The sun., 1919-09-07
How Superstition Affects
The Naming of Plays
By HAROLD SETON.

character as the title. "Mr. George,s
Jenny" Pete" beethoven
"Chantecler," "Sire." DisraeIi.s
Drake" Joseph and HIS Brethren.
and David Copperfeld."
Edward r. Rose had already estab-
lished a precedent with similar titles,
including Captain Paul." David
Harum," Richard Carvel," Janice
Meredith" "Eben Holden" alice of
Old Vincennes," Fighting Bob
John Henry" and Brother Jacques.-
Haddon Chambers also found favor
with titles indicating the chief char
acter Of the play, Captain Swift.s
The 1dler," The Honorable Her
bert" "The Old Lady" "John-a-
Dreams" and "Sir Anthony"
George NJ. Cohan gained fame and
fortune through number of pieces. in
which he described himself In the title
THE Governors Son." Little john
ny Jones'" George Washington, Jr.,s
THE Yankee Prince" "Get- Rich-Ouick
Wallingford," The Little Millionaire
broadway Jones" and "A Princd
There Was" -.-
w. Somerset Vaughan adhered I'd
titles containing the name Of the prSn@
cipal personage--Mlle. Tampa" Lady
Frederick" Jack Straw" Mrs, Dots
Penelope" Smith" and "Grace."
Stephen Phillips specialized in titles
containing the name OF some illustri-
Gus individual trcHerod," "Paolo and
Francesca" Ulysses. Nero" and
Faust" %,
Philip MoeAer, the young American
dramatist, seems to be following
stephen Phillips's example, for he has
already produced George Sand and
"Mofiere" f-.H" ..'' '.'7~
Clyde Fitch wrote all sorts OF plays
with all sorts OF titles, but several Of
these pieces are named after celebii-
ties, Beau Brummell." Nathan Hale"
Barbara Frietchie" and Major
Andre"
Tom Robertson was highly success-
full with plays In which the title con-
sisted of single word-"Society,-
Ours" Caste" "Play," School" and
m. p" inspired other dramatists to
follow with "Mammon," Gold"
Wealth" Waste" DIPLOMACY"
"Aristocracy," Saratoga" Newport"
Racing" Drink" CHARITY Com
fusion Peril" Impulse" Freedom"
and To-day"
Theodore Kremer prospercd exceed.
ingly with melodramas bearing sensa-
tional titles-"Slaves Of the Orient"
The Fatal Wedding" "The Woman
Of Fire." "A Race for Life" "A Des-
perate Chance" Fast Life In New
York" queen of the Convicts," king
of the Bigamists," Secret Service
Sam" "The Outlaws Christmas"
Fallen by the Wayside," Bertha the
Sewing Machine Girl" NELLY the
Beautiful Cloak Model" and "The Mill
ionaire and the Policeman's Wife"
Augustus Thomas inaugurated the
novel idea of indicating geographical
locations in his plays-"Alabama."
Colonel Carter OF Gainesville" "In
Mzzoura,". THE Capitol" "The Hoo
sier Doctor" Arizona" Colorado"
THE Earl Of Pawtucket" and The
Member From Ozark"
Dion Boucicault created a Juror
with his Irish plays 1.-THE Shaugraun,"
THE Colleen Bawn" and "Arrah-na-
Pogue."
Players naturally llke to enact the
title role Of a production. Henry nv
ing appeared as Richclieu. Charles J.,
Werner, Eugene Ardm. Beckett, Don
QUirote. The Vicar Of Wakefield,
Faust, Peter the Great, King Arthur,
RobeSpierrc and Dante.
Richard Mansfield acted In "Dr.
Jekyll and Mr.. Hyde" Beau Brum-
NELL" "Cyrano de Bergerac," Men
Geur Beaucaire," Ivan tho Terrible"
Don Carlos and peer Gynt."
George Arliss has been featured in
''The Devil" "Disraen." "Psganini"
and Hamilton"
Leo Ditrichstein has starred in The
Great Lover" THE King" The
Matinee Hero and "The Marquis de
Priola."
Sarah Bernhardt has portrayed
Ph'drd Lc Spin.r, zdire, AdricnHe Le-
coHprcur. Frou Frau. Jean Marie,
Fedora, Cleopatra. Thcdora. Lena, La
TOsca, Jeanne d'Arc, Pauline Bldnch-
ard, Leah, Gismondd. TseDI, Madame
y, L'Aiglon and La Refine Elizabeth.
Lillian Russell has appeared as La
Ci0ale. La TsiOGne. La Belle Helene.
Girofl6-GtroflG. The Little Duke, Tho
Grand Duchess, The Princess OF Moo
tine. The Queen Of BTiIltnnts, and An
American Beauty Such titles ought
to have been sufficiently flatterine.
even for famous prima DONNA
William W Crane gained popularity
IN American plays with american
titles. He appeared rs the Senator,
INC American Minister, Byo:hcr John,
The GorerHOr Of kentucky. Ills Honor
the Mayor. The American Lord. and
L. s. Minister BGdloc.
William Collier succeeded as
comedian and then turned dramatist,
acting in his own plays, which bore
colloquial caption
an Bo Hanged II l Do" Take ny
Advice" and Never Say Die.'