New-York tribune., 1911-01-15
PRODUCING A PLAY
Louis N. Parker Tells How \,
Does II.

of the scenery or stick OF the "pron~f
ties" provided for the play. There had
no dress rehearsal. This Is by no ma.
an extraordinary incident in connsc,1 J
with the production" of PLAYS On II
American stage. Such being the cas-. /,
garding the preparation Of "produc,o,,
Is Il TO be wondered al that so many Dh,j
are failures on the American stage,
When Louis y. Parker's "Pomsnsl
Walk" now running at Wallack's, was n,
duced, there was every evidence OF IT,
ough preparation. Everything was "a
feet The result was instant SUCCESS. vi
may ask. How is it done?" Let Mr. prl
ker himself. the real producer as "A
as the author Of "Pomander Walk" \
swer you.
When Mr.. Parker heard this query \
other day he gave a significant reply:
never thought very much about ii tul
your point Of view You will have to 4
me more specific questions
The thorough preparation Of stage erscj
appears 10 come so naturally TO Mr.. Pat1
after years Of experience that II had hsvi
occurred TO him that any one would u
his work unusual, and that painstaking 4
tention TO details is not common on 4
New York stage as it is in London
.,Tn the first place. said the dramatd
producer. you must have your play. I'd
Won are naturally concerned with the al
ton, Who shall play the parts?' sa
on the principle that the actor-with0I
anv make-up-must look something Ike Y
character. Mr.. Ienox Pawle. for exaI9i
off the stage. looks very much as he =
IN the character which he represents
"Pomander Walk"
At this point there was an interrupu'1
delightful interruption-which sen7
however. TO bear out what Mr.. Parker 4
saving at the moment Miss Dorothy 4
ker. the authors daughter and Miss ~
frod Fraser came into the room. 4
writer saw at a glance who they were
fore the introductions were made for
annearance and action they were the sag
charming young women VINO play u1
narts SO attractively in "Pomander wax
Continuing, Mr.. Parker SAID: Nne
oast .Pomander Walk ! did il Win an z
- ola comedy. the chief quality of Wmeh
breadth In Dsraeli (Which by 'he w
is another play Of Mr. Parker 8 ahG
r,bicb George Arliss Is soon TO appear
elected the cast with an eye toward nA
or, con,edy-bearing In mind delicacy q
dietirction. Mr.. Arllss could play Ul
raori, almost without makeup. Ana 50 4
with the other members ot the cast au
tho women of which. / believe are Ahs
cans. and excellent actresses.
"As for the scenery In 'Pomander "a'
II all came spontaneously. kho" y
d,s,r,ct where the scene OF the play Is Y
-.out Cbiswick way'-so well tha' All
inst how / wanted the scenery pd'a.l
There are lots Of little corners IKE y
around London. The combination Ok
ri,or and the row Of little houses IS 'e1
nrettv one. made ground plan o' !
scene and showed it to the scenic d''h'
I,ordou. He made q model 10 7ca'e' e''
detail OF which was correct even 7"
oowers I'm the door yards. I sent me m01
over TO Gates & Morange. scene a''s'.
New York. and they carried ont Inc p'I
with artistic ACCURACY
"You find then that a. good scenery i
be made IN New York AS I'm London
.Yes. every bit as good. | remenpel y
much pleasure the scenery for my pro-.
ton of Rosemary which was pe$-
hero That was made I'm New York
Mr.. Parker took another cisd''U'
smoked necessarily.
stage lighting, J hnd. said he Is y
of the principal factors in the success '.
plav. All over the world great liiP..
ments I'm this respect are still posslole' y
architecture Of the stage MAKES n''.
lighting a matter OF the greatest o'n'-
The stage is simply a room IN ho-s
usuaIlv. with one wall gone. The aO'l'
looks in through the open space. Ihe 10
Of the actors are lighted princIpahy
footlights. which are very glarlng ana
satisfactory. This light has TO be sol''.'
and counteraCted by spot lights e's' - !,
variety houses they throw the lSHl W.
down upon the actor from the Rd"e'''
that reveals the mechanism ana is iN'
tic In Henry VIII which / produce !
London for Tree, we sent soft isn' "
from the dome of the theatre WIN -,
siderable effect. II Hooded the s'asp o.,
the light desired. and by turning '''
lights i'm the darkened theatre the i
were not visible to the audience. Noo"Ds
* q very difficult thing 20 show ns
really seen better effects with gas 'naH
electricity. -
The stage is behind the times ~
chanical appliances II has mol uu =,
modern inventions The difficulty
great expense The mechanical appii'
cost thousands 20 buy and install ana y, la
are very expensive 10 operate Inc
lighting effects I'm the world are se'O'', =.
the Wagner Theatre. al Bayieuu' I'd
have a magnificent equipment ~ y0"
Theatre. but have not seen II IN Use y
ing a performance.
How about costumes. +.
"Oh. they are very easy % secure . -.
modern play There are iashlo" -
showing the designs Of costumes
for generations. II is only when w.
back OF the fashion plate' that you ~.
difficulties. The Roman Catholic eocn,
tical costumes-say u a bishop II :" ~.
1909 4. Dare difficult to Reproduce %.
historic accuracy. FOR they chahssu ~,
auently. II is comparatively recen"S y
lace has been introduced, FOR eAsinP'N ,,r
how easy il would be to err m tn's -
tIcuIar. We must get eccleSlas'''a' "A
tbority for these matters. The 'os' 4
Of the English bar is another ma i,
great difficulty FOR which We must s'.~ 80,
proper authorities For military u''' "a,
we must 40 10 the soldier Tor inio'"' ~.
\ button wrong I'm a uniform j. ~ 4
mistake. and there IL always soh'0 a
the audience who knows ana WV -.
point out your error Heraldy j. NJ" -ors
vital thing in which it is easy 10 20 w. DI
The coronation in Henry VIII N' "a
of pitfalls. but we got 1t all right "
ing those who knew. S,S
Mr.. Parker's reflections on t' !
OF costumes were OF peculiar "a.
view of his vast experience IN '"V -
English pageants. six of when
produced I'm recent years a
"An these things. these paseah's, 10