New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-08
THE PLAYCOER
Should a Dramatic Author Be
Killed for Disappointing
His Critics?

Thomas had broken all the command
ments on previous Saturday evening,
and was incidentally. traitor to his
country; that he lay under heavy
(ncwspaper) indictment for completely
in the police scandals, and that his de-
served execution had been arranged for
a convenient and distant date. But It
turned out that Mr.. Thomas had merely
written play which many writer's who
write about plays did not like. Some
of the writer's could not have been more
violent il Mr. Thomas had killed ten
men after dinner, fred the metropolis
of New Rochelle and demorslized the
nation. But he had merely written
play which had not carried JOY to the
hearts of the commentators. And he
had written better plays. There was
the shrieking grievance. He had in
other seasons done fine things and was
now abused like a criminal-if GRIM
inals are ever abused in New York
because he had not done finer thing
this time. But the world wags this
morning, despite the offence TO the
commentators. Mr.. Thomas has not
Yet been deprived Of his liberty. and
inquiry fails to show that he has lost
the respect of his neighbors or is
diminished either In spirits or in health.
In Frank Stockton's story His
Wife's Deceased Sister there are mar
rated the sad fortunes Of an author
whose path was blocked by the success
Of one of his own tales. The editors
and publishers would have no more OF
him because subsequent manuscripts,
they thought, had not the merit OF his
great success. There Is not mucn
rhancc for Augustus Thomas to sail IN
n similar boat, but for day or two
sfter the production Of The Model at
The Harris Theatre you might have
supposed him far at sea In the same
,raft. cast adrift by the inky wrath OF
his countrymen. He was expected 70
write another "witching Hour" or AS
Man Thinks" every day between
meals. He had no right to produce
THE Model"
Naturally enough. the present enron
,cler found early opportunity 10 VII
ness the crime. OF course. there woulu
NOT be q dozen persons In the house so
fierce had been the denunciatons' On
the contrary, there was large at
tendance and IL was pleased, II liberal
applause and many curtain calls mean
anything. And, instead OF being an
orence TO the art, morals or the many
tender susceptibilities OF New YORK. the
n,av turned out TO be A reasonably
creditable piece Of work, and in Spots
an excellent piece Of work. But we are
not accustomed to Judge Augustus
Thomass work by spots. Frankly
"The Model is not up TO his standards
~ recent years. And some OF its pas
cages have not kept pace with his
marching skill. 1.-The Model is SAID
10 have been written before the
witching Hour" and it does not ap-
near TO have been revised by the author
of LAS a Man Thinks" But for all
that it is impossible TO agree that MI.
Thomas deserves assassination. Per-
sons who must have shooting ana
poison in their plays may not fnd TINS
play dramatic" but others may have
different opinion, If difference of
opinion is still permitted in concerns
Of the theatre. 1t appears to be no
longer permitted in the concerns OF
notifies in this free America.
The idea Of Mr.. Thomas's play is
dramatic and is dramatically worked
out. If the author had passed the re-
cent Cor presenD summer in rewriting
the play ne would have improved what
4. now very good and would have elm
mated certain weak passages. The
Model dates from time when
Thomas had less craft than he now
Possesses. although some admirers OF
his geographical dramas think other
wise. They are welcome to their be-
lief 1t is quite possible that THE
Model II produced seven or eight
Years ago might then have been called
Augustus Thomas's best play. But the
author was waiting 10 find an actor
capable OF playing Emile Bergeret TO
his satisfaction. He has found Will
lam Courtleigh. who acts the part not
only TO the satisfaction Of Mr.. Thomas
but Of everybody else. II the play
itself is, in craftsmanship and dramatic
values, somewhat below the standard
set by the author in The Witching
Hour" and "As a Man Thinks II is.
nevertheless. a better play than many
accounts of 1t would lead you 10 be-
leve There is a considerable public
which has learned that a play by Au-
gustus Thomas must be worth seeing.
THE Model" is worth seeing. People
who rely upon blood sandbagging and
highly colored villany for their COM
piete enjoyment may say this comedy
is not dramatic may not even
understand that il is a comedy, but as
the world is large enough for more
Than one point OF view. and does actu
ally give space for several, no bones
need be broken because the assertion
is made that The Model should he
seen by those who really care for
drama that is not meretricious.
Once more Mr.. Thomas appeals to
audiences that can think and that are