New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-21
By GEORGE s. KAUFMAN.

4 PLAYWRIGHT is known by The
~ successes he keeps, and IN
majority of cases his successes
will be his best plays, despite the be-
liefs of those whose faith in popular
verdict is nil. People will recall Au-
rustus Thomss's "Witching Hour" long
after "Rio Grande" has slipped from
memory, and Charles Klein will be re-
membered for "The Music Master" by
millions Of persons who won't even
know that he wrote The Gamblers or
"Tbe Outsiders" And that is as it
should be. for "The witching Hour" is
Augustus Thomas's best play and The
Music Master" the most deserving
among Charles Klein's.
Now, the reputation Of George NJ
Cohan Is so solidly established that
any discussion Of it would seem to be
more or less purposeless. In his field
he is preeminent. And yet this season
Mr.. Cohan Is IN the peculiar position OF
having his reputation incressed-ss-
surnine that that be possibility one
Of his second best dramatic efforts. In
general brilliance the current Conan
revue far outrsnks the other Conan
Offering Of the moment, "Hit-the-Trsil
Holiday" and yet it is unlikely that
the Revue will do as much work Tor
MIR. Conan as will the Billy Sunday
plav. For the Revue is his best work,
and hence was certain TO succeed.
Holiday" is not his best work, and
also succeeded. The inference Is not
only that Mr.. Cohsn's best is better
than anybody clse's best, but also that
his second best is as good as or better
than the average playwright's best Or
are we getting in too deeply2
II is violating no condolences to say
that the extent Of the success Of hit
the-Trail Holiday" has surprised even
those connected with the Cohan q
harris ofices-snd undoubtedly even
Messrs. Cohan & Harris. Arrange
rnents had been completed to send the
play on tour IN February, when the
Revue took possession OF the Astor.
Indeed. il had been booked at the
Standard Theatre, the Bronx Opera
House and others. When the moment
for It's departure arrived, however.
patronage IVES such IS TO warrant q
short continuation Of the engagement,
although the play had already had
five months run.
The only theatre available at the
moment was the Harris, and there the
play went The Harris, by reason of
it's location, gets but little OF the drop
in" either one starts out with
the intention Of going to the Harris, or
the chances are that one doesn't go
there. In the Harris it was hoped
that "Holliday" could play a profitable
month or so; more than that Was not
expected. But now 1t is nearly -four
months since the play moved, and II Is
still there-plsying TO business which
Yields a good profit, also, and despite
the fact that the cast is a long one.
A visit to the play In its latest home
reminds one that two or three changes
have been made in the cast, but II
moves with ell tho spirit and zip that
characterized tho performances ct the
Aston. And that is bit rare, consid
ering the psychological effect upon the
nlayers Of q removal TO q theatre 9
long block from Broadway. Also, the
performance that we viewed was &
Wednesday matinee, and a "Wednesday
matinee Is the worst time in the worlC
TO witness a farce or comedy. Thu
festive spirit for some reason, IS a.
It's lowest, both in the auditorium anC
on the stage. But it was not so with
Holiday" Indeed, in one respect the
performance at the Harris excelleC
any of those that We saw at the Aston
We refer to the OF stage noises, OF
which there are a variety in "Holli'
dav." The supers at the Harris per
form their task with q zest that they
never exhibited at the Aston, and the
result is that the second act is made
ten times more convincing.
Hazel Lowry, who has replaced Ksth-
stne Ia Sale in the leading feminine
role. Is rather colorloss, but it is dill
feult to say whether that is the fault