The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-11-10

country as a field wherein to pick UP work
able stage material. My search for plays
in Europe was not only discouraging,
il was depressing, There was scarcely a
thing over there capable even Of being
adapted for the American stage.
Il found the German material heavy,
sombre, pOnderous, saccharine in
its sentiment when il was not of the problem
problemy, far drawn in its humor where
there was eny attempt at humOr. nowh ere
near the standard Of the German output
of plays OF many former years.
The French plays | found usually
were simply out of The question because
Of their perfectly obvious Offensiveness
II IL becoming mere and more plain even
to theatrical gers note that admis-
sion Of stubbornness OF the part of theat-
rical managers that the people OF this
country will not stand for unClean plays.
Now the Fench not only tolerate unclean
plays hut demand them. The French
plays now running are 30 far beyond any
thing Of that sort that | have ever seen
and I've been going to the French theatres
for a quarter Of "A century every year
that the travelling Americana Who respect
themselves simply cannot attend many
OF the Partisan theatres nowadays.
There remains the English output OF
plays. Well. England is in about the same
position as the Cnited States in that re-
spect there are only a few capable men
over there writing plays, and their work is
all ~bespoken for the balance Of their lives
and beyond.
so that the problem OF getting hold
of plays for a tremendous theatrical country
like the United States il calculated to make
all of us toss in our beds Of nights.
As ! say. we've all but given up hope
Of getting, anything like enough playable
plays in the United States. When | say
that | don't mean to make a noise like
a sneer. l simply express the fact known
to all people interested in the business OF
producing plays, It'is not that there are
not scores. hundreds will go 80 far az
to say t~housands-of men, and women too,
in the United States who are capable OF
writing not only passable plays but good
plays; fine plays: no doubt, as to many
Of them. great plays. But these people
simply are not engaged upon that sort
OF work. n nothing that can be said or
written or broadcast seems to have the
slightest effect in gettihg them to under
take that sort Of work, notwithstanding
the fact that that sort Of work 10 beyond
all question. in the cases OF those who
achieve success. the most immensely profit
able work that at this stage OF the game
can be done by the human brain.
1T is often given out that thepe is 4 sort
OF conspiracy among the producers Of plays
to keep native playwrtinG talent down.
People who'ye got IL in them TO write good
plays are told that even IL they buEn the
midnight oil in their efforts TO finish plays
there's no nance for them TO get a hearing
for their work.
We'll. / only wish that every man and
woman capable OF writing q decent work
able play could know how completely differ
ent the actual facts are. Now. I am only
one OF many producers Of plays, and vet
there is scarcely a night that I don't take
TO my home here in New York or TO my
hotel or wherever I happen ID be the man
uscript Of some play to look over.
There's never an o while l am on
duty that | am not accessible TO everybody,
man or woman. who scribbles on his or her
card that he or Rh0 wants 70 ace me about
some play that he or she has written. I
want TO zee and meet such people and talk
with them. am on the market for plays.
Plays are my stock in trade. I'm crazy
for plays. l can't get enough Of EN-. I'm
liable TO be grotesquely ELUSIVE IL I get
hold OF somebody who looks and talks an6
acts like a somebody that can deliver me
a sure enough play Elusive. not TO say
grovening. And most OF the other pro-