New-York tribune., 1911-01-08
A WOMAN DRAMAHST
Mrs. GoIding Bright, Of London,
Visits New York.


her husband submits to theatrical man
nsers But Mrs. Bright does not DO 'ha'
nowever She prefers that her plays pe
hudsed on their own values So. whenever
mr Bright sends out a play by Mrs. Br,sh'
where Is no name on it-it is quite anony-
NOUS.
An American manager received recently
bne Of these anonymous plays. ne 'oon
quite fancy to it. He bought !" a"N
then learned that the author was Mrs
Bright The play is called The BACK
sliders." and Miss Margaret Anghn is Soon
10 appear here in it.
Mrs Bright Is at present I'm New 10TH
sTbe writer called upon her the othei ua.
nv appointment at hotel In the tnF Fstr'ca'
s,istrtct After an exchange of greetings
Mrs. Bright said:
Il suspect you want an interview.
yes. If YOU care TO give one" Was'the
reply
II suppose must. then. hut detest
shen What do you wish me to talk
about"
About your new play. if YOU like
There isn't really much to say about H.
and / don't know that l am anxious ABOUT
saving anything al all
III that is the case, then" said the'inter-
Viewer. coed naturedly, "let nothing oe
said"
Well since YOU have come all the way
up here. I suppose I should say some
thing-otherwise my managers might not
like it."
MAY INQUIRE II this is your hrsuplay 70
be produced in this country
No: Arnold Dalv produced over here.
-four years ago. play Of mine. which ne
called. think, An Irish Family or HIS
wifes Family I don't know which. But
he cut out one character altogether, and.
he and - lust roughed through the piece
and n was a failure But hardly consider
that II was given fair trial.
Have you had plays produced in Eng
iand?'
No have written a number OF plays
and have received praises from the lead
sng London managers, but all of my plays
have been tor women stars, and there is no
place for them in England. where there
are so many actor-managers.'
How long have you been writing plays?"
For eight years"
How many plays have you written
Six"
IF you sell them all within a year or so
You may be accused of overwriting?
Yes, that sometimes happens. After the
frst success OF a leading London play
wright my husband disposed Of several OF
his plays In a very few months-they were
the accumulation of years. All Of them
were produced, and London marvelled At
the authors industry. Many saw a de-
cline in the quality Of his work, and some
said that he was overwritng.
Have YOU sold any plays for production
In England?'
'No. I have really had more encourag-
fnent here than in England. IT was on ac-
count OF seeing Arnold DAILY in my play
that George Tyler asked me TO submit TO
him anv new play that | might write.
When my plays have not been suitable tor
any particular woman star under their
direction the American managers have al
ways been very kind IN praising the work
manship or dialogue or some OTHER feature
Of my plays So in view OF the fact that
This country is the best place for women
PLAYS. | shall probably remain over here
ror a time at Least"
Have you not noticed marked ten
6ency on the part OF English dramatsts
and actors to recognize in the United States
D greater field for their activity"
yes" was the reply "You country is
90 much larger than ours and your people
are more Of a theatre going people than
Englishmen. You are more alert-more &C
tive than We are. And besides. the music
halls have cut into the patronage of the
regular theatres In London 10 marked
degree. The music nails are not at all
coarse. and they are so comfortable and
one can see so many good ~-minute
Sketches.
''Is il not true that many of your lead
ang women have come over here TO stayE
eyes. we have scarcely any prominent
actresses left in England eXcep ingehues
and the Misses Irene and Violet Van
Brugh You have our Charlotte Granville
Constance Collier, Mrs. Patrick Campbell
olga Nethersole, Lena AshWeL Bihe
Burke
pardon me, Miss Billie Burke is.Amert-
Ean. is she not?'
"Oh. yes, perhaps she Is: but she go'
most of her training in England. Then'
Miss Marie Tempest seems TO De nero
most OF the time. oh, you have score
or more Of our best actresses TO say noth-
ang of many OF our leading men.
.'How is it that your plays in England
are mounted so much better than oursE
Edrs Bright was asked.
! sseimply because our managers employ
men who know how TO do H. suppose
fFour Mr. Charles Frohman stages plays
beautifully in London-he has Mr.. boucl'
'rault do them. our settings are more real
Astlc than yours. Our stage drawing rooms
&rs really beautiful. Oftentines you hear
6eople IN the audience say. must nave
huins done that way
7 Ibid you have the scenery for your play
Xesigned in London?"
4 mo. II is TO be done over here"
: do you expect TO get the effects you
Hesire?''
'I hope so. Give me some good stage
carpenters and think ] can get them TO
unake my settings as want them"
Mrs. Bright by this time had become in
xerested and interesting. She pointed to
&acture on the mantel. Isn't he lovely
fboyT' she asked
Eyes, a handsome chap. Your own, /
kuppose." ,n
yes; he is the pride Of my life"
els he away at school?'
Eyes. In an open air school near London.
aIe takes up most OF my thoughts when
am not writing plays or studying foreign
languages"
"Ah. you are interested in foreign Ian
iEuages. them
''Yes; I always try TO read everything In
4he original Ny petty vice is dictiqparies'
i have some knowledge Of Norwegian,
swedish, Danish, German, French, Italian.
6panish"---.
'.En ell rnodo que habla el Cssteliano?"
.syee Iiftle-enouRh TO make myself