The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1878-10-26
How Charlotte Cushman Came to
Play "Naney Sykes"
Anne Brewster in Boston Advertiser.

Anne brewster IN bOStou AufSltAsOis
During our intimacy she often related
to me incidents of her artistic career,
and most Interesting were her recitals,
for she was as dramatic off the stage as
on. Her stage life had begun early, and
had been hard and painful one, with
much IL contend against-not only pow
erty, but envy and i'll will; she was a
brave, vigorous woman, resolufe ana
prompt, and these qualities gain what
genius often misses. One Of her most
interesting recitals- was how she created
Nancy Sykes" l forget the date, but
it must have been some time before
knew her, as Nancy " was then one OF
her leading roles. Miss Cushman and
her sister were stock actresses on Rev
York stage at the time. For some I'M
lucky reason she had gained the ill-will
of her manager. One day the casts came
from the theater while she was out.
Miss Susan Cushman opened the paper
and found among other work, an order
for her sister to act CLANCY Sykes" in
"Oliver Twist" tie following week. II
was an unimportant character, and al
ways given to actresses Of little or no
position in the company. Charlotte
will be furious" was the remark OF the
mother and sister; and so she was.
"But what could / do" said Miss
Cushman, sadly, when she told me the
story. 81 was at the mercy of che man.
1t was mid.winter; my bread had to be
earned. | dared not refuse or even re
monstrate, for l knew he wished to pro
woke me to break my engagement"
"Shall you act it?" asked her family
Certainly" was the reply. Up to the
night appointed for "Oliver Twist " she
was not seen by any one except at bust
ness hours. She took her meals in her
room, and spent her time there, or out
O. the house,-where, nobody knew
What was she doing? Studying that
bare skeleton of part; clothing it with
flesh, giving it life and interest.
81 meant TO get the better of my
enemy" she said. "What he designed
for my modification should be my tri.
umph."
| And it was so. She went, down into
| the city slums; into Five Points, and
studied the horrible life that surround
ed such a wretched existence as Nancy
Skies. In the first scene Nancy only
crossed the stage, gave a sign to Oliver.
who was in the hands of the officers,
then went of 1t was an entrance and
exit hardly noticed, small accessory In
cident in the terribly realistic drama
But after Miss Cushman created the
! character, this silent scene was always
tremendously applauded. 1t was curl.
Gus to see how quickly the public seized
on her clever meaning. Instead OF
crossing the stage once, she made three
passages. Before the second, the whole
ouse came down with laundering ap
use. Her makeup was a marvel
There was not the sign of feminine van
ity about Miss Cushman. She was
always ready to sacrifice her appearance
at any time to the dresses required by
her parts. And surely that horrible per
lection of a Five Points feminine COS
tune was sacrifice. An old dirty hon
net and dirt-colofed shawl; a shabby
gown and shabbier shoes; wornou
! basket with some rags in it, and a key II
her handi She entered swinging tht
/ key on her finger, walked stealthily OF
the outside of the crowd, doubling he
steps, looked with sharp cunning at the
boy; attracted his attention, winked on,
eye and thrust her tongue into he
cheek. It was tremendous success
and each succeeding scene sealed dowl
her triumph, and the discontinue of tn
manager. The play had a long run
and, as | have said, the part of Nancy
continued to be one of Miss Cushing
most powerful roles until she went t.
ENGLAND, where she never acted it.