The Washington times., 1915-11-07
rama and Com
edy Offered in
THE Song of
Songs 'andM
!rwin's'33Wash-
lngton Square.

IN the form OF the literature OF
today than the plays which
are made from books and short
stories. The number of plays now
written straight from the sources
Of action is negligible, and almost
every week, in New York, play is
put forth which has had as be-
ginning for the action, not actual
life, but book. Our present day
literature is nothing if not alive, but
are our dramatists to be pitied or
congratulated for their unwilling
ness to write fresh play, when the
plot can be borrowed?
This week at the National "The
Song Of Songs" founded on the
book of the same name, by Suder-
mann, is offered, while at the Be-
lasco, comedy, "33 Washington
Square," after the book by Leroy
Scott, of almost the same name, is
the attraction.
The book, however, is not the only
source from which plays are made,
for the short story series which have
been so popular in the magazines
for the last few years are a prolific
, field of research. Sometimes the
name is changed for the purposes
Of making the play, but not often.
The Leroy Scott book was called "13
Washington Square," but was
changed just enough to prevent the
use of the number so cordially
hated by theatrical people.
The proper course for the work Of
young literary person at the present
lime would seem to be to first land a
rtory in a magazine. Then It should be
followed by other stories carrying the
adventures of the hero or heroine further
into the vortex of modern life. whether
public or private. metropolitan or pro-
Nincial.
Next the series Is taken in hand by a
sort of theatrical carpentcr-dra ma list,
who pruncs away the excess descrip-
tions. picks out the chief characters.
carefully lifts in toto all of the idcnti-
tying and characteristic remarks en-
ployed by the author in presenting the
figure. and otherwise carefully Skins off
any BITS which may tickle the popular
palate. -
Sometimes the play Is successful and
sometimes 1t is>not. but whether or no.
the attempt to dramatizc from books is
always patiently maae again and AGAIN
There is no limit as to type. The
Sudcrnlann book dramatized Is u prop
lem play. and the Scott book comedy
Seth haye had very successful New
York seasons.
There Is no food for thought In this
condition. Is IT. indicative of intense
iaziness on tho part of our dramatlsts
that they prefer to Collaborate with au-
tRors who have already done the IhinH-
Ing! Or Is TIE number OF real crama-
tists SO small that they cannot produce
fast enough to suit the gaping NAV OF
The Great White Way?
Or Is the excellence of the work or
cur authors so ai,uriag that the carpen-
ter-dra matists simply cannot keep their
bands from it?
In late article In "A magazine which
employs man by the name of Nathan
10 write about the stage. the strange
after many years IL forcefuliy re-
Nealed.
His list of reviva!s is not complete
but nevertheless intensely convincing
Coupled with the lay-irom-book-or-
story habit. one would seem to have
against the carpcnter-dramatists
But perhaps the great public, VINO are
the Judges in the end, whether II DC
bitter or sweet. actually prefer Ine
Ce-bcfore play. and would resent the
brand now, spic-and-span dramatic crea
tion which had not been seasoned pS
previous debut in the periodicals.