Variety (August 1925)

n VARIETY LEGITIMATE 1 Wednesday, August 26. 192j HOW TO WRITE A PLAY By J. C. NUGENT Thl8 one, I claim, you MUST get. I have read It over four times and It is ■till good. "Tell us," It says. In Ink, "how to write a play." Why not? The great surgeon, when he has Isolated a gsrai never before toolated, 4oe8 not hug the secret or exploit It for gain. He givAs It te the world. Of course, later they find It's not the germ he Jaoosted tt te b«^ but irhat do you expect for nothing? Humming birds? So, here goes. To write a play, first you take an oyster—— Ko. That's how to make a certain cocktail. I have so numj *^M>wa" Indexed that I get the cards mixed. After all, it is rather silly to ask me how to write a play wh«n tt la so •asy to find out at the Lambs Club. Or, If you don't belong, ask any button pnsher In any produear's •ffice. And there are always aitors who will slip you the dop*. "Tha Brains of the Offics" The producer's assistant is one of the best bets. He Is usually "the brains of the office." At least, so say those whom ha "always m««" when they come in. He has to be the brains because his employer la usually playluff yoU •t some night club. The brains tfeUs you, as • couple of starters, that you must "9*t the ■ympathies straight," and "You have to have someone to root for!" "Let's root for income tax reduction," you say, brilliantly. "No. They don't understand that." "But everyone pays it?" "That's where you're wrong," be says reprovingly, "and they don't like to hear it mentioned." No Good Plays of tha Stag* >^ From him and the other sources stated you learn that there are a lot of things "they" do not understand. Plays of capital and labor, for in- stance. You mention "The Lost Paradise," '"The Long Strike," etc., and find that "That's different." Plays of the stage? Oh, Qod! How no good they are. "Hamlet" introduced some players, It la true. And there was "David Oarrick" and "Deburau". But thac also was dif- ferent. A farm pI&yT A Times Square play? A subway playT No! "They" wouldn't "get It" And don't forgot tbe "sympathies." "Rain" had no sympathies, but that was a "fluke." A college play? I should say not! Of course, "The Poor Nut" was "an accident." And even farce must be "very, very convincing." What's convincing? Who knows? But It must be that. Of course, there la "The Qorllla"—^but •h. hell! The Riflht "Formula" From all of them you gradually arrive at a "formula." It takea aome time, as they contradict each other so consistently. But yoa get It eventually. If yoii are In a hurry you buy a "Technique of the Drama" and get It from that. That's where they got it. Only CAch of tham akipped some. Those who skipped most advised you best. The trouble Is to get the right formula. There are so many. So many hundreds. A play may succeed in spite of any of them. Here's a (ood one. It's a favorite, and a play that can stand It haa a chance. Decide on a time, place and characters. Decide on the central char- acter. Make It his story. Make him something. Say a prohibitionist. Then h« "parsonlflaa" the "theme." Tou must have an opposite. Personify the opposite. Liquor. Aha! the daughter of the brewer! That insures "conflict." Does he stick to his principles and pinch the girl's father, or yield to his love, become mayor of the town and split the graft with the father? It matters not so long aa the action Is consistent with tha "condition" and the "cause for the acUon." If you don't believe It. look In tha book again. There are books on golf, also. And "short story writers'" manuals. Any of these will quickly change an inoffensive person Into a eharm- Ing conversationalist. Dog-Kicking Villain And don't forget the sympathies. And don't be "obvious." Ton must make them like the villain at first. Have him give a nice book to the starving kid in act one Just to fool the wise ones out In front, but before act second la over don't forget to have him kick a dog. Having written your play, don't forget to read It to people, but ke«p your head. Look out for the actor who sees naore In It than you do. Especially "symbolism." Tou don't have much fun, even If auccesaful, after you become profound. Who Knows HowT That goes for the author personally, but not always tor the play. When a play succeeds it usually IS because of something In It the author did not suspect, nor anyone else, until it lands. Then they all knew It. "Then you don't really know anythlnk about "how to write playaT " No. And I don't know anyone who does. And I don't believe anyone who says he does. And I pity anyone who thinks he does. All I know is that there Is a law of averages. Thai If you try hard •nough and live long enough you may strike something that you feel ▼ery much and enjoy very much while you are writing it, and that that Is your chief reward. But If H happens to be alive and you koep on living, you're Just lucky. IMPROVED CANADA CONDITIONS