The sun., 1918-11-24


original version of 1.-The Big
i Chance" which seems thus
far to have been one of the
seasons distinct successes, when Wis
tied at his office in Baltimore by a
representative of THE SUN had the
following to say about the play:
Play writing Is n funny game.
When you think you are through you
find or somebody else finds you have
just begun. Upon my return from
France In the early summer had the
manuscript submitted to Mr.. Woods
and he bought it at once. l told him
very frankly, however, that after a
six months absence I would be so in
formally busy with my own affairs it
would ba impossible for me TO attend
rehearsals or do much more to the
play. Mr.. Woods kindly relieved me
Of this and brought in willard Mack
II is scarcely necessary here for me to
give all the credit to Mr.. Mack TO
which he is due. l say in all sincerity
he Is due the very highest credit, but
Mr.. Mack, being an actor and play
wright himself, has seen to it himself
that the credit due was not omitted.
Il say this In the best OF nature. for
Mr.. Mack and 7 are the best OF friends
and naturally very happy over the sue
cess of the play. l don't suppose any
two minds ever did work Just the same
way, and that OF course always makes
for some difficulty in collaboration or
IN revision ! think the characters OF
the remittance man and the tough
have been but slightly changed, and
the role played by Mary Nash so
splend!dly has been altered only to the
extent os starting her on on a little
higher plane. purposely put her on
4 considerably lower plane in the first
act in order TO get the contrast by
showing the successive stages by
which she was pulled up and regen-
Grated As the play now stands she Is
practically the same girl in the second
act she. was in the first, on which point
! may say I good naturedly disagree
with Mr.. Mack.
AS to the third man, the aviator,
there Mr. Mack's changes are n source
OF regret to me. AS the character ROW
stands and rs several writer's III New
York papers have observed it is very
blurred. In looking back on the play
! think most every one will agree that
despite Ramsay Wallaoe's art no
very distinctive impression of the
character remains. In my version the
character of the aviator was etched
very clearly. If l may be allowed to
say 1t without seeming egotistical. In
the first and second acts, which archie
OILY two in which he has ever ap-
peared, I think he stood out in quite
told relief. and do not think that
there was any blur to the characterl-
cation. In the first act emphasis was
laid on his daredeviltry and his care
iessness with life and his warm
ileartedness. AS he now stands, con-
Tess cannot quite make him out. He
IS like child who has outgrown his
parents understanding.
"As originally written the tough,
played by Mr.. Meehan, was the son Of
Mrs. MdllOy. Mr.. Mack thought 1t
wiser to sever this relationship. He
was probably right. but in so doing a
big, vital point which was a striking
part OF the theme OF the play was sac
r!Aced Mrs. Mdlloy now Is gener-
Gus, whole hearted somebody. but
really she does not fit into the theme.
When however. in the original YER
sion had her the mother OF the tough
and he returned home in the third act
In his uniform head up you could see
IN her face for the first time In her life
pride, and righteous pride. in her boy.
In the first two acts she considered
lin a pretty worthless skunk. and
big, vital point was lost when the re-
generative influence upon this old
woman through the thought that her
son had made good was eliminated.
I'm other words. not only did have IN
mind the regeneration of the wastrels
and the girl but also the lifting up Of
the commonplace mothers OF the coun-
try who for the first time in their lives
lave been given a chance to exult and