The New York herald., 1922-12-03
6AuthOrS and
Their Pursuit

an Author" at the Princess The
ater Luigi Pirandello tells a tale
Of six characters who have been con-
ceived only to have the telling of their
story abandoned by their creator.
They relate their experience with
him; their vain efforts to persuade
him to write the play for which they
were born. They speak Of thsir-tW-
light visits to his study. their wnis-
pered pleading, and their subsequent
search Though the world for an au-
thor who will give them the oppor-
tunity to live the drama which their
author had planned and alb ndoned.
Probably every playwright has had q
similar experience. Every writer has at
some time found a character lurking in
his brain who appealed TO him az dra-
matte material. but for whom he found
it difficult TO write a play. Brock Penn
berton has gained evidence of this in
the notes he has received from several
of the playwrights and authors who
have seen the Pirandello satire. For
example, Arthur Richman says: II
have always wanted to write q play
about girl who under no circumstances
could be made to lie, who is constitu-
tionally incapable of deception. Yet the
ttouoit WIN ttidt Is tnat nave never
been able to think of enough situations
in which any woman would act like
that"
Avery Hopwood's pet character is the
professional censor. This gentleman
has lurked for some time in the Hop
wood brain.
"I'd like to do psychological study
of him." wrote Mr.. Hopwood, with all
his complexes and inhibitions. II may
coin phrase. I'd want to introduce
the worlds masterpieces Of art and
literature as seen through his eyes, with
all the distortions and notifications he
would impose on them-Ve7fus in
mother hubbard, Cleopatra with her
marriage certificate in the bosom OF her
high cut gown; Shakespeare. haraseed
and helpless, chewing all the feathers
off his quill as he furiously deletes all
the naughty words In his plays. It
would be a lark and I'd have a lot of
fun doing it,"
Zoe Atkins admitted that she has at
last done away with the character that
haunted her for years by putting her
into play
opera I've longed to do a play about a
prima donna. The idea obsessed me.
First, wanted to make her an awfully
amusing figure, almost ludicrous--a
Texas woman whose impetuousness was
always leading her into embarrassment,
whose family was horriied at and
ashamed OF her. ! wanted to strive for
the humanity Of the character. L
couldn't find the actress l wanted to
play her. She must be, my prima
donna. as beautiful as Geraldine Farrar
and as human as -Schumann-Heinck But
all the actresses ! saw were beautiful
and unfunny or funny and unbeautiful.
And then l saw Jobyna Rowland, and
the idea took new lease on life. The
result was The Texas Nightingale"
Owen Davis confesses to a~great long
ing to do play about Oliver Cromwell.
I've always thought him one OF the
most vivid and interesting figures in his
tory" says Mr.. Davis I'D like to write
play about the simple. human side of
him. He's the only character that is
taking up much Of my mental horizon
just now " rr
And here is the hitherto suppressed
desire of Samuel Shipman: This
character I've been in search OF is
dramatic critic, but as he's a sort OF
literary Polyphemus I've had great diff
ficulty In finding one to suit my pur-
pose.
He must be person who goes to a
gala premiere In his old clothes. II his
must buy them back for the occasion.
If he happens absent mindedly to strag-
gle into a barber shop and get his hair
cut. on recalling. that he Is going TO an
opening, he must return to the shop,
gather together his clipped hair and
paste IL on again.
HE must carry books In every pocket,
and should his pockets be too small to
contain them he should have no scruples
in ripping them wide open. $50
HE must have a wife ands children.
He must not neglect his offspring. The
main object of his criticism should be
p boost HIS kids. He must love his
Wife but pay no public attention to her
lest one suspect that he is flirting with
a strange woman.
He must criticize only those plays
that he doesn't see.
"As a creator he should be an artist
and as "a critic "a bungler. He should
write at least one bad book on the stage.
He should be a playwright himself
and roast his fellow playwrights so that
they will not be able to compeM with
him. He must also be n producer OF
plays. and to eliminate the possibility
of failure he must share his investment
with his fellow reviewers
'He should suffer from every physical
disability. so that the playwrights, stars
and producers can beat him up with
impunity.
His ultimate aim I'm life should be
to become an A. III. Woods"
Claiming Pollock said: THE charac-
ter of GHchrtst persisted In my brain
for ten years. I thrust him aside only
10 have him return. Now, after putting
him into The Fool and having appa-
rently got rid OF this insistent creature
of mind. imagine my horror to find him
stealing back and saying What happens
TO me next? My story isn't finished
I'm afraid that he's going to be my POT
ash and Perlmutter J."