New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-07-18
Easiest Ways in Art and Letters By Jane, l. Ford

mere's Fan" was produced b. yr
Palmer 20 a chorus Of critical apprsuL
The piece was sttentlyely watched b.
one Of the most experienced thssirssl
men Of THAT day, one too wise 10 rss-
tiers Of the stage 20 be deceived y
either the applause and Laughter Of a.
audience or the praise Of tie sea-
mentators, and his summing " q he
piece was rs follows; III had s.ass.
managed that play ] would have cot
out about half Of those spirsna'
But" reioined his companion. 'hsJ
are such awfully good epigrsm.. Di4nt
you notice how the audience lssshss Of
every one OF them
That's the trouble with them" re
wise one made answer. They're alto
gether too good-in fact, they're /"
witty that they divert attention frOa
the drama itself and the auditor, lose
their interest in the thread % the sserT
waiting for another joke 10 eom' alors
/ don't believe in any play Of that
school," His judgment proved eorrsel
for that much-talked-of and wsll-id'
vertised play was not successful II
this country.
The writing OF dialogue usually salls'
brilliant" is far easier than the oalis'
ing Of one scene on another that nsk"
the interest cumulative. I. is a 'if
not infreouently accomplished BY pay
wrights who were never known 70 "9
spontaneously witty things, for 'aa
have the great advantage Of being a''
to write the augh-prOvoking line hr''
and then contrive one that will drss"
out.
There are easy trails for the player
as we'll as the playwright, for with wv
average American audience "psrsonh
ity" ranks far above histrionie art NV
player endowed with this gift can s'0''
the dreary work Of learning 10 ehsl'
ciate the English language ei'tinep'
70 read lines intelligently and h'"'
with equal intelligence and interest," "
what is said 70 him. The path Of w
subordinate actor is not usually mac
easy by the star; but once q star w
player may take his ease, knowing %.
manager. producer, playwright 'a'
press agent are sitting up nights ce',.
ing schemes by which he will oensAS
The result Of this collaboration Is ni.
ly 70 be found In q scene Of the ''n
known professionally as "setor-prooA
by which Is meant one in which nop's''
err Of experience and Of even rsdioe'
gifts can go completely astray' SesA~
Of this sort are common enough now
days and more than one transient rev
tstion has been built on them. Bun -
have only 20 consider those players VI"
have established themselves nrm'! =
popular favor through long yesn :"
service 70 realize how much more ~
during Is the renown due TO esrefal sh'
persistent study Of the art OF se''ss
There are many easier ways Tor ".
writers of criticism and essays ~.
they have the advantage Of sddres"ps
large adult public who have ''i' ~ y.
Gently begun TO read. and are e.
content with . verbose rehssh OF Wa.
the worlds thinkers have been sas''s
for centuries. In the matter OF ss''''
relating to the theater l have been ="
prised TO see how many feeble rspa".
tions have been made by articles y
which decorative scenery. stage lisn''s.
and the upholstery Of plays are sag,
discussed. All Of these wojee" :.
remote from the drama and tfs a'"-
thereof, to discuss which requirS ~. ~,
knowledge. The scenes and the lisn'
bear tAe same relation to the dram
that the frame does TO the picture az
one Of these days q picture frame w
provide an easier way for an ar sf''''