Evening star., 1914-07-12

"P1otting Against the Public
T1HERE is illuminating article in next SUNDAY
i MAGAZINE, amazing because of the things it does
say, and equally remarkable for the things it does
not say George M. Cohan. of the most successful
that lived in the difficult highly profitable bus
art of amusing the public and George Jean Nathan.
theatrical writer combine to tell about PLOTTING
AGAINST THE PUBLIC.
Of is understood that is benevolent plotting
and in any conspiracy make victims of the
public In lively, entertaining fashion the writers show
how the inside circle of playmakng certain of positive
and regular effect upon the hearts and pocketbooks of
audience.
-Four five themes, of which Cinderella the most
cessfu and therefore the most popular cted many
plays named that prove apparently the contention OF
Mr. Cohan and Mr. Nathan that all the playwright has
to do to the old 1dea less cevery disguised
There is much truth this assertion In the old days
of elodrama experienced stage used to depend
largely upon what they called "suree hokum when they
wanted to strengthen weak play; that to say they
knew of certain tricks that would result in definite
tions why the tricks and devices did the work that
experience proved they always would do beyond the
ken of the who used them frequently and most
successfully.
Mr. Conan has little clearer idea of the than
his forebears his proves He makes few blum
ders having certain instinct that almost always guides
him Alright. David Beasco has the same gift Both of
them have other than what might be called stock
plots, whether has do with whole play only with
single situation These stock plots invariably based
upon elemental human emotions that universal AS
matter of fact authorities have declared that there only
possible plots just there only notes in
music But the ability write plays isn't based
learning the plots than who has learned
the notes has learned how to compose music.
1t is important and interesting fact that, when
understands just why the plots that Mr.. Cohan and Mr.
Nathan cite do have such certain and definite appeal
they be used just effectively novels short sto
res and in business providing the of them has the
requisite technical skill
AS for novelty, quite true the public doesn't for
anything that brand new but unfortunate that the
authors of the article the funny story for illustration
1t is said that the foremost humorous journal America
the having the greatest reputation for originality, has
rule print joke until least years old
SHORTY McCABE seems to have entered upon
that is strikingly novel. AS matter of fact, his
tvty helping carry what he calls the batty will
of old Pyramid Gordon of the oldest things the
world, and one of the finest Yet it true that PICKING
IN ON PEDDERS has the of freshness and originality
because of the novel which the old idea presented
Shorty gives it significance, which better than dis
covering something wholly
incidentally, this Shorty story particularly good
that has the place of honor ISSUE leading the
magazine
IN QUEST OF HER LOST ROMANCE is love story
by Leroy Scott. which might have been written to il
ustrate the points made by Mr. Cohan and Mr. Nathan:
but the fact that the theme old will strike you ALL
YOuv and heroi