Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-04-17
ACTORS IN ENGLAND.
Irving B0oth,s Nelson, Jefferson,
Magic Mitchell and LOtta versus
The London Stare.

Inc LONDON STAGE
Correspondence Cincinnati Knquirer.l
In dramatic matters there win be nothing
new until Easter, but meantime Irving's 6ay-
lock continues the rage Of the town. What an
extraordinary actOrl To be able to play Shake
spearean parts as unconventionally as II he
were representing characters Ia the last new
society drama! l attribute the enormous sue
cess OF Irving to his long apprenticeship to the
mouthpiece and coattail drama, the realism,
to call 1t, of which he has had intellect and
courage enough to ingraft on the wonderful and
powerfully human characters OF Shakespeare.
o. gens EaT Wn sGG.a
ing is In America, is Still being discussed be-
tween the principal parties and their agents, and
me only drawback is Booths reluctance to face
TINS ordeal. In my opinion it would be most
rasn IN MI. Booth to jeopardlze London ap-
pearance at this time, and under such circunl-
stances. The world or London Of to-day is as mad
Tor irving as that of his day was for Garrtck
and certainly Irving has created a new school
IN actlng as original and as daring as was Gar
r1ckS 1cOnOClaSm.
ms many pretty little bits OF business, and
MS meiodlous reading. and all that he is still
me conventional Hamlet" the soliloquy- de-
cialmer upon whose lines schoolDoyS have mod
eled their oratory for generations back. He
does not twig the page boys ears in Hamlet
nor give one or more OF the big soliloduieS sit
ing doW W. nursing his knee with his clasped
hands, like shOp-keeper talking about teas and
sugar to friend who had just dropped into the
store TO ask how trade Is. I NAV be mistaken in
my Judgment. OF course. but 1t is an honest one
ana IL Is enc which give with all kindness TO
Mr.. Booth, whom admire both as man and as
an actor Mr.. Irving himself thinks Mr., Booth
would be liked in England, IL he would appear
IN LONDON with proper stage appointments and
support OF that superlatively excellent kind
Irving now enjoys.
The whole matter of these stage appearances
IN England for American stars is a curiously
complicated one AS a generalisn of the whole
SITUATION, | may say that there is no money
worth speaking of here for stars who are really
Stfong In America, and no money at all for
nice little business during the spring and sum
mer months, when the theaterS are closed In
America. Joe Jefferson, though the critical
taste Is always charmed with him here, and one
~ pfofltabe, played to fifteen pounds during his
last engagement at the Haymarket. He told all
his friends here that he would never appear
again In London. For twenty years back Maggie
Mitchell, and for ten years back Lolita have been
receiving offers from London managers; but as
Maggie once said 10 me. What is the use of my
going don't need the prestige in case of success;
failure would annoy me, and under any cir
eumstanceS the money they offer Is nothing. =
heard, but do not know how true 1t is, that
Miss Nelson only received 600 week salary
Adelph1 last spring. She did better in the
Provinces, where she had share OF the receipts:
she told me that if there were few more large
townS like Liverpool. Manchester. Bfrminpham.
and Glasgow, she would not need to 90 to
America, AS for various small people from our
Side VINO have edged their way here, and stay
mere, IL mas only been done by remuneration OF
Old habits which would surprise some of the
Kid gloyed gold-headed stick leading actors of
New York and Philadelphia. AS an actor who
mad received his $500 week salary in New York
SAID 10 me last winter in London, where he was
doing Jobs In acting at couple OF pounds a
week or so: IF you ask one OF the actresses of
me company to go take supper with you after
me performance in New York, you take her to
Delmonico's. and your bill is $50; here you ash,
her TO your lodgings and give her a bit OF cold
steak and send the slavey out for pot OF beer.
ana she is quite satisfied. Those who really
make money here are the managers: that is
when they do not lose fearfully.