The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-05-31
LESTER WALLACK.
An Entertaining Talk About the
Dram in This Country.

Dram in this Country.
Chicago Tribune.l
"The old system of starring" remarked
the comedian, "appears to have been lost
sight Of Ristori, Salvini, Kemble,
Kean, Charles Mathews and other great
lights before they started out obtained in
the largest city of the country in which
they lived metropolitan reputation. In
all foreign countries to-day some place
is acknowledged to be the place. In
England it is London; in Austria,
Vienna; in France, Paris; but it is totally
different in America. Boston says to
New York, 'Oh, WELL why should you
claim the greatest COMEDIAN and Phila-
delphia turns up her nose if Boston
claims the greatest tragedian. This is
the way all over. In England everybody
admits London's Judgment, but here Bos-
ton says she knows rs much
about it as New York, Chicago
a. much as Boston. There is
the difficulty with an actor who begins
the starring system here. Take Booth,
Jefferson, Mccullough or Barrett. They
are not connected with any city in this
country; their reputation is general
With me it is entirely different. l sup
pose my name is pretty familiar all over,
but my reputation is associated entirely
with New York. So when / go to Bos-
ton with my New York reputation they
shrug their shoulders and think of the
or at comedians they have produced. 1t
would be precisely the same with War
rem were he to go to New York. All the
cities of this country are Londons. They
will readily accept Snlvini, with an
Italian reputation, and would Henry
Irving with his London name, but they
hesitate to accept Lester Wallack or any
other body with New York reputation.
But I've had good luck; I've been very
kindly treated"
But" said the writer, "the reason for
that is that New York, although an
amusement-seeking city, is not by any
means a dramatic city"
Eyes, that's so. The people of New
York don't care one sixpence for the
drama. don't say that they won't rush
wildly after any novelty but any regu-
lar dramatic patronage doesn, t exist.
They will run after a sensation, but they
will drop that sensation like hot potato
the moment they get another That's
the d anna in New York. don't say
that in grumbIing spirit. If they won't
take to the drama managers and actors
have nothing to do but to fol 'ow their
taste. Mr.. Bateman once said to me,
I'll lead the public ! said he couldn't
do it, and 10 actor or manager need try
it, for as Garrick has truly said:
'''Thc dra ua's laws the dramas uatrons give:
Whoever lives TO please must please to i've.
In regard to newspaper criticisms Mr.
} Wallack thought the tendency tc
be funny and spicy was ex
ceedingiy bad for arr, and wished
that critics would devote mort
time to the analysis Of minor parts in {
performance than they do. and less tt
! thc desire to ridicule the efforts Of youn!
artists.
~ see" the scribe remarked, "that Adj
Cavendish will probably be member o
, your company next season..
Il hope 50. | am trying to get hel
. WHAT next season will amount to don
= know. I'm sure. Look at my last year
}. company. There were Coghlan, Beckett
Gilbert, Holland, Nine. Ponis, Mi
a Rose Coghlan and Miss Stella Bonifac'
Sc Fancy that group Of artists eve
W playing to a bad house, and
think that | had to 90 in to pro
p up the season. Yes, / am going to run
it stock company next season. said II
'r comedian in answer to the question.
,, will open witha play by Boucicault, aft
"a "a which will put on Byro4's "Our Girls
~ Then will come an Irish drama by Bout
a. cault, in which he will play an lri,
part, and then probably he and wi
Mt play together"
III "After the coming week you leave f
ID San Francisco"
Ie "Yes."
"And the engagement"-
I'll ''Is an elastic one. 1t will depend upC
t. how the people like me. expect, no
&c &c ever, to be finished by the middle
Iaa. July, and then Pll make "a short c
"a. US / can for my yacht, the Columbia.