Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-09-06
MARY ANDERSON.
An Interesting Account Of Her
First Rehearsal.
Terre Haute LEDGER

Miss Mary Anderson, the gifted
young tragedienne, is spending the
summer at Long Branch, and exposing
her precious self to a sensational neck
breaking by riding that fiery young
young colt over the beach. Miss An
derson is said to be the most success
full star before the American public,
and having thrifty step-lather, he
generally manages to have sock full
of ducats for summer expenditure.
The success of the young actress has
been truly phenomenal. Five years
ago she made her first appearance at
Macauley's theater in Louisville, and
since that time has held a promi-
nent position on the American stage.
One who was present, and an actor, at
her first appearance gives us an ac-
count of it,
1t was in November, and the stock
company at the theater was playing,
with Mines Levick as star. On Sat
urday morning a modest notice ap-
peared in the Louisville papers to the
effect that Miss Mary Anderson, a
we'll known society lady, would make
her debut in Romeo and Juliet" that
evening. At 10 o'clock the rehearsal
began. Miss Anderson was on hand,
accompanied by her mother. She
was then tall, ungainly woman, and
took steps nearly a yard long. Her
dress was careless, and she looked hag-
gard and worn. The stage manager
danced attendance upon her with
mock gallantry, to the great amuse-
ment of the company. Whether OF
not Miss Anderson noticed that she
was being "guyed" we cannot say, but
at all events she paid no attention to it.
She gave her stage directions in a
masculine voice and no exposrula-
tions on the part Of the manager
had effect - the traditions oil
! the green-room we're as naught to her
| The young actress went through her
part of the rehearsal with as much
seriousness as If she we're the real
daughter of the Capnlets, and was
much annoyed at the listlessness Of
| the regular players, who simply
"walked through" their parts. IL
the rehearsal of the balcony gaape she
wanted the balcony up and decorated
as at the regular performance, much
to the disgust Of the stage carpenters
From this elevated SPOT she showere(
upon her Romeo, a bald beaded ole
man, all the honeyed words oil tht
text, and threw at him tho most low
ing grimaces. In the scene will
Friar Lawrence, she created mucl
merriment for the "old stagers.
She portrayed tho widest grie
and filed the empty theater Will
her resounding voice, as she oifereC
to leap from off the battlement
Of yonder tower" nor does she hesi
tate in the scene with the friar to cas-
herself upon the floor just as she in
tended to do Of night. Stage floor
during the rehearsals are not clean
being usually covered with dirt frOn
muQuY pOOlhs bhWuuob anu shaNthEe
So the rehearsal continued, the sta
sighting her part none the least, an
going through the business" as sh
would do at night. This was in lgdi
crous contrast with the rehearsal Q
. the actors. All of them Wake,
f through their parts merely mumblin
+. their words, without regard to decls
! nation or effect. The star was ia
from pleased, and wanted her Rome
( TO throw himself upon the floor, as i
s the regular business Of the play, bu
Y the dignifed leading man proteste
G against spelling his clothes b
: any act Of that kind. Dl
9 ring the rehearsal she WI
= quite complimentary, nevertheless
g and gave the actors "taffy" on son
e performance Of theirs she had wi
Is messed. They took it in for "tafy
a In the evening the performance W
ir witnessed by quite a select audienc
is composed principally Of the deb
tante's friends. It was like the r