Arizona republican., 1921-01-06
ALAN DALE TELLS WHY HE WROTE PLAY
 FUR NAY ROBSON

Between ourselves. first wanted to write a play for May Robson when ] say her playing those gorgeous, un- fortunate types at tho I.yceum and F Rountinsi.~ ~Isiberty Hallf Bohemia" Tho Conquerors" and goodness knows how many other plays inspired me 10 | imaginary play writing for May Rob | scn and glory. Here was a funny | wouan. not afraid to evoke laughter. Here was an artist. resourceful and ! many sided. used to think up charac- ters for her. They never materialized. I- my daily grind it was impossible to concentrate and my dream failed 10 --ibStsntiats itself. Then one day, summer ago. met May Robson in the country and she said to me-just like that-~YNhy don't you write me a plav-' I looked at her in amazement. | was older. more sophisticated than n~~d 10 be Moreover I had written nlav in which I had been accused of h~inE very naughty indeed--quite un- sustiy. I think. though that is neither hrrc nor there. I told Miss Robson that as she was the pink of propriety, she might not want me, accused of be- ing otherwise. You can write me the ,iav I want" said she. You know me. You know that I simply wouldn't nave a natural child in the second act" That was meant for comedy. Dear
 
 me at my ease--to make me smile No- hoav could ever associate any sex uroblern with this delightfully."- human, dome csucated. artistic personality. l fcit that I could never do her justice. The simple play Is the most difficult play in the world to write. The play of character which she suggested, called for tremendous effort. But she persuaded-and once again, after all these years. I felt inspired. I'll write vou one act" said to her, "and If you nke it I'll continue. If you don't sfop me" "An right" said Miss Rob cor ~Tr be perfectly frank. ] cant -~-ss. sob stuff" I remarked. 'You do the rest Don't want sob stuff, sasd she. Make me funny and I'll dc sf,. rest I'll sneak in the tears Ano ~o "Sobody's Fool" was started. Every sunday, I took my manuscript 10 May pchson's home. and with her to helI me. it took shape She waS Very s..IoIs p.-r, ticuiar-oh. quite task-Ihislre ess rverv word came in for criticism Her eurzestions were wonderful; ne -r-,ed,- exauisite. and her "senso O thcator" uncrring. Ons line m NO t,ssv's Fool" always got laugh, ant all the critics spoke or Alan D1ie .5,s- a-nrsfnr line" I felt very guilty. Ina -i-- wasn't mine at all. It was hers.
 -ss~d to love those Sundays at ne home and she was SO indulgent Sh ~ave me a perfectly free hand an ~~f-T knew I ws restrained Sheswa fse same Mrs. Bixby in real life' tha sne fs in the play. She sat there an knitted as read my script. Every ono fr "a while ehe would say; Make nark onposite that speech, and we w~ h.cl- to its And we went back
 Everything had to be lust so.. sa- aafeiv say that there isn't a m s- .~gobolv's Fool.r that wasn't care sruv- thought out and perhaps ceI so~cd We didn't want a play or pc rnt one of character. You can EeL snM s.rIots" you want-and then some sr me movies. ] aimed at slinpl pl.cl ..l .rs Iirht entertainment and at cen SIt, IT. 7-I,-- May Robson. The play is "
 rsrbsrn. and T confidently leIt " in in L ss-ss saw one performance lI U -of~ rtfIc city Of Patterson, -,, .-s thought May Robson $ "o-- "o--- ., st-. -s sribtIc as and perhaps more '. d~ffr tnan. auythnig J ever saw '.
 me a-d IHccum an. Iintll1 - -.. urt-r Ie saying l .,i- o-a" r- -..'i ,1mt rhat- how came nll...- w ri N--f.,f,. .s FooI fr- N.T ho.7'I..
 r-a r..U. -atu.-.o
 .,s.- .etrssa. It wac May Aohs0n'