The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-25
n, LAWRENCE RENMER.


w Miles Forman. may be. the
effort was from many points Of
view altogether creditablc. The story
ia in the first place ingenious
ard interesting. The dialogue is we'll
written. the characterization prac-
,cally negligible and the humor al
NOS, altogether absent. II these
qualities had been sustained by some
dramatic skill the audience at the
Knickerhockcr Theatre might have
witnessed one Of the most successful
PLAYS Of the year. There was
genuine desire on the part Of the
public To see success go TO the play
wright.
The result was the reverse at the
hrst performance. All Mr.. Forman's
magination. his skill in writing and
his ability to tell a good story availed
nothing There was lacking the in
dspensabe dramatic quality which
could have made all this good material
suited TO the stage. The priceless
element Of vitality was missing. There
was movement without action and
there was no establishing the sense Of
values in the scenes as they were
acted on the stage.
There was nothing inrately extrava-
CANT in what happened in the house
hold of the old German. There were.
70 be sure. struggles between the con-
sprators and the spy, lights went ont
and up. a telephone ratified through the
slr and there was pistol flashing more
than once. In all these scenes there
was nothing ianate,y impossible.
They were of course eminently melo-
dramatic. II is customary. moreover.
To say that our forcfathers would
have enjoyed them. But they would
also be equally enjoyed by theatre
goers to-day were there some means
by which they could take their place
seem like merely living pictures in
tended to Illustrate the more exciting
scenes If a play.
Mr. Formnn's case shows tho evil
effects from Lack Of collaboration on
tho American stage. His own en-
crossing story his we'll written dia-
logue ard his ability to tell a romance
wei should have been united with the
skill of some expert playmaker. Such
combinations more often produce
satisfying results than otherwise. AT
least there would have been less GER
tainty that the author of The Hy-
phen' would derive no gain from all
that was good in his play. Yet il
may bee that the effect Of that first
night WI make all that * interesting
IN The lIvphen' valuelcss IN the
ease, loes risk in uniting with an ev-
p'r''nrcd collaboration.
Il is often asked where tho coll
Alora'or i4 10 bo found II col
hnoraipr who can insure success to a
Play exists his services would be in
G'mand on every side. But there Is no
preten"e that the assistance Of an ey-
porienced playwright is an assurance
OF success. II is, however, true that a
knowledge Of his meter is going 20 he
help TO any playwright Why ex-
Ference should be held unimpor-
'aht under such conditions, when It's
'aIu" 's everywhere else acknowledged,
" not easy 10 say. But the play
Wright with ideas and literary skill
VINO Is able 10 lean on the skill of an
experienced playwright would seem to
nave greater chances OF success than
me young writer who wants to do II
all himself
hn' tN"ro could he no better reply
M" theories of Arnold Bennett that
."'r" IS up difference between the
wiling Of . play and a story than
'' ~" - Tho Ilyphon.' Again an
Nn'r''an play with much that Is
He"'orious has boon acted. Again
mas been III" duty Of the COM
"'"'''"rS TO say that the complete
"'F ~ technical skill in its writing
""S mao" It's good points unavailing
''''.n S the excellent dialogue, tho
interesting story and the timelincss
" me thcme could compensate for the
"'N ~ experiences with which the