THE LAST STRAW

New Zealand Tablet, 1 May 1913, Page 62

THE LAST STRAW

At a recent banquet David Belasco was being congratulated on the success of his play, ' The Governor's Lady,' to which he responded: Writing plays is risky business. Past triumphs don't cqunt. He who has written 20 superb pieces is just as likely to be damned on his 21st piece as any tyro. For instance: * A playwright of my acquaintance sat in the front row on a first night of a new piece of his own. The

play was a complete.failure. As my friend sat, pale ana sad, amid tne hisses, a woman sitting behind niny leaning forward and said: 4^." ■ -.•■:. "Excuseme, sir but, knowing you to bathe -aul&araff of this play, I took the liberty, at the beginning of '' the performance, of snipping off a lock of your hair. " Allow me to return it to you.".'