The Washington times., 1917-01-23
4 YEARS TO WRITE
1.-THE GREAT LOVER"
Leo Oitrichstein ToiIed With
Frederick and Fanny
Hatton.
DEPICTS 0PERATIC LIFE
Says Plays Are Not Dashed
of in Ecstatic
- Frenzy.
DEPICTS oPERATIc LIFE

Something of an idea OF how some
plays are written may be given by
the following little story told by Leo
Ditrichstein, who is to appear at the
National Theater next week in his
success, "The Great Lover"
Would-be playwrights who have an
idea that q play is written right off,
just as a photograph is played, and
that all one needs is a pencil, paper,
and a brain or two, will be surprised.
But those who know of the efforts,
sometimes of years, required in max
ing a play a living thing, will be
more interested, than astounded.
Four years, during which time the
idea was taken up and put down
again and again, were employed to
make 1.-The Great Lover"
Incident to this angle of time, it
might be Illuminating to explain how
Leo Ditrichstein with Frederick and
Fanny Hatton are the authors.
Often Makes Trouble.
\ Whenever there are two or more ''au-
thors" to a piece of literary or musical
work. 1t is always a matter Of interest
to try and find out just what each did.
Yet prying into that question often
makes a great deal Of trouble for every
body concerned.
In the case Of THE Great Lover"
however, we have a situation which Is
not liable 70 make serious trouble II
the question Of authorship is probed.
Frederick and Fanny Hatton have too
many other plays to their or .di:. and 50
has Mr.. Ditrichstein. For instance
among Mr.. Ditrichstein's plays md
adaptations are "Gossips" (co-author
with Clyde Fitch), 1895; "A Fools Err
rand" 1895; "A Superfluous Husband"
Ceo-author), 1887; Mile. Fir (adapted)
1sse; The Song OF the Sword" 1899;
An On Account OF Eliza" (adapted),
1900: "Unleavened Bread" Cco-author),
1900; Are You Mason" (adapted).
1900; 'The Last Appeal" 1901: "vivian's
Papas," 1908; "Harriets Honeymoon"
800; Tit For TAFT 1904; What's the
Matter With Susan" 1904; Military
Mad" 1904; Before and After" 1905;
'Nocturne" (co-author), 1906; 'In Gods
Country" 1906; "E Pluribus Unum,"
1907; The Ambitious Mrs. Alcott." 1907;
Bluffs" 1908; "Is Matrimony a Fail
ure" (adapted), 1909; "The Concert"
(adapted). 1910; THE Temperamental
Journey" and THE Million" in 1911.
Then The Phantom Rival and now
The Great Lover" (co-author), 191h
Another Long List.
The Frederick and Fanny Hattons list
IS almost as long. So we can tell the
story Of how THE Great Lover" came
about without much worry over conse-
quenceS.
Mr.. Ditrichstein explains:
THE idea came to me a little over
four years ago, though had in mind
q similar scheme for a play, based
upon an Italian adaptation, a long
time before that. However, the mat
ter took shape in a definite fashion,
after 1 saw Maurice Renaud, the IA
nous baritone. While watching him
! made up my mind that must play
"A character of just such a type in
personal appearance, with dignif1ed
white hair, impressive black mus
tache and. eyebrows and his suthorita
tive, magnetic manner. And so 1
have given Jean Paurel, the hero in
The Great Lover the same physical
appearance, so far as possible.
Contrary to the general impress
sion, Paurel is a composite character.
not based upon Eurico Caruso or any
other one operate star,
Started -Four Years Ago.
81 first started the actual writing
Of the play nearly four years ago. but
was forced to lay it aside several
times on account of professional en-
gagements. About three years ago
] again took II UP, completed nearly
two acts and finished the scenario,
when 1 was obliged TO lay ~ aside
again. Later on ] employed the Hat
tons, and together we finally worked
the play into shape. We have tried TO
carry out my original idea of depict
ing grand opera life as it really is.
"A great impressario. now dead.
said once in a moment OF pique:
There are only two kinds of people
on earth. human beings and grand
opera artists
1.-The intent in The Great Lover is
to visualize grand opera folk as
have known them-very human-very
lovable-and always very amusing
an interesting and entertaining type
OF temperamentsl artist"