The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-07


long had the belief existed in the minds
Of the impresarios that Mr.. Vein, who
has been highly praised as an actor
by those who knew him. had to devote
to teaching the talents which, owing
to the distrust Of the managers, he
was not allowed To exhibit on the stage.
But the word had never been openly
used in reference to him.
Bad Play the only Hoodoo.
or course not even the manager from
the remotest point OF yokeldom would
to-day think Of calling any actor a cause
in the failure of play. lie would no
moro reveal his Hack of acquaintance
with what he would probably call the
game" by such break than he could
be led to say thai this or that player
was responsible for the success OF a
drama On the latter question there is
more divergence Of opinion. We all
know that Miss Laurette Taylor has
much to do with whatever success may
attend the career Of the Manners the
atre. and there is good ground for be-
lieving that the plays in which William
Collier annually appears would not en-
dure through so many weeks without
him. But II is not TO be overlooked that
the help Of their authors Is indispensable
lar players. Even Miss Taylor's rare
and Irresistible talent could not buck up
THE Wooing of Eve" while some OF
the Collier pieces have soon faded from
view
But every manager knows to-day that
the play alone determines the event OF
any theatrical enterprise. IL a manager
risks his last $1,000 on his play which
has no end OF admirers but draws few
customers. there is something the matter
with the play. IL may seem perfect 20
him; Il may DO beautifully acted and II
may present every delight TO the eye.
II may be that times are hard and the
public economical But that does not
prove there is no fault in tho play II
IL had the inevitable quality tho public
would 20 TO see IL at any cost
II classic OF previous generation
fails to attract the public of succeeding
years, II IL the fault Of the play, not the
actors. IL was the merit of such a
drama that IL could entertain one age
II IL it's limitation that Il Is not equal 70
exercising this spell through longer
time Plays age in exact ratio 10 thsir
excellence. "Arms and the Man" is stale
already. but 1.-THE Merchant Of Venice
bears up we'll.
Change I'm Public Taste.
The superstition that this actor or an
other was a hOodoo-and there used 60
be many more than are mentioned here
probably arose from the characteristic
delay on the part OF tho managers in
realizing what change was taking
place in the taste Of the public. Theatre
goers were beginning 20 long for plays
that represented to them something more
than the mere vehicles for the exploita-
tion OF dramatic talent. Managers kept
on looking for new talents to display in
the old frames or In others carefully
modelled after them. Consequently the
unfortunate actors who We're exhibited
In these pieces were blamed for failures
which were IN no respect their fault
They spoke their lines ~ they we're set
down with all the emphasis and grace
they were able 90 command They often
pleased. but the plays did not The
managers had not yet learned TO put tho
responsibility whore i belonged.
Now they recognize the important part
the dramatist must take He is hoodoo.
enf attraction and al the other won
Ssr<T elements that bring the public
IA siss and keep than coming TO soc