New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-04

WIN tic duHouHCeHeHt, WHICH mas
been semi officially made. that the
Nobel prize for literature has been
rendered to Jacinto Benavente, the
Spanish author and dramatist, whose
remarkable play "The Passion Flower"
has been one of the current Broadway
successes, the interesting fact is de-
veloped that nearly one-half of the
awards made since the establishment
of this prize have been won by writer's
for the stage.
The prize winners for literature since
the establishment of the institution
in 1901: Sully Prudhomme was the
first winner, and it was not until
1908 that the stage claimed the award.
Bj0rnstjerne Bjornson, the Norwe-
gian dramatist, was the first. His writ
lngs are better known to readers than
to playgoers in the United States, al
though several of his plays have been
produced, notably "The Gauntlet" and
when the Young Vine Blooms" This
latter comedy was used by Emanuel
in English at the Garden Theater. The
following year Jose Echegaray, of
Spain, divided the honors with Fred
crck Mistral. Senior Echcgaray is al
most as we'll known in America as he
is in his own country. Like his con-
temporary, Benavcnte, he is a prolific
writer of plays. His best known plays
in the United States are "Madman or
Saint" "Thc Great Galeoto," "The Son
Of Don Juan" Mariana" and "The
Mailman Divine" "The Great Galeoto'
ranks as one of the greatest plays from
contemporary pens, and besides having
been several times produced in the
United States has been translated and
published in several countries.
Henryk Sienkiewicz, the famous Rus
sian, was the winner the next year,
1905, and his "Quo Vadis" was and re-
mains one of the outstanding produc-
tons of the international stage. When
this story took the country like wild
We. so great was the interest that two
lighthouses on Broadway held competing
companies in the same play. The old
Herald Square and the Broadway Thea
ter were both enjoying the utmost pros
perlty with this spectacular melodrama.
Rudyard Kipling, who was accorded the
honor in 1907, is not, strictly speaking,
dramatist, although one of the most
successful plays done by Forbes Rob-
ertson was "The Light That Failed" on
which Mr.. Kipling elaborated, and
who will deny him the distinction OF
starting on their vampire ways. by his
r..
from "The Vampire" such noted ex-
ponents as Theda Bara, Virginia Pear
son, Katherine Kaelred and others In
deed, the first known Inauguration of
the vampire as an institution occurred
in play for which Kipling furnished
the title, at least. 1t was Porter Emer-
son Brownies "a Fool There Was" in
which Robert billiard was the fool.
Maurice Maetcrinck, to whom the
honor fell in 1911, is one of the best
known playwrights on the native stage
Belgian. he has written for all coun-
tries. His first great success was
and an opera, just as was his "Blue
Bird" Winthrop Ames produced his
"The Betrothal," and Richard C. Hern-
don has scheduled for next season his
Mary Magdalene." "The Burgomaster
OF Belgium" was staged lastvvear at
the Belmont Theater-
Gerhart Hauptmann was the next
winner, 1912. Emanuel Reicher made
famous his "The Weavers," just as T..
II: Sothern brought to public notice
THE Sunken Bell" or the fifty or
more plays from his pen at least a
score have been played in this country
and he is now the foremost dramatst
in Germany
In 1913 Sir Rabindranath Tagore
was accorded this honor. Iden Payne
made the first presentation in this
country of Tagore play. 1t was
"Chitra,' i'll which Mona Limerick. the
Irish actress, appeared. His "The Post
Once" has had several semi-profes-
slonal presentations. 1t will thus be
seen that for three consecutive years
iel'. 1912 and 1913-the stage fur
hshed the literary prize winner. In
VA there was no award. and in 1915
Roman ROLAND, the brilliant French
man. WAS awarded the honor. His PLAYS
are few, but they number at least five
or SIX. none OF which has been done
IN this country. The 1916 and 1917 re-
cipients were not of the stage, and The
next award was the present to the
noted Spanish dramatist, Jacinto Bena.
vente.
Of Senior Benavente, more than any
other save Gerhart Hauptmann. it NAV
be said that the recipient is a
distinct stage representative. Haupt-
mann was not only dramatist, he was
a theater manager and was associated
with Eman r. ReicEer in the establish
ment OF several literary theaters in
Germany and the noted Free Theater.
Benavente is likewise a manager Of
players and theaters. He is an actor,
a manager. a writer and stage en-
thusiast in every branch. Outside Of
his own Spain. where he is rated the
leading dramatst, the United States
has done most to bring him into gem
eral note. A trifing comedy was done
by the Washington Square Players,
with no success, and colorful play,
Bonds Of Interest," was done by the
Theater Guild, with indifferent success
TBS Passion Flower" however, was
Ssosssnt matter. fsvs wss = EisY a.
di@cu!ty was In hAsmoniz!n7 ~ uae.