The Washington herald., 1917-01-14
Experience" Revenues.

George V. Hobart, author of Eek
periencc," is said to have struck a
Veritsblc gold mine in thus resur-
reeting for modern audiences the
form and style of the ancient NOR
shty plays of 400 years ago. Rumor
credits him witt receiving as high as
S4,7oS in one week as royalties from
three companies presenting Expert
Cnce.' and a photograph of his roy
atty check for that amount has been
widely circulated to prove that the
facts named are correct. Expert
encc" is also credited with having
placed firmly on the sunny side of
Easy street the theatrical firm of Viii
liam Elliott, T. Ray Comstock and
Morris Gcst, the three young men
who fist produced this play, carried
it at loss which at onc time exceed
cd $4,000, and are now making al
most 100000 profit from it.
Elliott was an actor when. he did
Experience" as a onc-act play at a
Lambs Gambol. He liked the idea
OF Youth and his experiences so well
that he persuaded George Hobart to
expand it into a th-ec-act play. Then,
having no money, he applied to F.
Ray Comstock, hustling young the
atrical manager, and his partner, Nor
ris Gcst (who is the son-in-law Il
David BClasco). The young firm
greed to furnish the necessary cash
II Elliott would contribute his play
md his services. There is a rumor
that when things went wrong and
failure stared every one in the ace,
I. lott worked without salary to
keep the play going, while Gest per-
"onzHy borrowed 5000 from a friend
- "ay salaries. Then the tide turned.
<rcrgymcn indorsed "Experience"
; Great moral play. An eminent
clergyman, Rev. Thomas B. Gregory.
rotc a wonderful criticism and
--cached d scrmon about Expert
,7cc." The play was turned into a
success, It moved 10 bigger Broad
vay theatcr, and began a career which
las been the marvel OF the present
generation Of theatrical managers.
Elliott made so much money as a
manager that he quit acting early in
the career OF the play, being succeed
Cd by Ernest Glcndinning, who comes
here with the balance of the original
est.
Arthur Ho kins, producer Of vii
liam Gillette new play, "A Success
full Calamity, has learned, through
experience, that it is not always wise
to tell too much about play in ad-
vance, or, due to lack OF space, to tell
too little. An inadequate description
IS as dangerous as a too fulsome one
Each attempt, while intending to edu-
cate the public in advance, generally
acts as a boomerang and is much
worse than no information at all
Again, it is very different task to
say just enough and know when to
stop, to reveal what is advisable and
TO keep concealed such details as the
audience would prefer ta find out for
itself. Certain plays depend for their
greatest effect upon the surprises ar.
ranged by the playwright and if these
twists in the plot are given away be-
fore the curtain rises much of the
force OF the story is lost.
A Unique Policy.
Mr.. Hopkins has been unusually
successful in sending his first night
audiences away thrilled with the un,
expected in his productions which is
really one of the chief charms ot
the theater This was true of hi:
lightning-like changes of scenery in
"On Trial" and was again demon
strated but in an absolutely different
way. in his latest offering, 5000
Gracious, Annabelle."