FORTUNE FROM PLAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21130, 12 March 1932, Page 9 (Supplement)

FORTUNE FROM PLAY.

YOUNG WRITER'S SUCCESS. OUTCOME OF HOLIDAY. M iss Dodie Smith is likely to make from £20,000 to £25,000 from her first play, " Autumn Crocus," which ended its run at .the Lyric Theatre, London, on January 23. Despite her good fortune, Miss Smith is still going nliout her joh as a buyer in the stores of Ileal and Son, Tottenham Court Road. Written as the outcome of a holiday visit to the Tyrol, the play was staged by Mr. Basil Dean early last April, and so hit the public fancy that by the end of the run it will have been seen by over 400,000 people. The gross takings nl (lie Lyric will amount to about £IOO,OOO. By the time the picture rights (retained by Mr. Dean till the American production of the piece) have been disposed of, it is estimated that the author will clear something like £20,000 to £25,000. Nor does this end the tale. There is a tour out in the provinces; Miss Fay Coinpton will head nnother that opens at the end of the month ; and it is possible that there may be a third—all running simultaneously. Besides the American presentation (in which Mr. Lederer will appear) the piece is being played in Africa with great success, and will soon be produced in Australia. The rights have been sold for Scandinavia and Central Europe, and the play has already been done in Budapest. Negotiations are also now proceeding for production in France and Germany, Mr. Dean has an option on two more plays from Miss Smith (whose nom de theatre is " 0. L. Anthony "), and sho is now writing one Other plays which in recent years have brought fortunes to their authors and producers are Mr. Noel Coward's " Bitter Sweet. Box office takings in London alone £385,000. Mr. Rudolf Besiei's "The Barretts of Wimpole Street."—Takings up to the end of September in England and America over £200,000. Mr. R. C. Sherrlff's '* Journey's End." —Author's profits about £3 a word.