New-York tribune., 1910-12-25

The tunult Of New York in the Christ
mas rush hours has no terrors for Miss
Alice Mary Buckton. who is here from
London to produce her Christmas mys-
terry play, Eager Heart" She struggles
through the subway and past the street
venders, serenely Indifferent TO their dis
traction because her mind is on the spirit
ual side OF the Christmas celebrations
She says all those interested in the play
have the same feeling.
1.-THE players forget personal grievances.
and every one combines 10 make Eager
Heart beautiful at Christmas
'sIn London, where Eager Heart has
been presented regularly every year al
Christmas. 1t has become religious festi-
val" Miss Buckton told the Tribune re-
porter.
1.-The original players. too, come pack
each year to take their parts III IS much
uke Oherammergau. One of the kings comes
way up from the south of France 10 take
his part. But there is no element of per-
.onal qualification In that, you know. be-
cause no names are ever made public. Inc
,oy is in the making of Eager Heart
which ia all the reward we need
Tho play is founded on an old Engiish
,eoand that on Christmas Eve the ChriSt-
child himself travels through the iano.
..,,;,df,I q, that far night when as a Babe
He begged an empts manger of the osss,s ss,
Because roof vas found 10 c"Nei i
ann people make preparations TO receive
Him. but when a travel stained man aho d
,,o,,., CARRYING little child pass by, seek
ing for shelter. they are turned away iA'iii
tho homes of the rich and great Edscl
Heart alone young girl, VINO mas heai "
anaai voices singing on high. receives the
strangers, who are, OF course .ne my
E..n,ilv The shepherds and the kings. VINO
80 heen watching. too, for the coming of
.ha Child follow Eager Heart, and all "o'-
shin at the feet of the Child.
,,,ss prokton told The Tribune reporter
sba happened to write the play
eight years ago
81, had been in my mind for years TO
u rite a plav embodying the real Christmas
massage that Bethlehem might be any
where. and that the Divine meets us IN
tho most unexpected quarters. 1t is a
common idea, of course. in the moderh
uror,d of thought Tostoi wrote upon the
,,,en,e and so have many others But my
t~eatment of it is 1 think. quite original
Here in America you saw The Servant IN
the House and The Passing OF the Ihifu
Floor Back before my play, Of course put
Il really was written several years oe-
fore them and the authors were perhaps
influenced by my play, with wnich theS
have told me they were famlhar-
1.-The actual impulse TO put my IDEAS Oh
paper however came to me one CnrlSuhds
in a dear old country house in the depths
of Surrey. The Christmas joy was IN tne
air for the house was full of dear 1rlehos
ard children. i did have 10 leave them all
though. when L was writing founo
o,,;a+ nIace where I could be all by my
self II had been a carpenters shop Where
the men of the family puttered over tner
wooden treasures, but / turned IL INTO
writing room and there / finished my play
There my good friend. Mr. GranV1lie
Parker. encouraged me TO produce IL my
self and to coach the actors. 100, so IL
would go as j wanted il to-
.Since the first performance, which was
a great success, it has been produced III
all the large cities of England ana 'nis
,-aar II is going to New Zealand and
India as well as America Ii has oeen
done in poor villages. TOO, by the poor
neopIe Once some real shepherds TOOK
the shepherds parts, and the village doc-
tor was one of the kings. we prOuuceu
it in a barn 'on Christmas night
A society has been formed to perpetuate
the production of the play, called the IN
Company of Eager Heart Inc
ADVANTAGES of having such society are
various. as it has more influence than q
single person and can also prevent eN-
pIoitation OF the play for any ones per