CLARENCE NORDSTROM Tenor of "Zisgfeld Follies" New Amsterdam Theatre, New York City. A pupil of Arthur Van Der fjnde. Studio, 4S W. 69th St., N. Y. C. GUILD PLAY FOR LONDON *They Knew What They Wanted" Going Abroad With Lord and Carillo. "They Knew What They Wanted" irlll be presented In London next February. The cast will hold intact, Pauline Lord and Leo Carillo being featured. The play was passed by the British censor In script form, Theresa Helburn going abroad for PARK, BOSTON, GETS "DUTT" The Park, Boston, will try once More as a legit house this year and Will open with "Duty," a play beinK put on by KIrkwood and Percival, A new firm in which James Kirk- Wood, the actor, Is interested. Lust year the Park was remodeled and opened with "Carnival," and then took other booklngo. but flii- lahcd the year out with ph tufs. The hnu.so boIonRS to the Ix>tt;i Crabtree estate and is booked by the Brianger office. that purpose early this aummer. It will be the first play wherein the Guild will be Interested in the foreign presentation. The road rights for this country are expected to be turned over to another manager as heretofore. "They" will eontlnue at the Klaw until the first of the year according to present plana, the Qulld also having control «< the house this season. BLANCHE BATES CLOSES *Mra. Partridg-" Quits in U A., Jumping Direct to N. Y. Los Angeles, Aug. 2S. Blanche Bates closed her tour In "Mrs. Partridge Presents" after two weeks at the Biltmore and left for New York. Business for the company has been very poor alon^ the Coast. It was decided rather than play the time booked on the way EJast It would he more profitable to close here and Jump right to New York. "Jitney Players'* Arrested For Advertising Bill Providence, R. L, Aug. K. The "Jitney Players," a sup- posedly philanthropic group of col- lege men entertaining some of the best known aummer colonists at Narragansett Pier and Newport last week, came to grief Friday when arrested In » New London, Conn., following the complaint «f a Newport newspaper that they had left town without paying an adver- tising bin of $12.7&. Wednesday evening the Players presented an outdoor performance on the lawn of the estate of Mrs. R. T. Wilson, Newport. According to the advertisements at least part of the proceeds were to be given to the Newport HospltaL The hos- pital treasurer, T. B. Congdon, stated that he had not received any part of the recelpta and, furthermore, had not even heard from the troupe. The playa, it la atated, were well attended. Officials of the newspaper claim that another Newport newspaper collected an advertising bill from the Players when they were on the dock and about to depart for Nar- ragansett Pier. The next appearance of the col- legians took place on the grounds of "The Caatle," aummer home of Mr. and Mra. I. P. Hazard, Narra- gansett Pier, Thursday night Aa in the Newport Instance the four short plays were well presented and a large audience, chiefly composed of summer reeldenta. attended. The playera travel In an especi- ally designed automobile possess- ing a stage. 09 which outdoor per- formances may b« given. Tickets sell for IS plus war tax. One of the prominent actora In tha cast Is said to be T. D. Tuttle, vice-president of the Yale Dramatic Association in 1924. Cniickshank and Eppstein Promoted by Shuberts Two executive appointments made by the Shuberts in out of town berths concern Frank Cruickshank and Louis Eppstein. The latter, previously company manager with Al Jolson attractions, will be the general manager for the firm tn Boston. With the removal of Ar- thur Sheldon from that position last winter tha post was but tem- porarily filled. Sheldon la now man- ager of the 44tb Btreet, Moe Wise going to the road. Eppstein was back with "The Student Prince" at Atlantic City until last w6ek. Eppstein will take over the gen- eral direction of the Shubert Cir- cuit in the middle west, with head- quarters in Buffalo. He will super- vise the houses In New York state, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and St. Lioula. Texas Guinan's Gang In Lopez Revue Texaa Quinan and her Gang are slated to appear in the Vincent Lo- pez revue which will feature an In- timate cafe atmosphere with Texas mingling with the audience and her Qang offlolatlng likewise. Lopez Is also planning an after- theatre cafe adjunct In connection with the revue. William Morris will be associated In the ventures. The tentative title for the show la "Lopez Speaking—In Something Unique." Toronto, Aug. 22. By the end of the season now be- ginning Canada should b« on a firmer basis theatrically than for years. Since last season, when con- ditions were admittedly bad, there has been an almost complete reor- ganization, still in progress. The first public Intimation of the change came in March last when It became knowh that Canadian Famous Players might enter the legitimate