Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-16
THE PLAYWRIGHT INTERVIEWS
HIMSELF FOR THE PRESS AGENT
The Author of "Under Cover" Submits to an
view, but Refuses to Discuss "The
Decay of the Drama"
By RoI COOPER MEGRUE

0CAY." said the Press Agent. "The
- EVENING LEDGER wants thousand
words from you about Under Cover for
Sunday. Will you write something?"
you write il" said l. the Author
mot on your life." replied the Press
Agent. 'I've had to write all the drool
so far you've had a cinch-nothing to
do but draw royalties"
Il should say So agreed the Manager;
ITS up to you to do something besides
complain that we don't get you enough
publicity. Playwrights make me sick,
;whatn write about?' 4 the Author,
answered meekly.
There you CO." said the Press Agent;
give dramatst a chance to get little
advertising for himself and he dies right
on your hands but he expects the press
agent to
"You might MENTION" interrupted the
Manager, "how we'll we've handled your
play, and that If it weren't for the man
ager no playwright could possibly make
a real SUCCESS"
Even a playwright must have some
regard for the truth" / sad-but very
gently.
"Ingrattude," murmured the Manager.
Il tell YOU" said the Press Agent
cheerfully, dictate something about
The Decay of the Drama Why Plays
FAIL rs the Drama a Factor in Modern
Education?'" "
Yes" agreed the Manager. that's
good highbrow stun"
And it's new too" I added casually.
"Oh. they like to read the good old
bunk" said the Manager. 1T always
has been immense"
81 suppose it would be dangerous to
try anything new?" 1 asked timidly.
"Sure. the public wouldn't stand for
it," said the Manager
what new idea have YOU got?" ques-
toned the Press Agent sourly.
81 might interview myself. mightn't
IT, 1 asked hopefully. You know, sort
of dual personality. one the interviewer
and the other the playwright. Then l
needn't ask myself any embarrassing
questions, and I could be quite sure my
answers were not misquoted."
why. that rs a good idea" said the
Press Agent, amazed
Maybe they might print It," the Man
ager reflected pessimistically. Anyhow.
mention my name a good deal"
And" added the Press Agent, write
in a good, clear. legible hand on one side
Of the paper only"
well, ri promise about the paper,
anyhow [ said.
found Roi Cooper Megrue. the au-
thor Of "Under Cover" NOW PLAY slg
matinees Wednesday and Saturday,.
sitting at his desk. l have found that
most authors do that at one time or an
other. He seemed-to me-a pleasant
enough young man, weighing about 20
pounds more than he should
'Yes?" /, the Author. murmured vacu-
ously.
i've come to interview you" l. the
interviewer, answered.
You make me feel quite self-con-
scious," the Author replied 'its so diff
cult asking oneself questions that will
not make one sound too egotistic"
That doesn't matter" said the In
terviewer, "playwrights with two hits In
New York must be egotistic. or every
one would be disappointed at this viola
ton of tradition"
quite true. and one must not fool the
public"
"Ah," said the Interviewer, how
comes It then that in Under Cover you
do fool the public by keeping concealed
the identity OF one Of your most inn
portant characters till the very end of
the play?"
"Ah." said the Author. pausing a mo-
. nent TO sharpen a pencil with which to
continue writing this interview. II con-
fess l have been very much amused at
the criticisms of those learned In the
technique OF the drama who. have said
that Under Cover succeeded in spite of
the fact that 1t fooled the audience and
not because Of At. l happen to know
they're wrong. because originally. when
the play was produced on tour 1 was