The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1906-04-09
A PLEA FOR
HOMEMADE PLAYS
A SOLUTION OF A SERIOUS PROB
LEM WOULD BE FOUND If MORE
PLAYS WE'RE HOMEMADE.


PLAYS WE'RE HOMEMADE.
If a supply of homemade plays
could only be maintained, the most Sc
rious problem that confronts the stock
would be near solution.
When one comes to consider the enor-
nous difficulty OF finding ffty-two
plays each year available and suited
to the resources of a stock company
for that matter q good stock company
can tackle anything from a French
farce to a Shakespearean tragedy
some idea of the managers main prob
lem may be realized. The percentage
of plays produced in New York-and
the fetch of metropolitan success
is still demanded-is surprisingly small.
Not ten per cent of the plays that are
given birth to "on Broadway ever
come out of New York alive. Further
more, the small number Of successes
are carefully kept i'm the custody of
their original owners for at least two
years. and even then the royalties de-
manded on them are ruinous for the
stock company manager.
In Los Angeles we have two all-the-
year-round stock companies, whose col
lective ability cannot be surpassed
anywhere in this country. Old and eX-
perienced actors of the first rank visit
the Burbank or the Belasco and are
astonished at the excellence of the com
panies and the artistic finish of the
productions. Furthermore, they fire.
no
actors of reputation they find "in
stock" in Los Angeles. Several weeks
ago one of the leading actors in the
country said to me: Il was astonished
to find men of the recognized ability
of George Barnum and John Burton
settled down in Los Angeles although
in some measure l envied them. No
travelling, no anxeties concerning en-
Eagements, and above all that greatest
thing in life--a home, which is known
to very few of us in the business Let
me tell you there is not a better stage
manager today on Broadway than
! George Barnum-a man who is past
master of the technic of the stage. And
John Burton could be commanding a
very big salary indeed if he cared to
daily with Klaw & Erlanger's flesh
pots--he is one of the very best char
acter actors living"
And listening to this authoritative
opinion l wondered if many of us pro-
perly appreciate the excellence of the
fare provided week after week, by the
local stock companies; the faithful
work that is done by the humblest
members. who make insignificant parts
signify, the attention to the smallest
details in costume and mounting which
frequently produce results that put tC
the blush the productions of the orig
inal star companies. And all this
earnest study and generous expenditure
can be enjoyed by Angelenos for one
third of the price charged for alleged
( "frst-class" attractions
+ The development of the stock com
pany, the one and only true training
school for actors, has been remarkable
q in Southern California during the last
ten years. The pioneer of the stock
\ company on the Pacific coast, save fOl
4 the early days of one of the most IA
nous stock companies that ever was
+ the old California Theater company IN
San Francisco-was T. Daniel Frawley
Ten years ago l saw the Frawley com
pany for the first time in the Burbank
theater. They were playing The Sen
ator." At least three members of that
company have risen to high estate
Blanche Bates was playing the Wash
ington widow and Maclyn Arbuche was
the senator. Tim Frawley played the
part of the bashful and abrupt naval
lieutenant, I'm which he had made sc
. distinct a hit with William II. Crane
In those days FraWley was content to
accept minor parts himself and to de-
vote his great skill to the stage. Mary
Hampton, Maxine Elliott, Keith Wake
man and Mary Van Buren, in turn sue
ceeding Blanche Bates as leading wom-
an and among other actors and act
resses who made their mark in the
F'rawley ranks were Wilton Lackaye.
Harry COrsOn Clarke. Frank Worthing,
'Madge Carr Cook, Eleanor Robson, j.
r. Amory, Harrington Reynolds, Wal
alice Shaw and his wife, Christine Hill,
Alice Johnson, Pearl Landers and Mr..
and Mrs. II. S Dudiald (Phosa Meal
lister), the last two of whom are still
with us in the Burbank stock company.
James NeilI came soon after Frawley
S'''N 'A'''' SCI a. very ulBn StdIlulIQ o.
productiOn-Mrs. Neil CEdyth Chan
mani was always his leading woman,
and they are still acting together in
San Francisco. In Neins company
John Burton first made himself be-
loved by the theatergoers of Los An
geles, and the company included such
on admirable actor as Frank McVicars;
the pair of promising juveniles, DON
aid Bowles and George Bloomquest;
the most useful actress Lillian An
drews; Julia Dean, now to be starred
in Claiming Pollock's new play, and
Mary Elizabeth Forbes, who is now an
important member of the Mannering-
Hackett company
But both Frawley and Neill popular
as they Were, had to seek fresh pas
lures. The main difficulty was to OBJ
tain new and good plays. Frawley took