The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-01-07
coward SHELDON
DETROIT VISITOR
Famous Young Playwright Here To
Superintend Premiere of His New
Play, The Boss"

A very young. very difhdent aud
good-looHing dark-eyed young man
, answered to the name OF Edward
Sheldon, in the Hotel Pontchartrain,
Friday noon. az hurrying and be-
lated crowd of passengers from the
New York Wolverine train entered
the lobby nearly five hours behind
schedule time. MIR sheldon is the
young American playwright whose
name and fame are brighter than
those OF any other in the same field
OF endeavor at the present time. and
who is in Detroit to personally super
intend the premiere OF his new play
The Boss" in the Garrick theater.
Monday evening With Mr. Sheldon
is Holbrook Bhnn, the star OF the
new play and company of excep-
tionally talented men and women,
chosen with the greatest care for
The Boss"
Il was on my way home from
Harvard for the Christmas vacation,
three years ago. and thinking as |
went that following the Easter vaca-
ton ] should have TO look for n real
job. when | was summoned TO New
York TO see Mr.. and Mrs. Fiske into
whose hands had fallen my maiden
effort salvation Nell said Mr.
Sheldon. in the course OF hurried
chat with newspaperfolk Il went
there and Mrs. Fiske told me she
wanted my play for her own use.
That was the beginning Of my short
public career. which | hope will meet
With another boost in the first pro-
duction in Detroit OF The Boss This
is an American play-American llfo
is all | know although since spend
ing the past few months in Italy |
feel that | would like to write play
OF Italian life. In the old world,
however, one feels as though one can
deal only with results-that all con
fiict has ceased. You must have coE'
fiict, pulsating events, II YOU are 20
write drama American life Is rul-
sating and conflicting to degree.
Every time | pick up newspaper |
read drama after drama in its col
unDs, any incident OF which is great
er than anything We have had upon
the stage.
Il have always been interested in
the theater AS child | used 10
play with stage and puppets made
out of cardboard | remember that
when Mrs Fiske was in the hight OF
her fame as Tess in Tess OF the
D'Uberville' my family went to see
il but was not permitted TO go
However. | read all ! could about it
and promptly had production of
my own, even TO programs, and in
writing ont the cast opposite the
name OF Tess, | wrote that of Mrs
Fiske. IL seemed a bit OF a coin
cldence that Mrs. Fiske should have
given me my first opportunity as a
playwright"
Mr.. Sheldon while in Harvard was
q member OF the famous Bakers
Dozen" class as IL is known TO the
students, otherwise a class in, the
technic of playwriting and discussion
Of the drama, conducted by Prof.
George Baker, an enthusiast on the
subject.
The class originally numbered
thirteen. so some one dubbed il 'Bak-
er's Dozen" explained Mr.. Sheldon.
at was splendid schooling, as we had
TO write one one-act play and one
long play each term, which was ulti
mately discussed in open class II
worth noticing at all.
Il have told you all about myself.
assure you, and now, want to ask
question-how can | get to see
Charles Freer's wonderful home with
the Whistlers and other splendid
things?" the young playwright asked
his interyiewers All the way here
on the train | have been thinking 1
ara going 10 the city where Mr.. Froer
lives and | would be tremendously
disappointed not TO see his home"
/. seemed hard to tell the enthusias-
TIC Mr.. Sheldon that MIR. Freer is at
present in Japan and entree to his
Detroit home, doubtful accomplish
ment.
1t was left for Mr.. Blinn to relate
that the youthful playwright's new
play THE Boss is virile, stirring
drama OF American domestic life
with the labor question and politics
side issues and the home and the re.
lations OF a man and wife, the vital
theme.
1T is a wonderful play and | feel
sure the public will like it," declared
Mr. Blinn
The play will be given a produc-
ton such as only unlimited money
and the best skill of artistic minds
and hands can accomplish.