The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-11-29
SOME LEFT-OVERS FOR THE
THEATER OILERS
By GARDNER MACK.

There is a growing impression among
;heatergoers that the most frequent oc'
Icasion for strenuous effort in that di
Tection by the managers who loudly
proclaim their desire to uplift the stage
is to find out whether some Of thC
public's money has rolled under it
The best evidence we know of that the
exploitation of the drama is more Of a
business than an art has been fur
nished by the curious situation in which
Willard Mack found himself after he
= nad produced in this city what most
IL the people who saw it thought was
one of the best plays of the present
generation, so Much for So Much. -
Tic play was 4 wonderful bit of dra-
matte entertainment and enlightenment
Tor this day and age, and it was pro-
duced in a way that gave people fight
ing for artistic work on the stage re-
newed encouragement to keep up the
LATHE. And this opinion of it was in
dorsed by every one of the half a dozen
theatrical managers who saw it. But
ana here is the situation-none of them
would produce il in New York W. 4.
BRADY, Al Woods. the Shuberts-an OF
them congratulated the author and
raised his play and his company. and
ten said Good Knight" before the
natter of a New York production could
be approached in the course Of con-
Nersation.
When asked why they would not con-
slder taking charge of the production
OF the play. each gave 1t as his opinion
mat the show wouldn't get over"
kach believed that it was a great play.
but not q great investment Each be
Leyed 1t was acted perfectly. but the
RHf 11,s
register for the repair shop was miss
ing. Everyone of them was astounded
al the play, and carried away by II
out they did not find a single line to
which the police could object, a single
situation that might cause controversy,
a single bit of acting or costuming that
might call forth condemnation. It had
nothing to recommend ito them. And
they permitted Mr.. Mack to leave
Washington with no definite idea OF
able band of players would get shelter
after their week OF one night stands.
This is really true. The managers
trooped TO Washington from New York.
but not one of them would have any
thing TO do with the play they all hon
estly and unreservedly praised. Eddie
Well. the general factotem Of II. H.
Traces office-the only man of the lot
who wasn't an active producer-was
The only one that gave the author and
ton into the metropolis. Mr. Well said
he would ''see" what could be done IL
II. Frazee opened the Longacre Theater
with new play last Saturday night.
which was supposed TO be a winner-a
play called what 1t Means to BE a
Woman The play was not the sue
cess il had been thought, and announce
ment was made that it would be taken
or after the performance last night.
When II became evident that the new
piece would not succeed and that the
Donsacre would be dark. Well thought
Of SO Much for So Much" and in
duced Mr.. Frazee 20 take over the play.
Therefore. the Mack piece will get a
New York production after all 1t is to
open at the Longscre Theater probably
tomorrow night But Just how much
OF the enthusiasm for the play is due
10 its artistic success and how much is
due to the fact that the Longacre would
be empty for a time, even the all-see-
ing Mr.. We'll could not really deter
mine Some years ago a theatrical
manager made what would serve as a
fairly good working capital for a ma
uonal bank on an investment of a few
dollars. Whenever every other man.
ager doesn't do the same thing on ev-
cry success he produces he considers
that he loses money and takes the play
of