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II.

From Théodore de Banville.


My dear friend:

Like all questions, the question of the theater is infinitely more
simple than is imagined. All poetics, all dramatic criticism is
contained in the admirable dictum of Adolphe Dennery: "It is not hard to
succeed in the theater, but it is extremely hard to gain success there
with a fine play."

To see this clearly you must consider two questions which have no
relation to each other:

1. How should one set about composing a dramatic work which shall
succeed and make money?

2. How shall one set about composing a dramatic work which shall be fine
and shall have some hope of survival?

Reply to the first question: Nothing is known about it; for if anything
were known every theater would earn six thousand francs every evening.
Nevertheless, a play has some chance of succeeding and earning money if,