The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-12-04
DRAMATIC VALUES
EXPLAINED TO COURT
Expert TeStifieS in Case InyoIv-
ing Authorship of Beauty
Shop" Idea.
By GARDNER MACK.

Borrowing. boldly and uIashamed. the
technical terms from the testimony Of
the only nontheatTical expert Yet called
to the witness stand, the primary stress
being over. the first and middle parts
being complete, it only remains for the
attorneys on each side to bring the
threads of the plotted argument to a
climax by summing them up, to finish
the presentation in Equity Court No. l
of the legal analysis of the question
whether The Beauty Shop was a
homemade product or nand-Ins-down
from the now famous. but as yet unpTo-
duced. DIR. Fakewell.' Anu i IS the
hope or the court and the attorneys for
both sides, as we'll as the plaintiff &c
PENDANTS. witnesses OF the first line
and witnesses in the reserves, that the
battle will be finished on Monday. when
the case will next be brought into court.
The history OF the attempt TO defend
The Beauty Shon' from the charge
that II is the natural child Of "Dr
Fakewell," Will go down In the court
records as one of the most renarka BILE
legal engagements ever fought in the
testimony yesterday that the case mas
brought into one volume of typewriter
manuscript perhaps the most complete
and varied dissertation how 10 write
and how not to write plays that has
ever been made. From the beginning.
the witnesses have been men OF the
highest standing in the theater and
IN literary csllings that relate to the
theater or have a... bearing on the
construction OF plays.
Analyze the Manuscripts.
Yesterdays session OF the court was
largely consumed in the testimony OF
Philander johnson. plaintiff. who had
been recalled, and Prof. Wilbur of the
department of English, of George
Washington University. Barry Buckley
and J. c. Bell, dramatic critic of
Washington newspaper, were also eX-
amlned. but their testimony as e1-
perts was not of such length or breadth
as that OF the other two.
Prof. Wilbur submitted an analysis of
the manuscripts OF the two PLAYS in
question in most complete detail, and
was not only interesting, but extremely
instructive SO far as its exposition OF
dramatic values from the standpoint OF
the studies of literature was concerned.
Prof. Wilbur said on direct e1amina-
lion that there were several passages
in the plays, features of construction
and expression which would indicate
that one might have been taken from
The other. Backed by his long study
Of the drama in a purely literary sense,
he gave what really amounted to a
simple but most explanatory lecture on
dramatic structure and values He eN-
planned the theme, the primary stress.
the unity of character and the first
middle, and last features that should be
Incorporated in the writing of plays
Persons who believe that the primary
stress of all musical comedies is what
he assembled cast and chorus toss
uyer the footiights at the rise of the
clstain on the first act and permit TO
settle on the shoulders of an inoffenEive
audience. would gain much information
rom prof Wilbur's talk.
Significance of Name.
On REORGANIZATION the witness ad-
mitted that some of the features he he'd
found in both manuscripts might have
been in any manuscript Of any play on
the same subject. He also admitted
that the name, THE Beauty Shop.r
" hch he had regarded as a significant
art OF the play itself. was, after all. a
statement Of locale just as --Pinafore-'
statement of the locale of the |
Gilbert Sullivan production. He fur
her stated that as in Pinafore" and
others. there WIS secondary theme 1
that might be called the main theme |
IDEAS for plays, he said, need not neces- f,
sarily be original. but the compos ton |
'i the play should be and il was the
LIKENESS OF composition of The Beauty I
shop to DIR. Fakcwcll," which he be |
iieved he had detected When the at /
torHeys were through with PROF. :
Wilbur Justice Mccoy asked him a few /
questions regarding similarities in Ger |
tain situations.
Barry Bulkley. the next witness. con
tessed to having committed several !
plays TO the stage while q college
student, one OF these having been done
in conjunction with the late Clyde |
Fitch. He qualified as an expert be- !
cause he had assisted I'm the production |
of a number of theatrical productions !
IN this city with the late Edwin b. Hay l
and admitted as though II was the most 4
casual thing in the world, that he had 1
taught elocution. Mr.. Buckley said he !
found certain passages in the two !
that he thought were very
much alike. on cross-exsminaJion nc |
gave his idea Of the theme OF the two
plays Hs being the beauty shop idea.
hr Bell admitted that he had not read /
The manuscript of The BeautE Shop"
nc had seen IL produced and |!
had written a review of IL for news |
papers. He also admitted that he HAD
ever written l play and had never
cen an actor.