Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-06-15
An Amateur.
Picture Play
. Its Production Was Attended
With Difficulties.
BY DWIGHT NORWOOD

+ By DWIGHT NORWOOD I
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| When Daisy Allison, who had made
hit In amateur theatricals, noticed II
newspaper that film companies were
inviting persons owning handsome
places to furnish scenarios for picture
plays, which the occupants were t.
enact themselves in their own houses
and on their own grounds, she clappet
her hands in glee. What could be more
delightful than to organize company
to enact a play, making house party
Of the actors and actresses7 The sum
mer season was at hand. The flower.
were blooming In the garden; nature
was ready to provide the scenery.
Miss Allison was aware that piot
must be provided for the play and
knowledge of construction was requi
site. One of her acquaintances was
playwright, and quite likely his serv
ices could be secured to get up a see
mario. AS for the actors and actresses
Miss Allison's friends would be climb
ing over one another to secure invita-
tons to the histrionic house party.
She entered upon her work at once
her first act being to write note t.
Mr.. Howard Ashley, playwright
stating her design and asking him If ht
would officiate In the construction oi
the play. He consented, stating thai
he had a number Of scenarios on hant
from which a selection, doubtless
could be made and recommended thai
the play be decided on before the In
vitations were given out In order thai
persons best fitted for the diferent
parts might be included. Since Miss
Daisy herself had proved her ability as
an actress she would, doubtless, be ex
pected to take the leading lady's par
and play should be chosen that would
be best suited to her abilities. Then
too, the scenes should be fitted to thu
Allisons' beautiful country place and
its environs.
Mr.. Ashley submitted several plays
and one was decided upon. the princi
pal scenes of which were laid in the
country home of the Earl Of Pember
ton, as English nobleman. A synopsis
Of the play Is this: An American girl
only child Of a very rich man, goes tc
England, where she visits the home Of
another branch of her family among
the nobility. An impecunious English
lord (A1minster) attempts to marry hel
for her money. Her father, who is al
the head Of large manufacturing con
Germ in America, sends his right hand
man, Eben Macarthur, over to invest
gate the matter. He discovers that Ak
minister Is a fraud and exposes him
The girl marries Macarthur, who take:
the place Of son to the manufacturer
and inherits, with his wife, the bust
ness.
Mr.. Ashley, who was experienced
not only In the construction Of plays
but In choosing the scenes to be pho
tographed, consented to take charge
Of the whole affair, and nothing re
malned but to make up list Of names
Of those who were to compose the com
pany and issue the invitations. The
cast of principal characters when com
pleted was as follows:
Lucinda Owens, Miss Allison; LORD
Administer, Mr.. Perkins; Eben MacAr
thur, Mr.. Wilson; Gladys Pemberton
Miss Stevens.
So great was the pressure for invita-
tions that it was found necessary te
make long list Of dramatis personae
though the four persons mentioned car
ried the play. 1t was also found nee
essary to bring in a number Of the
neighboring country people for tenants
on the Pemberton estate.
When the guests arrived each was
furnished with synopsis Of the play
and on the following morning the pho
tographing commenced.
Now, there would have been no trou
BILE whatever In producing an attrac
tive play within reasonable time had
the originals Of the characters been In
different to one another. Unfortunate
" Lucinda Owens Miss Allison) select
ed for the part Of Eben Macarthur
Dick Wilson, with whom she was or
the eve Of an engagement This was
all right considering the way the play
ended, but In the earlier stages she
was expected to treat him with dis
dain. Gladys Pemberton Miss Ste
vensI, who was supposed In the play t.
be angling for Lord Administer, was
really q rival Of Miss Allison for the
affections Of Mr.. Wilson, who played
the part Of Eben Macarthur.
One Of the first scenes was an inter
view between Eben Macarthur anc
Lucinda Owens, in which the gentle
man was to be treated with something
more than Indifference. Unfortunate
ly the lady found 1t impossible to con
ceal her affection for him. Ten efforts
were made By the Photographic arts
before fair one was secured.
When Eben Macarthur arrived ir
England he was received at the Penn
berton manor house by Gladys Pember
ton, who was ut the time enjoying o
tete-a-tete in the flower garden will
Lord Administer. for whom she was
supposed to be angling. Being a riva
Of Lucinda Owens for the Affections
Of Eben Macarthur and having wit
messed that lady's exhibition Of a nk
Ing for Macarthur, she was in a very
bad humor. She turned her back or
his lordshlp and, plucking rose, pre-
sented It to the newcomer from Amer
lea. A dozen photographs were made
of this scene before the lady could bt
brousht to enact It as intended-that
| Is, she was supposed to look upon MAJ
Arthur as an uncultured America
backwoodsman and act toward him az
cordingly.
Since the cost of the photograph
was borne by the film company, the
manager began to fear that the e1
.pense Of production would be too grea
to warrant continuing the photograph
ing. He stopped work. but after mi
Ashley had lectured the actresses o
their behavior and they had promise
; to do better In future the manager COZ
scented to proceed.
uh,r Asoc rfhur in the play win