The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-12-18
EXPL AIMING HOW IT ALL
CAME ABOUT

y
course, employed by us IN the
American production Of THE
Swan" only one change being
nlade--the princes exit IN the sec
ond act following the nOVt-famous
kiss being rendered sharper and
more dramatic BY having him
exit stage right instead Of stage
left. narrate this merely to
show how closely we abided by
Molnar's own ideas In the pre-
aentation Of his comedy.
~
On my return to New York
the following autumn / set about
engaging a cast and my real diff
ficultles began. submitted the
play to half dozen Of our lead.
ing actresses and, with the. excep-
ton or Miss Billie Burke, not
one OF them could find the slight,
est merit either In the play or
In the role. When ! left for Eu-
rope last spring u was hopeful
that Miss Burke would play the
part but, on my arrival, j re-
ceived q cable that other arrange
nents would prevent hcr from
doing so.
was on. the eve Of leaving
Paris for Budapest when, quite
by chance, / learned that Madame
Molnar (Sari F'edal1 was in Paris.
launching with her at Ciro's she
told me how anxious Molnar was
to have Eva LIE Gallienne, whom
he had met In Budapest the previ-
Gus simmer, play the title role
Of THE Swan" I told her that
! had already approached Miss
lie Gallienne. but that she could
not see herself In the role.
Madame Molnar's comment was
TRY again-women 80 often
change their mihds!"
Taking her advice, i cabled to
New York but with small hope
OF q satisfactory reply. En- route
to Budapest I remarked to my
wife how greatly ] regretted hav-
ing to tell MoInar that ! would
again have to postpone the pro.
! duction Of his play due to my
not being able to secure suit
able actress. But q delightful
surprise and coincidence awaited
me in Budapest for, upon regis
tering at the ,Dunapalota, / was
handed a cable from my col
league, James Reilly, reading:
Have engaged Eva lie Caffeine
for The Swan" AZ / was TO
dine with. Molnar less than an
hour later nothing could have
given me more pleasure.
AAA
sts A. r. lonly hanL nrnnn fha
months gave the task of pro-
ducing THE Swan" i see my
self somewhat in the light Of q
needless and obstipate rainbow
chaser who might have known
better. In the face Of the plays
rejection by one OF the most
8 eminent managers in New York,
i'm the face of hot advice from
everyone close to me, and in the
face Of the playwright. Molnar's
own attitude in the matter, / had
moved toward production with a
supreme though isolated
confidence that the play was a
great onethough not CONNER
ciaIly.
Perhaps was superstitious
enough to believe that bad luck
would have logged my footsteps
II / had assisted in suppressing
what believe to be a work OF
genius and what has been greeted
by the critics az one. :
That the outcome of my efforts
should also be one of the biggest
financial, winners Of many seasons
Is q matter of almost as great
and constant Rstonishment to my
self as it has been to my friends
and associates. But of all the
rewards that have come since,
none has, been more warmly
satisfying than the following let
ter received from Moinar after
he had heard Of his plays sue.
cess in New York:
BUDAPEST, Oct. 30.
"My Dear Miller:
Permit me to thank you with
al my heart for the kind t4le-
gram that / have 3dst received
concerning The Swan You can
well imagine what great pleasure
experienced in reading your
words full Of friendship and of
Joy. With q little help from the
Almighty you may even witness
at the b0x-0ffice happy result
of your conscientious and artistic
efforts.
''Pray, dear Miller, extend my
greetings to Miss lie Caffeine,
and 70 the other members Of the
company whom / do not know
personally. And to you: warm
thanks for your friendship, for
your work and all good wishes
for your success.
accept the very cordial salu.
tatiOns Of your most devoted