The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-02
LESTER WALLACK IN CHICAGO.
The Lake city Audiences Compared with
those OF New York-some Anecdotes

CHICAGO, May 3O.-Mr. Lester Wallack is
filling a very successful engagement for Man
ager Haverly in this city. II is a somewhat
singular fact that Mr.. Wallack should have
waited so long before acting In tho West. and
that. while the faces OF most stars" are as
familiar in Cincinnati. Chicago. and st. Louis
as in New York. the comedian whom old New
Workers remember as Mr.. Lester" and the
present generation knows as the leading repre-
sentative Of distinct school OF the drama.
should possess all the freshness OF novelty
for this great Western public. 1t was perhaps
this fact that caused him to be Officially an
nounced prior TO his entree at the Olympic
Theatre rs the most promising light Gomez
dian of tho day." However. it was speedily
corrected. and the weeks " attraction ST forth
with simplicity characteristic OF the theatre
which bears his name.
At the close of u iortnigh. divided between
Cincinnati and 81, Louis. Mr.. Wallack was loud
n ms praises o, "a" audiences o. the latter city;
the very best" he remarked. Il ever played
10 la the whole course OF my life. A great deal
is said" he added. concerning the Wallack'
audience Out 10 my nind II Is the worst IN the
world. Here. when they see a point-and
not only the broader effects, but the deli
cate little shadings upon which an actor
prdes himself and which may have taken
him infinite caro- 10 produ ~ - they are
quick to make their appreciation man
notice details, but they do not always let the
actor know that they DO. But what they want
here is tnrclcnl iun. kOOprtSOn's = comedies
not appreciated at their full value. Hence the
reception OF Ours was not comparable To
that OF Ny Awful Dad which went enor-
hat tR9's reason som open Win wins Ny Awfa E Dad in
Chicago. | study new part for my san Fran
cisco engagement-ther role in The snow Ball
mtely played by Mr.. Coghlan. That piece ana
The CAPTAIN Of the Watch will make a su.
perb bill, the more especially rs they are in
constantly victlmized in the other. the leading
parsonage vct,mizes everybody else"
Referring 70 the criticism sometimes made.
that he took the audience too much into his con-
hdence. Mr.. Wallnck defended this on the
ground that comedian must have an apprec-
alton OF his own fun: must enjoy the joke in
order tn communicate the amusement 10 his
audience. When man tells funny story he
laughs oyer 1t. does he notP just so on the
stage, in farcical situations, you must go into
them with evident relish. In Hugh Chdlcote's
monologue, Ia the last act Of Ours he is
easily to be believed that he would not do them
ln real life without showing his amusement.
is to me only n fourth wall for I'm rs blind as a
bat unless | happen to have my glass in. but IL
Is the most responsive wall. and therefore |
play TO II. having the countenance. also. Of all
good French actors. who deliver long TRADES
direct nj their audiences, AprOpos OF the last
season at my house in New York / see a criti-
cism still made to the effect that l dressed the
hero Of A Scrap OF Paper inappropriately in
wearing plamas and carrying an umbrella in
one act and wearing seaskin suit In The next.
Had the gentlemen who made TINS criticism
listened 10 the text they would have found that
II JUSTIFIED thls IN 80 many wOrds-the cos
tunes form the subject OF conversation. | did
not 20 so far even as Mr.. Kendall. at the Prince
OF Wales's Theatre London. who wore a huge
fur coat. and, when the fair visitor arrived dis
appeared. crying out, Wait u momentl am
In my bear skinP Whereupon she said. Ohr
Significantly, and covered her face with her
fan to hide her bushes. Had we done this the
press would have said How ndelicatcp" "
Mr.. WRllack related number OF anecdotes
and remi iniscences. including story OF a funny
slip Of the tongue in connection with stnge
blunders. II Will be remembered that IN " The
School for Scandal" a line occurs saving that a
saries had received a bullet through his lhorax.
The actor on this occasion getting confused in
formed SIR Oirer that the gentleman had re-
ceived " Il thrullet through his bOraX." That
might have passed unnoticed." said Mr.. Wal
lack h9d not John Brougham. who was play
ing Sir OireT mschieVously kept up the blum
der by remarking What the devil is his
boraX" And what Is perhaps funnier some
actor 70 whom this had been related. thought il
would be good gag" and-oh shades OF
Sherldanl " said 1t purposely one night"