PROFITS OF PLAYS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3078, 24 December 1908, Page 4

PROFITS OF PLAYS.

The hard times in the Old Country do not seem to be having much effect on the theatres, in London at any rate. A writer in "Chambers" says that "at a time when every man you meet is complaining about the hard times, the severity with which he has to limit his personal expenditure, there is more money for the theatres than ever there was, and playwrights and managers who can offer to the public something really good pre sure of a handsome reward." A moderately successful play is' worth about £IO,OOO to its author; a brilliantly successful one will make him richer than any of the masters of English literature. Mr Bame is credited with having made £IOO,OOO by his plays. "Sweet Lavender" earned £40,000 for Mr Pinero, and £60,000 for Mr Edward Terry, its producer; "The Private Secretary," £140,000 for Mr Penley; "Pygrrialion and

Galatea," £50,000 for Sir W. S. Gilbert. "Kip Van Winkle" is supposed to have made a profit of over £1,000,000, and "Charley's Aunt" £500,000. It has been estimated that the receipts for "The Silver King" have amounted to £6,000,000! A year ago it was estimated that "The Merry Widow" had earned £60,000 in royalties to the composer, £40,000 for the librettists, and made £70,000 profit for the publisher of the score.