New-York tribune., 1912-04-07
HERE AND IN CHICAGO
Margaret IIIington's Adventures
with "KindIing." Told
by Herself. Z

had such strange adventures as Chsris,
Kenyons sums drama "Kindlng" a.
which Margaret Ellington has PLAYED IN r..
Angeles New York aud Chicago do,.-
what was. according TO many critics ~ h.,
work, the best acting of her career
Miss Ellington. who returned 10 New Vol.
last week after the Chicago division ~ M.
adventure viii start out again to.norro,,
for the West and still standing BY Ne,
same play in which she has placed h..
faith with whole hearted enthusiasm NH,
make a tour which will begin with sar,e,
OF one night stands in Illinois and from
there will work her way 10 the Coast
Il believe Kindling' is real PLAY" sal.
Miss Ellington the other evening as she "a,
at ease i'm a low chair slipping her ate.
dinner coffee. But did YOU ever hear ~ +,
play that had such queer experience?f
New York didn't like it. and it seem. IA
me that there was something strange abou.
the way things went here. | can't account,
| for IT, Every one who wrote Of the plsv
seemed TO think well of il. Those who saw
! +: said unusual things OF It, and certainly
no other play was ever sent or 10 another
city with a group OF altrustic writer's and
| painters blazing the trail ahead Of II with
utterly free and unsolicited press agent,
work. as happened in the case OF 'Kindng
II now feel that for some reason ! cant
see or understand, last fall was not the
time for the play here New York did not
| condemn this simple. bare, human nature
/ piece OF work. II simply did not see ii
at all
But | am going TO give New York an.
other opportunity. and am just as sure az
sure can be that this city Is going to riss
up and talk about the play when DO.
| Next fall. when the Ellington Theatre is
opeued on West 18th street-my own thea
tre,-'Kindlng' will be the first play pre-.
sented And I am honestly so curious 10
see what will happen that can hardly
/ wait for the fall TO come
Curiously enough. the actress who has
rlayed such parts as that of Mariss IA
| Bernsteins The Thief" and Maggi,
! Schultz, the tenement girl. in "Kindling'
| both Of which in different WAYS plumb h.
| DEPTHS OF humanity. seems when Of The
! STAGE 10 live in a pleasant glow Of spon.
! taneous enthusiasms and bubbling impulses
| that are supposed 10 be the precious DOS.
sessions or youngsters alone. Not that Miss
Ellington is not purposeful and serious. She
! Is unusually young spirited.
I'm Chicago you would have been sur.
nrised 10 see the audiences. continued Mis
| Ellington. Il was. OF course YOU know The
superstition about Chicago is that anything
New York rkos the city of Winds blows
inside out but that Il is always standing
| ready to give a boom 10 anything good
| that the Eastern metropolis has failed TO
appreciate.
| "Whatever In. reason. chicago rscsiYei
| 'Kindling' with spreading enthusiasm. Tbs
theatre was continually crowded ana ths
people we're sympsthetically attentive IN a
! yav few city audiences eyer are. And an
other odd thing. Chicago seemed to find
moro comedy in the play than New YORK
did There were many lines that had been
| taken quite seriously here which were r..
| celved there with laughter BY every audi
| ence. without exception. | cannot under
stand why there should be such differences
IN audiences in two cities which are only
eighteen hours apart.
| Take for instance the line IN kindllng
| which refers TO the government gran.
! lands in the Northwest. You remember u
runs like this: I've heard the government
| has land out West II has no use for ard
| gives to the poor; lets 90 there Every
| audience in Chicago laughed outright al
| that New York didn't. Not once. And
| there were many other things taken IN the
snirit Of comedy which are really intsndd
| to be so taken. but were not received IA
! that way here II made the play brighter
and it went with more spirit.
Now, what will the Far West no Win
| Kinding'?"
The whole thing began in Los Angeles
over a year ago. Nj Morosco producel
Kindling' there in his theatre. II seemed
IN be a play no one could see Al the way
into until Il vas put on the stage. hut ~
soon as IL began 20 take shape before OUT
eyes we all felt that it had the rock oo''o"
elements that make a play strong.
AT its first production the play was muc'
longer than it is now. II was Mr. Men
yon's first serious effort, and az soon as
was produced he himself saw II nes'''
pruning There was a good deal OF pD"
ing done. too Now the play Is down 10 u
simplest terms. My principal efforts
pruning were directed toward having %
rho .Jamns' and 'hels cut out PerhsF
some ignorant. tenement house peo',
Slrinkle those expressions through th.
speech. But whether they represent uus.
fu local color or not. ! somehow don't y"
them on the stage They break the oVD
tiruity or in some way impress me
offensive and unnecessary to the sens
ANYWAY. whenever stage person SAY
hell il brings laugh. so why NOT resel''
it for comedy2 Many comedies need al ~
outside help they can get Il
What plans are you making for tho ~
Ellington Theatre" she was asked.
Nothing very definite beyond 'hnU
ling" Miss Ellington replied. You ss'
am tremendously wrapped up In that p'S.
and I believe It will have a run here IVA
season.
Il think il is un~ise 10 plan iar ap ',.
about the theatre. Times change 80
lv one never knows from one season "
next what is going to be i'm the ar. AZ.
is what is in the air that affects lheS"
the most ,,,,
Margaret Ellington has chafacu
that is very unusual among dispos
that seek the stage for career Sne ~,
not take herself too seriously. She has
a great array of theories 10 hroach
the psychology of plays. audiences io -.
inc. Her own part in 'kindlns sn'
the grace to say acts itself ,.,,a
1T is so simple. YOU see she 'NplS1.
"and it rings so true that feel. u -.
inside So all I have to do Is to lei ~
with me the way it will
TREE COMING? ..tn
There is possibility Of Sir Heroer' :.
-.. ~. Ing q Nlsif- 10 Parf