Bridgeton pioneer., 1915-06-17
An Amateur
Picture PLAY
Its Production Was Attended
With Difficulties.
By DWIGHT NORWOOD

q hit in amateur theatricalS, noticed in
a newspaper that film companies were
inviting persons owning handsome
places to furnish scenarios for picture
plays, which the occupants were to
enact themselves in their own houses
and on their own grounds, she clapped
her hands in glee. What could be more
delightful than to organize a company
to enact play, making a house party
Of the actors and actresses? The sum-
mer season was at hand. The flowers
were blooming in the garden; nature
was ready to provide the scenery.
Miss Allison was aware that a plot
must be provided for the play and a
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 sce-
Miss Allison's friends would be climb
ing over one another to secure invita-
tions to the histrionic house party.
She entered upon her work at once,
her first act being to write a note to
Mr.. Howard Ashley, a playwright,
stating her design and asking him if he
would officiate in the construction of
the play. He consented, stating that
he had number of scenarios on hand
from which a selection, doubtless,
could be made and recommended that
the play be decided ON before the in
vitations were given out in order that
persons best fitted for the different
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 part
and play should be chosen that would
be best suited to her abilities. Then,
too, the scenes should be fitted to the
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, an English nobleman. A synopsis
of the play is this: An American girl,
OAAJ NAAAO VI a fClJ I'LL SOcS "
England, where she visits the home of
another branch of her family among
the nobility. An impecunious English
lord (Axminster) attempts to marry her
for her money. Her father, who is at
the head of large manufacturing con-
cern in America, sends his right hand
man, Eben Macarthur, over to investi-
gate the matter. He discovers that AK
minister is a fraud and exposes him.
The girl marries Macarthur, who takes
the place of son to the manufactures
and inherits, with his wife, the busi-
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-
mained 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 CON-
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 to
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
ne1ghboring 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
ly Lucinda Owens Miss Allison) select
ed for the part of Eben Macarthur
Dick Wilson, with whom she was on
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
vens), who was supposed in the play to
be angling for Lord Administer, was
really 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 and
Lucinda Owens, in which the gentle
man was to be treated with something
more than Indifference Unfortunate
ly the lady found it impossible to con-
ceal her affection for him. Ten efforts
We're made by the Photographic artist
before fair one was secured.
When Eben Macarthur arrived in
England he was received at the Penn
berton manor house by Gladys Pember-
ton, who was at the time enjoying a
tete-a-tete in the flower garden with
Lord Administer, for whom she was
supposed to be angling. Being rival
of Lucinda Owens for the affections
of Eben Macarthur and having wit
pessed that lady's exhibition of lik-
ing for Macarthur. she was in very
bad humOr. She turned her back on