field, at least to the ex- tent of controlling theatres playing road attractions. In May a deal was concluded aa a result of which Famous Players took over the houses owned by THlns-Canada Theatres. This was followed by the formation of Trans- Canada Bookings, Limited, with Lawrence Solman of Toronto as president and the announcement that negotiations were under way which would result in much closer relations between England and Canada and the organization of a strong coast-to-coast string of theatres, all of which would be booked by the one management. By summer, the central portion of the Dominion had been complete- ly covered and Trans-Canada book- ings now control booking rights in SO theatres. Including Montreal and Toronto. The western provinces are still in process of organization and the Trans-Canada string may not be finally completed till next aeason though shows have already been booked through to the Pacific Coast for this fall and winter. As far as the maritime provinces are concerned, they are not con- sidered good road show territory and no attempt will be made, for the present at least, to play attractions regularly through the extreme east- em portions of the country. A few English companies on their way In may open In Halifax, but Quebec, Sherbrooke or Montreal will be the usual starting point. Little Theatres Growing Aa far aa native drama Is con- cerned, there Is little or none of it outside the little theatre groups which are growing larger and healthier with each succeeding sea- son. All-Canadian productions of any account total two, both all-male re- vues. They blossomed originally not in Canada, but in France as en- tertainment groups behind the lines with the Canadian troops. In post-war years instead of grad- ually disintegrating and dying away as aeemed natural they grew strong- er due to the natural abilities of their casts and the shrewedness of their managements. Touring through Canada in the paat always has had one disadvaj tA.ge. A company going tlir..iii;h) the coast must either douMe ban over the s.-ime territory on it.s ^ turn or play through U. S. A., an n tcrnative not usually feasible. A new system goes into effect th season which, it is hoped, will doi great deal towards eliminating tl| box olfico difficulties which Xk problem causes. Companies will go went with oh show, then lay-off for a short perl«j and return with an entirely nn play. This will be ImpraoticaU with large musical shows but Im majority of cases it can be workd Leans Toward English The Canadian theatregoer haa ^ natural leaning toward Rnpllsh prj. ductlons and the new Trans-Cana* organization will import more Rrit. ish shows thah has been done In tli past. N. L. Nathanson. of Famous Plaj ers, has returned from a thre« months' European trip which r« suited in tentative arranReinenl for a number of English playn. Sir John Martin Harvey is book* to open in Sherbrooke, Que., Dec. 1; Also the two Canadian rcvua Plunkett's and the Originals and tli Cameron Mathews EnRlish Player will play "The Dover Uoad" on th western trip and then come eat again with "Too Many Husbands,' The Charles Hampton British Play, ers with G. P. Huntley, will pUj "Little Miss Bluebird" on the waj out and come in with another pla|.: Some American Shows American shows booked throutf Trans-Canada will include "Uom Marie," "Student Prince," anothi "Blossom Time," "My Girl," «« Arllss in "Old English," Wa;k( Whiteside, Wm. Faversham, "Whll Cargo," and inevitable "Abie's Irii Rose." The net result of all the organization will be to greatly mm plify the process of covering Can ada and prevent, in some measure aimless theatrical wanderinn through the wide open spaces. will, ^f course, put a great percent age of the worthwhile bookli rights of the whole country in th control of one concern and whi th© effect of this will be remains be discovered. The previous attempt at the fa mation of a Trans-Canada chal failed, not because imported Engil* productions did not draw, for the drew tremendously, but because th operating circuit loaded itself with a collection of ancient house In addition to all of these ai rangements and rearrangement there are advance reports from parts of the Dominion which Indi cate much better conditions and highly optimistic outlook. HOWARD HIGGIN HIUGIN has come Into directorial li""T>'"f,' his credit to date—"IN TlilO NAMK OK I'O* ou.s Playefs-La.sky in Hollywood—he has a " •_ . 11 . a .1 _..ii-iL^Pr I Although HOWARD HIQGIN with Just one picture to ... which he made for Famou.^ ^ ..i,c..T-*^a.^i», ••> »i^,..,„«»/»^ ..^ record of notable achievements as art director, production maiKiger co-director, culminating in two ye^rs of sensational success as a «<!'" writer for some of the biggest*names In tho business. At preseni. H'PI Is in New York, directing "INVISIBLE WOUNDS," the first of ft sprics^ will make for Robert T. Kane for.First National release.