New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-15
HOW MAGIC WAS PRODUCED
G.. K. Chesterton Play Reached
Stage Under Odd Conditions.

In the recent history Of the stage there
has probably never been a play produced
i'm more remarkable conditions than q. h
Chesterton's Magic which has just OBJ
tanned new lease of life AT the Little
Theatre. says the London Globe.
I'm Nj Chesterton's case the usual or
der Of things was reversed. Usually the
aspiring dramatist has To write numer
Gus plays before he is able to set one
produced. and years often eapse before
he is lucky enough 10 persuade a Wes
End manager to accept one of his manu-
scrip;z. but Mr. Chesterton, however-his
visits 10 the theatre. by the way, are in
frequent was approached by severa
West End managers before he finally
consented TO write a play for kenen
Foss
In an interview with Globe repre-
sentative Mr.. Foss told an interesting
story of the way in which Magic" came
TO be written and produced
i had never met Mi Chesterton. M
said, until in was suggested 10 me thai
should Try and get him 10 write play
Having obtained an introduction. fire.
aucn,y visited his house at Beaconsfield
and urged him to attempt the only me-
dunn OF literary expression which he had
not 50 FAR essayed. but for time / was
unable to make any progress.
"Mr Chesterton seemed 10 look upor
the matter as "A Joke. and when I pressed
him ne declared that plays were quite
out Of his line and that having refused
SO many managers he did not see WHY
he should make an exception OF me
However. was not in the least dis
MAYED. and whether I was welcome ol
Got. continued To- visit him. until be
licve for very boredom Of my presence
he had A. last 10 consent. Even Their
the time when he would write the play
was in the dim and distant future. anC
many more fruitless visits to Bescons
/ field had To be made before | could ge
him even To give me a suggestion Of tho
plot.
His IDEAS on the drama were quit.
va-ue. ana 1t was not until after pro
/ icnged discussion-in which. / should Hk'
To say. he proved himself the most cour
! teous and considerable author with whom
! have had dealings-that the play was
transformed into some sort OF stage co
herence. After that all was comparative
lv plain sailing. although considerable
time elapsed before received the fin
! ished manuscript
When that period arrived ! was un
fortunately ill., and the manuscript he
fore II res he'd NE came into the hands
| Of my secretary and reader who wa
naturally interested IN play from which
We anticipated 80 much and which ha'
I taken sucn a long time 10 secure ~
| glanced through the manuscript eagerly
| but the singular form IN which n ar
| rlved-scribbled haphazard on scraps o
( paper in many cases blottei or covered
! with wine stains apparently preludiceC
/ him against II.
Extremely respondent. he warned no
not To read the PLAY until was stronger
! was naturally cast down, ard II wa
some hours before | ventured 10 look
the manuscript. but even one readin:
convinced me that what lay before M
was a masterpiece OF a peculiarly new
and vital sort.
THAT. briefly. is how Magic came int,
being. and as for the presentation OF the
| play on the stage. no author could have
teen more trusting than Mr.. Chesterton
| who put tho entire organization and cast,
' ing inio my hands