The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-12

Henrietta Crosman liked this play.
but regretted that other engagements
prevented her from considering. any new
plays. William A. Brady read 1t. for his
a note. which read in part as follows:
Il like your play. but-I am leary OF
these Revolutionary danes on the stage.
/ lost q lot Of money on a Betsy Ross, play
and don't care TO daily further with the
heroines Of the Revolution
"1nasmuch as the play treated OF Dolly
Madison, Mr.. Brady was quite justified,
from his point Of view. In this objection.
Another eminent star returned the play
with the statement that she would never
play the role OF q married woman, as her
husband, who was also her manager, pre-
ferred TO have her play young girl parts.
The fifth play l wrote was inspired
by another play contest. Curses on these
oontests-they bob up 30 frequently TO
distract ones attention that q cannot
expect to do serious work. Moreover,
they increase immeasurably the crop OF
new manuscripts and make It far more
difficult for authors with real plays to
secure a hearing. You see by this time
/ was beginning to regard myself as a real
author. even though was still An Enacted
dramatist.
an editors desire to increase the circulation
| Of his magazine. You had to a s. for the
privilege Of submitting each play-the So
DSlIk tihO u vi - yON . udDoSA NAO
IL has been estimated that the magazine
cleared q handsome profit on the contest.
since no oash prize was awarded, and the
winner merely had the honor Of q metro
a cold afternoon in February, This CON
test was primarily designed TO discover a
new unknown playwright. and all plays
were submitted anonymously. There was
therefore no way OF telling whether Clyde
Fitch or an unknown had submitted a
Oorfatn nlav II In mot GIlIDTi4inR TINT
when the award was made IL was discovered
that the author Of the prize play was q
woman who had written many successful
plays at various times for we'll known
stars.
"I have never been able 20 understand
why she. an author Of reputation, DELHI
erately entered a contest designed for un-
known playwrights n having won the
award consented to let her play be pro-
duced under the circumstances; 1t was
some satisfaction to all whose plays were
barred out by her participation In the con-
test 20 learn when her play vas actually pro-
duced that all the critics Of New York unan-
imously condemned L.
actor, happened 70 be In New York soon
afterward and / sent him this particular
play. Mr.. Harvey's secretary replied that
Mr.. Martin Harvey presents his comph-
ments and regrets that he cannot consider
the production OF any new play, for the next
-four years, e contracts already made will
provide him with everything Inc can possibly
use In that eTiod OF time
LUCKY Mr.. Harvey. He was 80 sure OF
success for the next four years that he
needed no other plays. Yet not one OF the
plays be has ever produced in America has
met with ordinary commercial success. II
he tried mine he might have taken for
tunes hack 70 England with him,
Having written five plays u was easy
enough TO write three more. A. the eldest
Dumas said on q notable occasion when
some one asked him how q new play was
progressing.
cit IL almost finished. Everything II
done except the dialogue
AT n certain stage OF the labor Of at
tempting 20 write plays the dialogue comes
easily. even though II has IN be altered IRE
quently. The greatest trouble h 10 com
plete your plot People who wonder how
Clyde Fitch can write plays IN a few veSkH
should remember that he has probably
Thought about them toT Ss1Is and tha 1.-THE the
parHtively nothing,