New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-20

What the ingredients Of the ideai
newspaper play should be it is difficult
70 state. As a matter of fact, if popu-
lar success is the only aim. the in
gradients DO not really matter As IN
the case of all plays. the important
thing is the manner in which the in
gradients are mixed. Undoubtedly q
PLAYWRIGHT who knows his business
could concoct a tremendously success
Jul newspaper drama that wouldn't
come within q mile Of mirroring news
paper life. Whereas an inept play,
true TO the city desk from curtain 70
curtain. would die in a week
Journalism is a grand and glorious
business (cheersD, and 1t does seem as
though IL is entitled to playa sue
cessful play-all TO itself It wants
one that is true. as we'll as successful
enc to which il need not be ashamed
10 take its friends.
Possibly a cub reporter is even to-
day busily writing such drama evoly-
ing his story between assignments to
anarchistic gatherings in Harlem and
dinners at the Aldine Club. And when
II - produced, il ever It is, II will prob
ably receive IT'S sternest treatment at
the hands of newspaper men them
selves
10 has been long time since any
play has begun so promislngiy and
ended so disastrOusiy as did ANY
House Underlying 1t, according TO
the advance notices. was the idea that
every house contains story-ano
probably the same sort of story that
the house next door contains. This eX-
cellent idea. however, was confined 20
the notices. II was limited at IN the
early moments of the play, but the hint
served only to make the disappolnt-
ment the more keen when it became
apparent that the authors were not
carving il out. IL is hard TO see how
so ACCOMPLISHED dramatist as Owen
Davis ever could have believed that
there was anything IN the dull story
OF ANY House" TO interest an audience.
There is nothing IN the world TO
prevent the Messrs. Davis from writ
ing the play over again. and II IS to
be hoped that they will do so. Every
thing after the first five minutes
should be discarded. Let them show
two houses and treat them with equal
favor. Let exactly the same story be
enacted in the houses, but IN widely
different terms. Such a play, if writ
ten with Sufficient dramatic sense and
just touch of cleverness, could not
fail TO get over.
We happened to remark that ANY
House" contains a room that has not
been opened for five years: wife dice
there. tender memories, that sort OF
stuff.
=, "A room not used for five years,
cried the bon mOtteT "Ileayensl They
couldn't have been paying New Yori
apartment rents,
II was good 10 see the first nighter.
fooled IT the opening of 1.-THE Earth
on Tuesday night I'm the second &C
Lady killonc is visiting Irevena afte'
hours, when Sir Felix Janion is an
nounced. Now. 10 would never DO foi
Janion 10 discover the lady's presence
aud. consequently. the audience wa;
fully expecting him 90 discover il
Lady killone went into the next room
leaving her shawl conspicuously dis
played upon chair. Almost before
the door had closed II muimur of wis
knew that Janion would see the shaw
and unearth the lady; they had not
Deen raised as first nighters for moth
lng. But To- Trevena saw the shaw
ana handed ~ TO Lady Killonc, with 8
remark about his reputation. Ant
Janion had his talk with Trevena anc
went out, without even knowing that
the lady was IN the next room. Quite
number OF confirmed first nighters
are sull OF the opinion that they'r,
ehutied to their money back.
oy the way. who wrote the new sec
ond act ending TO Mr.. Fagan's play
Why do you want the information -
asks Dickson. That's nv business
replies Janion. and the curtain falls
or, so ~ did as Pagan wrote the plav
NJ the Playhouse, when Dickson nut,
the question, Janion regards him cold
~ and says, Your train goes nj o.
IF it's five minutes late IN miss it,
cries Dickson. Somehow ~,
rather lean TO Pagan.
One is forced to hear considerabl,
about the shortage OF good PLAYS
Clayton Hamilton takes the question
up in detail in the current Vogue.
and the article is unhesitatingl,
recommended 10 theatrical managers
For our part. we know an English actor
who contracted with an American man
ager at the beginning OF the season
II am bringing along number OF
good plays" the actor wrote from
London" That's fne!" answered the
manager. I'D like 10 DO some OF
them So the actor brought along
LIS plays. eight IN number. gathered
from various European p'aywrights.
That was six months ago. and the most
reliable information obtainable has 10
that the manager has not even I'M
wrapped the bundle
In the film version Of Hazel Kirke"
Miss Pearl White is starred" In her
support are Bruce McRae and William
Riley Hatch, Well, We know all about
Ltl.Oa Mp - IL / -. u IL !. -