The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-18

be given first production in Topeka,
January 80.
Following his arrival here, Mr.
Howe conferred for several hours with
Manager C. North. Harry North, his
brother, and Robert Blaylock, dra-
matte director of the North Brothers
company, in the office of the State
Journal. The manuscript was read
and arrangements for the production
followed.
George w: Crane. who is one of Mr..
Howe's publishers, also listened to the
dramatic reading of the play, by Mr..
Howe.
Comments Upon the Play.
Commenting upon his impressions Of
the play, Manager North, said:
1T is wonderful. The scenes that Mr.
Howe pictures brought up to my mind,
people and places in my early
life that I had not thought of for
years. Mr.. Howe knows the old coun-
try town and the people of it,
Harry North said:
after hearing Mr.. Howe read his
manuscript I believe it is going to be
the great American play. 1 really do.
There are situations in it that make
ones hair stand on end
Robert Blaylock said:
Il am sure that it will be a remark
able play and that it will create a big
sensation I have no doubt of it. 1t
is different. 1t is my business to read
plays. That is what I am paid for
and today I have heard something
unique and remarkable"
Mr.. Howe and his niece, after taking
luncheon with Mr.. MacLennan and his
family and Mr.. Blaylock at the Ma
tional hotel, were present at the Ma
jestic matinee and witnessed "Pud-
classic. with Sport North in the prin-
cipal title role. They then returned
to Atchison, where Mr. Howe will go
over the play again and have the
script and parts here in time for re-
hearsals to begin next week.
Will Stage Play Jointly.
When rehearsa1s begin, Mr.. Howe
and Mr.. Blaylock will work together 10
the stage direction, in this way bring
ing out "Thc Story of a Country Town
not only from a stage point of view but
from the playwright's point of view as
we'll 1t is held by both parties that in
this way both the author and the di-
rector will be able to gain from each
other points that will prove valuable
to the piece.
Several rehearsals will be given the
play before its production in Majestic
stock. Six night and two matinee
presentations will follow. In this time.
Mr.. Howe expects to see places in the
original play where Improvement can
be made. This will be done as fast as
the need for changes may be noticed.
1t still is the intention of Mr.. Howe
to have "The Story of a Country Town"
given its eastern production in a
broadway theater in New York City.
He stated while here that his former
intention to hire a theater and actors
to present it before a select audience
of newspaper men and critics in New
York still holds good
An Opinion From New York.
Within the last few days Mr.. Howe
has received a letter from the manag-
ing editor of the New York World in
which it is stated that the editor be-
lieves that Mr.. Howe is the one man
now living who is in a position, from
point of style, simplicity and other re-
uuirement OF the playwright to give to
the country the great American drama
1t has been Mr.. Howe's ambition to
dramatic ssThe Story of a Country
Town since it was written twenty
eight years ago. He still has in his
possession a letter written him by
Mark Twain in which the Mississippi
river humorist suggested that Mr..
| Howe's story should be dramatized by
all means. Big Adam, a character in
the book, was Twain's idea of a
comedy feature worth while. The sug-
gestion has been followed in Mr..
Howe's draft of the drama.
The play opens at the mill of Joe
Erring on Christmas eve. the time of
| the holding of the Unfair that follows a