Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-13
Sadie Martinez, Once ''The Toast Of
Three Cities" Now Mentally I'm
balanced and Destitute,
Charge of the Actors
Fund.
By William A. Brady
THE Distinguished Manager and Play
Producer.


TT is my conviction that bad play
vicious or immoral-is boomerang
which sooner or later strikes one or
all of the participants in it. This punish
ment is we'll deserved by those who ex-
plot improper plays. The bad play is
we'll named, because it is bad for the
actor, the author, the manager and the
audience.
l hold that the public who make up
the audiences are most to blame. Going
TO theatre where you know an improper
play is being produced is like going to
srocer's or butchers where you know
tainted provisions are sold. If You pat
roni2e such vendors you deserve the mer-
chandiSe you get for your money. The
public is most to blame because the pub
lie is the patron and buys what 1t wants
Next i'll tho roll of responsibility is the
one who conceived the play. The author
is morally responsible for the idea which
he develops into play form. If that idea
is corrupt, the product will be corruption
The man who conceives, produces and
vends such wares is guilty at least as a
moral lawbreaker.
Third in the order Of responsibility
and blameworthiness is the manager He
knows what he is doing. He buys the
play knowing what he is doing With
the same clear vision he engages the
cast. Perfectly aware of tho prurioncy
of the output he rehearses the play, adj
vertises it, and on the first night of it's
production offers it 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 il was
all about
On the other hand the actor can truth
fully set up thar. plea. He needs an en-
gagement, he accepts the first offer he
gets, and often signs n contract without
full knowledge OF what he will be ex-
pected TO do and say. Having signed
the contract he is to 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 he acts q
part. He is not free will agent. His
necessity makes him puppet His sense
OF responsibility often makes him deter
r.. mine to so through with 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 vicious
role. Instances come readily to the mind
of actresses vino, because of success in
heap OF fate for the playing of those
parts. In other words, the public that
patronized the play and made the actress
temporarily popular, ncglects, chills and
starves her, or would do so. were it not
for the saving grace of the Actors Fund.
The public is tickle master. 1t is curl
Gus, but it is not constant
The pubic's punishment Of the player
who has sinned against It's good taste and
its standard Of morality is q boom erang
1t Is not like the sudden kicl; OF d gun,
but like the SLOW. sure rounding of n
cannon, guided by determined relent-
less gunner. That punishment il as
sure as the revolutions OF the earth.
All mistaken productions of this kind
are made b. the young. They are part
of the rashness Of youth. Not all players
have been tempted nor, have yielded 10
such temptation. Nor have all authors
But managers, almost without exception,
have in their youth produced detestable
French farces or viciouancS5 in some
other dramatic guse. THIS By no acct.
dent. The managers were not in them.
selves eyil-minded. They had no wish
to experiment with the public taste.
They thought the public wanted such
productions. and they furnished them.
IL myself am not guiltless. When was