The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-02-09
HISTORY Of FIRST
AMERICAN PLAY
Story of The Contrast, by
Brattleboro Man,
Told Anew
GIVEN PLACE IN
IMPORTANT WORK
Arthur Hornblow Publishes Best His
tory of Theatre in America Ever
Undertaken-The Contrast, by Royal
Tyler, Presented Here.

|
Undertaken-The Contrast, by Royal
Tyler, Presented Here.
A History of the Theatre in America.
by Arthur Hornblow, for 10 wears editor
OF the Theatre Magazine, and which
has Just been published, is the most
important work having to do with Amer
lean stage-lore yet published Like all.
or practically all, works of historical I
Importance the town of Brattleboro finds
place in its pages and am account is |
given of The Contrast, the first play
by an American on an American topic |
To be presented ON an American stage.
The last time that this play was pre-
scented, so far as known. was in the ia
Eilion at Island Park m Brattleboro.
during the magnificent pageant which
was presented there several wears ago
by large cast of local people A num-
Der Of Brattiehoro amateurs were in the
east of The Contrast, and it was sue
cessfuily produced on temporaryi stage
erected in the dance hall and much en-
joyed by an audience which taxed the
capacity of the ''theater."
IIornblow's history is in two volumes
and while it is published at price which
! puts it out of the reach of the average
reader and the majority Of public IL
| braries it is meeting with tremendous
sale and some book shops report that
/ they have not been able to fill their or
! ders That it viii take a place as an
! authority on matters theatrical in Amer
lea is already acknowledged BY students
OF the drama and the theater and in pub
fishing the work Mr. Hornblow has
| placed himself at the head Of historical
] writers ON this topic in this country
4 Accompanying the matter having to do
! with The Contrast is picture OF
Royal Tyler, who was once a resident
of Brattleboro and at one time was
chief Justice Of the Vermont Supreme
court. 1t was because the author once
lived here that his play was presented
during the week Of the pageant
The year 1887 was a particularly in
terosting one for the American com
pany,' SAYS Mr. Hornblows work, per
!. formances being given in Philadelphia
notwithstanding the edict against play
acting, and also in New York, Baltimore
and Annapolis.
The company began in Philadelphia
with brief preliminary season of tw,
weeks at the Southwark theater the oh
i lect of the managers being, no doubt
TO see how far they could go. The play
ers opened January -, the entertain
4 ment being announced as "a concert O
music and lectures to be concluded b,
the 'Pantomimical Finale called Robin
d son Crusoc
From Philadelphia the company pro
q ceedcd to the John Street Theater. Ney
York. opening there on February II wit
& Nanbrugh's Provoked Husband an
q Miss in Her Teens
Il The principal event Of the seaso
Il was the successful production on Apr
q III Of The Contrast a comedy by Roy
B all Tyler, the first play by an America
q author on an American subject to b
q produced on the American stage. Tn
il cast was as follows: jonathan. Nj
Is Wignell Colonel Manly. Mr. Hallam
8 Jessamy, Mr. Biddle; Dimple, Mr.. Harr
B er; Van Rough, Mr. Morris. Servant NJ
z Lake. Charlotte Mrs. Morris; Mari;
8 Mrs. Harper; Letitia, Mrs. Williamson
3 Jenny, Miss luke.
& "Royal Tyler, the first American pla,
q wright to gain recognition. was horn
ID Boston in 1913, and graduated from Hal
81 ward in IS As a student he had show
q considerable literary ability in witty a
q ticles and sprightly verse Later /
s fought in the Revolution. attaining IL
= rank Of major While visiting New Yor
q he happened to zee performance of IT
& School for Scandal and was mmediat,
9 ~ fred with the ambition to write sim
n lar comedy on American manners. TT
"a Contrast was the result, the play takir
81 It's title from the contrast OF charact,
8 between the corrupt and frivolous wor
n of fashion and the sturdier. mo-
. vigorous tyre of American manhoo
ID Apart from the novelty of its theme al
e the direct appeal it made as a nati7
3 product, the piece had no great mer
n and today it IS unknown outside Il
q library. 1t has practically no plot al
m Is lacking both in situation and i
q cident, the action consisting mainly
"a conversations between two persons. r.
u success Of the piece came largely fro
q the fact that the character of Jonatha
b introduced for the first time the sta
81 Yankee, a low comedy role in viii
d Wienell made the hit of his career
n The play was produced in New Yo
81 five times in quick succession, an unu
ual occurrence in those days, but aft
" its first season was never revived ;
b though acted and favorably received
II Philadelphia and Maryland Later,
q thousand copies of the play We're print
by subscription, George Washington a
others of the most notable people in t
d county sending in their names. 7
3 comedy was reprinted by the Dunl
3 society in 1887, the work being c
bellished by a eopperplate engraving
81 Maverick Of the last scene of the |;
"A act from a drawing by Dunlap.
Another play by Major Tyler. ia
called May Day was presented by
Mignall for his benefit. Nav Is L