" I possessed
no particular reputation as a dramatic writer--in fact, the
Messrs. Selwyn--Archie and Edgar--were the only ones who took
me seriously, and thought me a possibility. Mr. Dillingham was
not particularly impressed with the piece, because he thought
it was much too broad in theme, and he did not like the idea
of slapping the managerial knuckles of the theatre. Further,
the obvious inference in "The Easiest Way," that _Laura_ was
kept out of work in order to be compelled to yield herself to
_Brockton_, was a point which did not appeal to him. However,
we had a working agreement with him, and later, Mr. Archie
Selwyn, in discussing the story of the play with Mr. David
Belasco, aroused his interest. The latter saw "Paid in Full"
and "The Wolf," and so he sent for me, with the result that
"The Easiest Way" was first produced in Hartford, Conn., on
December 31, 1908. Since its New York production, it has been
presented in nearly every country of the world. It has not
always met with commercial success, but it has always been
regarded as a play of representative importance.
William Winter was one of the bitterest enemies of "The Easiest Way."
He placed it with "Zaza" and Brieux's "Three Daughters of M. Dupont."
As an opposite extreme view, we give the opinion of Mr. Walter Eaton,
written in 1909, concerning the play: "It places Mr.
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