Omaha daily bee., 1916-02-13
Sadie Martinez, Once ''The Toast Of
Three Cities" Now Mentally TN
balanced and Destitute, a
Charge of the Actors
Fund.

The Distinguished Manager and Play
Producer,


Producer,
TT Is my conviction that bad play
vicious or immorai-is q boomerang
which sooner or later strikes one or
all Of the participants in II. This punish
ment Is wen deserved by those who en-
plot improper plays. The bad play Is
we'll named, because Il is bad for the
actor. the author, the manager and the
audience.
! hold that the public who make up
the audiences are most to blame. Going
10 theatre where you know an improper
play is being produced is like going to
grocer's or butchers where you know
tainted provisions are sold. II you pat.
ronize such vendors you deserve the mer-
chandise YOU get for your money. The
public Is most 10 blame because the pub
lie is the patron and buys what II wants.
Next In the roll OF responsibility Is the
one who conceived the play. The author
II morally responsible fer the idea which
he develops into play form. II that idea
II corrupt, the product will be corruption.
The man who conceives, produces and
yende such wares Is guilty at least as a
moral lawhreaker.
. Third IN the order OF responsibility
and blameworthiness is the manager. lie
play knowing what he ss doing. With
the same clear vision he engages the
cast Perfectly aware OF the pruriency
of the output, he rehearses the play. ad.
vertiseB a. and on the first night of It's
production offers Il to the public in the
guise OF entertainment. He can never
dodge his share Of the blame on the plea
that he didn't understand what It was
all about
- -. -. 4. a. - 4
fully set up that plea. He needs an en-
gagement, he accepts the first offer he
gets. and often signs a contract without
full knowledge OF what he will be ex-
pectod 10 do and say. Having signed
the contract he Is TO a great extent In
the hands OF his manager, who directs
his fortunes Very earnestly do assert
that the player is least OF all TO blame
for the vicious play in which be acts a
part. He IL not free win agent. His
necessity makes him puppet. His sense
of responsibility often makes him deter
mine 10 go through with a thing which
his conscience does not approve. because
he believes he should be true to the man
who has given him his job and his
chance.
Yet the punishment often falls most
heavily on the person least responsible,
the actor or actress who has originated or
even followed some one else in a vicious
role. Instances come readily TO the mind
Of actresses who. because OF success In
such roles have gone to she muck
heap OF fate Tor the playing OF those
parts. In other words, the public that
patronized the play and made the actress
temporarily popular. neglects, chills and
etarFes her. OF would do so, were Il not
for the saving grace Of the Actors Fund.
The public Ia tickle master. II is curl
Gus, but It Is not constant.
The public's punishment OF the player
who has sinned against its good taste and
its standard of morality . a boomerang.
II IS not like the sudden kick OF gun,
but like the slow. sure rounding OF a
cannon. guided by a determined, reient-
less gunner. That punishment 10 as
sure as the revolutions Of the earth.
All mistaken productions OF this kind
are made by the young. They are part
Of the rashnees OF youth. Not all players
have been tempted nor have yielded TO
such temptation. Nor have al authors.
But managers. almost without exception,
have IA their youth produced detestabie
French farces or yiciousness In some
other dramatic guise. This by no acct
dent The managers were not In them
selves evil-minded. They had no wish
10 experiment with the public taste.
They thought the public wanted such
productions. and they furnished them
myself am not guiltless. When ! was