How Sardou Writes

Sardou'swayofworking is as follows: The moment an idea has occurred to Mm he puts it down, and all the varlous notss, documenta, and particulars which t.ave to do with this idea are joined together, forming a sort of dossier. When the idea is crystallized into dramatic shape Sardou writes a scenario of a few pages, giving the skeleton, as it were, of the whole play. Then he puts the work aside. All his various schemes are treated in the same way. He has at the present day from seventy to eighty dossiers in his drawers, out of which eight or ten plays will come. So, when he has to write a drama or comedy, he only chooses. For instance "Tneodora" was written fifteen years after it originated in the author's mind. As soon as Sardou's choice is made he reads over all theaccompanying notes and documents which pertain to that play, and then he begins to write the drama or comedy, act by act, scène by scène, as they come into his mind. When he has done this preliminary work, he rewrites the piece on large white quarto paper. The play is then reduced and condensed. It is this second manuscript which is given to the copyist, to whom is intrusted the care of putting it in shape. All this writing is ordinarily done at Marly. Sardou is not disturbed there as he is in Paris.