Show M U M 1 M M M M M M M t. M M M t I M M M M f M M M M M M M MI I FEW PLAYS WITH K TWO STAR ROLES i J J T T BY Y NAT C. C GOODWIN I HAVE BEEN asked aked whether it is difficult difficult dif dlf dif dif- for two players who wish to appear appear appear ap ap- ap- ap pear In the same play play to find a drama or comedy comey containing two roles of equal eual importance or as they are frequently called caled star roles Since my wife Maxine Maine Elliott Elot and myself myself myself my my- self have been playing together the greatest obstacle we have encountered has been finding either comedies or dra dra drama maa mas ma in which we could both appear to equal advantage There never has lias been ben a period In the history of the stage stae when there was such sucha a demand for original plays as a at present present present pres pres- ent and the author who can create a comedy comey or drama that meets meet the requirements require require- meats ments mets of the theatre-going theatre public will wJ win Instant recognition as a well wel as fame and a fortune Doth Both my wife and myself read scores score rea of manuscripts in the course of a year in itt inan an endeavor to o pick from the mass s plays f in which I we can i both appear f Playwrights Playwrights Play Play- wrights known Itow and ad unknown unknown send In everything from light comedy to heavy tragedy and yet it 1 Is seldom we find anything we can ca use MORE PLAYS are sent us s by English i tJ than t by American a ariu riu authors In I England Eagland there to be mania seems ses a a play writing play mania When the manuscripts manuscript come in Mrs Goodwin usually goes over them first By reading the first act carefully it can ca be easily told by an a experienced person peron whether there Is anything to the play If I this thi gives promise the succeeding acts are gone over with wih equal eua care cre Generally T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T TT T T TT T the reading ea ends with the first curtain When e merit mert ft Is found in rte a manuscript s r it t ri is turned ture over to so me and If ir in my judgment judg judg- meat ment there re is the play I lay it l iO JJ away tr for further r consideration I Then we read it i together In this way much time is taken up by y work that yields very little in the course of a year yer There seems to be a prevailing Idea among young writers rs that t their h manuscripts manu n scripts are ns slighted Tt This 11 I Is not t T so at t least leat as a far as a Mrs Goodwin and ad myself are concerned Every play that is sent ent to us is carefully looked over for no one can tell tel when something original will be wi found AMONG ALL the manuscripts from unknown authors author cI I have read I have found Just one ole that Justified production Last Lat summer while In England Egland Forbes Robertson my law brother called caled my attention to a m manuscript that had been submitted to him by an English woman Margaret Young I was told that the Play The Edge of the Storm Stor 1 con con- cn- cn tamed some good points I looked looke It over The tr first t tI act was surprisingly good By the time I I had finished i the play 10 I had 1 de decided decided de- de that I had discovered an authoress of genius and ancl I bought the American America rights i r 3 Mr Robertson purchased purchase the rights for England and the play will be produced in both countries before wi long I found that this woman had been industriously industriously in in- at work for nine years and f twenty during I t that and t t thirty period fil l plays had J written turning between out Wi two ad and three an and sometimes four a year These had been sent to managers and actors act act- mangels at- at ors all over the kingdom and until she sent out The Edge of f the Storm all had been returned She aI work simply kept at I |