Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-09-05
Fannie DavenpOrs in EnEland.

Fannie DavempOrt in England.
New York Express.I
What was your FIRST experiences, Miss
Davenport"
AT Liverpool | had my first English
experience. AS | was about to leave the
Vessel, | asked a gray.haired inspector
some questions concerning nv trunk.
and cave him my name. he looked IN
at me, pdshed his spectacles further on
his nose, and remarked: o YES. SO
you're Miss Davenport, the American
actress. l have seen FOUR picture often
| found my photographs common all
over the city"
II suppose yeu visited the theater?"
Certainly / did. The first English
theater | visited was the Prince Of
Wales. l saw Hare's court company in
New Men in Old Acres"
What was your impression of Eng
Esh audlences2"
Just this. / sat in the last row of
stalls and behind me was the Dit. | was
~intently watching the play, when a young
man leaned over and freely gave his
opinion of the piece and the performers,
One peculiarly l noticed, and that was
that ladies in stalls and boxes and the
persons in the galleries ate ice-cream and
drank ginger beer freely, and before l
was in London three nights l found my
self doing the same"
What of the London theaters2"
1.-THE Prince of Wales is about as large
as the Fifth venue green.room. It is a
very handsome thester, however, and was
decorated like a toilet-box at Tifany's,
with satin and gold fringe. l saw Lon.
don Assurance Miss Mary Wilton in the
little part of Pert; and then | saw Mr..
and Mrs. Kendall. They are very fine
people. Mrs. Kendall is very handsome,
despite what may be said to the contrary.
The stage fittings were superb, and it
looked like a dolls house. The Gaiety
is most like an American theater in man
agement. No fees are allowed for pro-
grammes, etc. TheH | saw Our Boys
at the Vaudeville. This play has run
over nine hundred nights. At the Ly-
ceum | saw Mr.. Irving in the Lyons
Mail.
What was The most noticeable thing
about those theaters2'
The bar was so near the door that |
couldn't help noticing it,"
About the English audiences2'
u liked them very much, and | think
they would be nice to play to. The au-
dience catches up readily every point"
How did the acting appear, judging
from an American standpoint"
There was no marked difference
Laughter between the acting or accent
IN English or American actors. | no
ticed, however, that both actors and act
resses are very negligent while on the
stage. They talk and laugh, asd even
applaud each others jokes. Such a
breach of discipline would not be per-
mitted for one moment in an American
theater. | could see in every play that
| had ever seen played in America, that
there was a p%erceptible difference, and a
finish that only came after a long and
constant study. | went to visit the the
ters for pleasure, and / didn't come away
dissatisfied, even with New York"
What about the ladies' costumes2'
"Oh, they are ten years behind the
age. Ny heart ached to teach them how
to dress, but when l looked in the glass
and saw that l was wearing the same
blue habit l bought in New York to wear
on s~hipboard, l didn't mind it 80 much.
In fact, the weather is so peculiar that
the people don't feel like dressing"
Will you 60 abroad next season.!
II have had overtures made BIZ Mr.
Mapleson, who will bring out Phone in
New York style, and the arrangements
will be concluded in a fortnight