The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-09-28
Good Acting Can
Save Plays From
Complete Failure
Theatrical History is Rcplete With
Such Instances-There Ara c.se.
Though, Where It Docs Not
Hold True.
(By George A. Benson.l

(By George A.. Benson.)
When a play is ruthlessly snatched
from the stage and sent to the stor.
room. the first question that arises
Is: What caused it's failure? Hay-
ing answered this query. we ask: Can
II De made a success If rewritten or
played by another company?
Generally. a play is withdrawn be-
u 1t Is dramatically impossible.
IN some cases. however, it is because
Inc New York theatergoers do not
IKE 1t. Quite frequently. under the
E ia..er circumstances. it is sent to
awaits it: Several Of these instances
We're pointed out in last SATURDAYS
issue.
Poorly constructed plays have prov
en- temporary successes when rewrit-
ten but. I believe, there is no play
om ecord that has had a permanent
Within the past few weeks. we have
nae an example of this. After scor-
ing a big success with LAS a Man
Augustus Thomas wrote
Mnen 1t Comes Home" produced in
Chicago the latter part Of last sea-
son. 1t was fairly we'll received. but
"id not play there long. 1t was re-
Model, and given a primiere in New
ORR this fall: Its reception has been
decidedly chilly, and the Indications
long. 'eAofe
But car good acting saw a play,
tive answers. There comes to mind
Immediately the case Of "A Butterfly
on the Wheel" which will be- sean
IN Grand Forks in a couple Of weeks
IL Is an English divorce drama. and
V Mas procured In London by Lewis
Maller with remarkable success.
T1naries frohman. after seeing it in
rights. and last year produced Il IN
this country.
a clever American actress, but
WIN rev years experience, was cast
as Peggy Admission. the leading role.
n was supported by a strong com.
panS. and the play went on tour. It
cry place It played. and Mr.. FroRman
Immediately withdrew 1t.
Mr.. Walters pride was hurt. The
play had been n of his best yehi-
yes, ana. perhaps to show that IL
could be made a success, bought IN
the american rights for $40, 900. He
tnen telegraphed Miss Madee h
adge. who created the LEADING role
IN London, to come to this country.
several h members Of the original
were brought to America.
ana the play was given a New York
premiere late last winter.
What was the result? 1t scored ono
OF the biggest successes Of the yeaf,
n several companies are now tour.
ing the country with it.
1T also brought to America an ex-
ceptionally good English actress
MISS I1theradge. Hers was n of
the greatest histronic contributions Of
.ne season. and this year she is to be
roles. "1"A'e Vi
Other similar occurrences cou,d he
mentioned. The Great Divide" was
doomed to failure. until Henry Miller
ana Margaret Anglin took possession
Of 1t. The Passing Of the Third
rIoor back"-not a great play. but
was on it's. way to the store room
when Forbes Robertson. another Enr.
iish character actor. saw II. For foSr
years he played it in America. and
1t ts now known from one end OF the
country to the other.
But we also find that good ACTING
ample is John Mason's work in The
drama. The play is nov running ~
the Garrick theater in New York. but.
according to reports. will not prove
a very great success. 1t Is said, how
' thai John Mason is doing the
best acting Of his career, but he is
handieapped by a poorly told story.
Last season Wallace Eddinser made
another bid for stellar honors in the
leading role Of The Only SON" The
play was quickly withdrawn from
the New York boards. however, and
Mt: Eddinger went into the cast of
The play was later revived in Chi
caso with Thomas Ross in Mr.. Ed.
dinger's role, and it proved a success.
This case is different from "A But
terfy on the Wheel" however. 1t
was not due to Mr.. Eddineer's acting
that the play proved a failure in New
York: It was because New Workers
would have nothing to do with the
play. And here We have another I'M
Of the theatrical center Of the
country hindering the development Of
the drama.
Verify. the arts Of the hummer ana
the playwright are the most uncertain
In the world.