POETRY TO ORDER.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1295, 25 November 1911, Page 9

POETRY TO ORDER.

The "Standard" has something very interesting about Sir Herbert Tree, who has Ijtuii gossiping in his friendly way about what he is going to do at His Majesty's Theatre. There whs some question of tho postponement of a fairy play by Mr. Alfred Noycs, and then Sir Herbert Tree remarked that he. was "casting about for a great subject for that brilliant young poet to write a drama upon ior His Majesty's." And why not? Why should not managers serve out subjects to the dramatists, or at least give them weighty suggestions? But tho interviewer proceeded to put a question which might havo been an indiscretion with any persouago less masterful and euterpnsing; he wanted to know whether Mr. .Noyes had any experience in writing dramas. "Xo, I think not," replied Sir Herbert Tree, "but I am here, so to speak. You must remember that even Itftton acknowledged his indebtedness to llacready." We trust that Mr. JX'ovcs will have no difficulty in digesting that even Lytton," for he is a fortunate man: nlaywrighting will be delightfully easv tor him. Sir Herbert Tree is to provide tho tremendous subject, and, we dare wager, something of a scenario, so the poet has just to fill u<> with poetry. And with what confidence dramatic poetrv can bo turned out when you know 7 that the actor-manager is there, so to speak! Anv pnrpln patches that turned out to bo not strictly to the point could easily be utilised in the magazines, or they mWit be stored in the nropert.y-room against other occasions. W« begin to perceive how a greit dramatic enterprise is earned out. Like Messrs. Jennf-nn at Belle \ lie, tho manager selects his Siege of Liicknow or Destruction of Sennacherib, or what not. And then he issues ortlers for the very best fireworks, upholstery, poet-whatever may be required for the greatest show on earth. It seems a queer "Oj to do thiims. but great shows mav be produced that way, though we arc not so sure about the great poetrv.—"Manchester Guardian."