The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1879-08-23
stories Of the stage.

Frequently since his first night before
q London audience, Mr.. Gilbert has had
such violent attacks of stage fright that
he has for several moments been unable
to speak his lines To this day he never
goes on the stage IN a new character or
on an opening night without fear and
trembling. Nearly every other promi
nent actor in this and other countries
has had the same experience. Devrient,
the eminent German tragedian, was par
ticularly subject to stage fright; the
great Macready was irritable and ner-
yous as an old maid when on the stage,
and could not be talked to or even
looked at on the first night; while our
own Lawrence Barrett, when behind the
scenes, is SO much occupied with the
work he has in hand that he can hardly
be brought to recognize his best friends.
The unfortunate being who chanced to
cut Edwin Forrest out of scene, as the
theatrical phrase has it, would, during
the remainder Of the great mans engage
ment, find his life burden. Mr.. Gill
bert is not alone in believing that For
rest was not only truly wonderful ac-
tor, but a bully and coward. 1t is
matter of record that on one occasion, in
the fremont Theatre, he tormented lit
| tie fellow one-third his size almost to
| madness, but when the young man at
last turned upon him with a Roman
sword from the property room, swear
| ing to take his life, he fled to his dress
ing room in the widest alarm, and did
not come out again until the danger, if
there was any, was passed.
The elder Booth, as Mr.. Gilbert re-
| membered him, was one of the most gen.
| tie and good-tempered of men. Unlike
many great actors, he always had kind
word for the most insignificant members
of the companies with which he played,
and he was ever ready to excuse their
| blunders. An incident will illustrate
the latter trait in his character. He was
| playing Sir Edward Mortimer in the
Iron Chest" of his greatest parts
Ito an immense audience, and was just
on the point of making the most effective
speech which he had in the play, when,
! by mistake of one of the minor charac-
ters, he was obliged-to make sense of
the scene-to slur it over and go on
withot delivering the speech in question.
| When the curtain fell the young man
who had made the mistake stood in fear
and trembling, fully expecting that the
1lSlt6ob WHICH GOuiQ cOulc
to him would be an instantaneous dis
missal from the theater. He was mis-
taken. Mr.. Booth, in passing him, said
simply, 'tYou were not very clear in that
scene Try to do better another time"
That was the end of the matter.
While Mr.. Gilbert was stage manager
Of the fremont Theater one of the stock
company, sensitive young man, during
o rehearsal became so frightened and con-
fused by Forests bullying directions
and abuse that he forgot his lines.
| When the rehearsal was over Forrest
went to Mr.. Gilbert and complained Bit
| terly of the young man; asked why in
| the name of hades he could not have
better support.
| "Mr. Smith knows his part well and
can play it well, +" replied Gilbert coolly.
| Knows his part, sir; knows his partl
D-n it, sir, he can't remember line
| of it" Numbered Forrest.
"You frightened it out of his head"
81 frighten him! How, sir, how?"
"By abusing and badgering him. an
swered Gilbert, his blood getting some-
what warmer. eff you had not inter-
ferred with him there would have been
no trouble. Let him alone and he will
play the part tonight as we'll as it can
be played" This proved to be the case,
and from that time forward Mr.. Forrest
had no more complaints to make to
| Stage Manager Gilbert.