Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-02-24

CHARLES HOPKINS, one time Philadel-
| nb,,n and now proprietor of one Of New
-.-,,s .rittle theatres" the Punch and Judy,
nd longed to see Treasure Island" as
,,av ever since the day he first read that
...atbless tale of buccaneers and buried
,o,d Two springs ago. while casting about
ar play for the Punch and Judy, he re.
,.u.d the Stevenson story. Here was a
.,.v as full of thrills daring escapades,
arsmatlc struggles and surprises as a
hokers dozen of melodramas Of nowadays.
And here too. were heroes beloved of every
vouthful heart from the urchin to the gray
,.,red professor-yes, and the professors
,,,,s as we'll Mr.. Hopkins was inclined TO
ks,eve a worldwide audience was already
vaIting for the curtain to go up on Treas
ure Island
.sconed the producers hand An associate
~ consulted could think of no reason ex-
esnt that IL did not contain the usual love
interest So Mr.. Hopkins Immediately got
IN touch with the Robert Louis Stevenson
sstate, now represented by Lloyd Osbourne,
from Mr.. Osbourne he learned why the
stevenson story had not been produced as
= play Many had made overtures for the
nrivIlege but no one had cared to make the
commercial venture when he had learned
the requirements of the estate. All of these
irrespective producers had argued long with
Mr. Osbourne, but to no purpose. for, as
Mr. osbourne says. when Treasure Island"
Is under discussion he feels that he is some
thing more than mere legatee.
ITO Lloyd Osbourne, an American gentle
man. in accordance with whose classic taste
the following narrative has been designed,
n Is now in return for numerous delightful
hours and with kindest wishes, dedicated
BY his affectionate friend, the author"
So runs the dedication in the printed
volumes of the story, and those who are
familiar with the preface recall Stevensons
account Of how he came to write the moving
tale for "a school boy, home for the holi-
days, and much in want of something
craggy to break his mind upon" This
school boy was Lloyd Osbourne.
However, Mr. Osbourne was very anxious
that Urea sure Island" be put upon the
boards if it could be done in the spirit of
the book and finally he and Mr.. Hopkins
came to an agreement, not before many
kilograms had been passed, and many more
letters.
Mr. Hopkins selected Jules Eckert Good
man to make the dramatization and accord
ing to the New York reviewers nothing of
the text was sacrificed, except those por-
tions which would not lend themselves to
dramatic structure. The feelings of that
portion of the population which shudders
when liberties are taken with their literary
pets has been taken into consideration The
aim was to present Treasure Island as
Stevenson would have written it had he
been playwright too.
The four acts and six scenes which the
audience at the Broad will see Monday will
include the Admiral Benbow" Inn, the
quay at Bristol, the deck Of the treasure
ship Hispaniola Treasure Island, the Stock
ade, Spyglass Mountain and Benn Gums
cave. The bold flare of colors in the pirates
garb as Stevenson wrote OF them. will mark
the costuming. Everything, 1t is promised.
will be done to preserve the atmosphere and
favor of the story, even to Captain Flint
the gaudy parrot who shrieks his "pieces
Of eight, pieces of eight
When Mr.. Hopkins was trying to persuade
Lloyd Osbourne to attend the premiere of