. but Of a
coming California playwright But it is
much better fun prophesying when some
one else has prophesied before you
William Archer has said charming things
Of Elmer Harris, the c. c. P in ques-
ton; the Elizabethan Stage Society Of
London accepted one of his plays for
production and in Hamburg at the Stadt
Theater Mr.. Harris had q play accepted,
one out Of l2oo, to be produced this sea
son Another-written under a wager
that no American play could be produced
in German theater. was produced at
the same theater last year. running at
intervals during the entire season.
Students Of the University of Cali
fornia Will remember Mr.. Harris. They
viii remember that wherever the foot
lights lifted in the university life there
was Elmer Harris. They may remem-
ber-though Mr.. Harris hopes they won't
"a very bad" play of his produced by
the Skull and Keys. They will remember.
as do, A1r. Harris quite successful ap-
pearance on the seamy side Of the cur
tain in the "Fantastfcks," the Rostand
comedy that was done so well under
Professor Louis du Pont Styles direc-
ton.
That was Mr.. Harris last undertaking
here. After it. four years ago now, he
went TO New York He obtained an i'm
portant role as one Of six supers who
appeared with Robert Edeson at Wal
lacks Theater. Curiously, the young
man did not find this inspiring With
almost the impertinence of @. B. Shaw
h decided from that experience and
others that the American stage was not
a finishing school for anything but farce
comedy" He talked il over with Ellen
Terry. then acting with Benson in
Shakespeare. Ellen Terry invited the
young person 10 England TO talk it over
again
Mr. Harris English experience included
2 delightful three weeks in the company
Of Miss Terry and Shakespeare at STRAIT
ford-on-Avon. But the Californian did
rot find in Shakespeare the inspiration
thar he was seeking. He confirms Mr..
Shaw shockingly as TO the artihciality of
Sha kespearean comedy. eXcusing Shakes
peare with Shawish audacity on the plea
of his having to please the grounding.
The extravaganza Of jealousy like Othel-
los, revenge like Hamlets. ambition Like
8facSsth's. he points to as vitally op-
posed TO the latterday habit of express
sion. The intervention of fate, that
figures so largely in the Shakespearean
Drama, he instances as another phase of
fl essentially at outs with the spirit of
the modern drama.
ANYWAY. after Stratford- -on-Avon, our
passionate pilgrim went to London 1t
was TO william Archer that he went
as to the Oracle Of the Real"
What have you done?" asked Archer.
Nothing" said the Californian.
1T takes the English playwright a
good many years to learn that" said
Archer There's ink" he said then,
there's a pen" Then he took him to
the window and showed him the stream
Of London story flowing before: And
there's life Now. go write"
For Archer. and with the leaning
toward the horrible that most Of us be-
gin with, Mr.. Harris wrote the play he
calls The Crucihxion." 1t is to this play
that Archer gave much praise. and
prophesied handsomely for its maker
therefrom-
The playwright describes the play as
the Oswald side of the Ghosts" story.
It is the exposition Of the struggles Of
the man born without will. without
health, without strength, against the
adverse circumstance. It is THE Cruel
hxion" that was accepted by the Eliza
bethan Stage Society, then refused
production on account Of its horror.
In Paris The Crucifixion" was writ
ten. The playwright was at this time
with CoQuelin at the Porte St Martin.