The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-10-13
ANNA DICKINSON.
Her Engagement I'm Philadelphia to Play
Male Characters.

Male Characters.
1t is now definitely announced that Miss
Anna Dickinson will appear next winter in
the garb and personality of Shakspeare's
h eroes, and that her engagements will not
only include the principal cities of the Uni
ted States, but England as we'll. Her man
ayers will be c. A. Mendum, the manager
of the Arch Street theatre in this city, an d
Frank Curtis. Both of them are vol known
in their profession,
The announcement last winter of the dis
ting uished lecturers intended appearance in
male parts occasioned greater surprise and
wider comment than any theatrical event of
the time. Owing, as she claims, to the fail
ure of her manager, Mr., Stetson, to fulfill
his part of their mutual contract Miss
Dickinson escaped what might have been a
lasting disadvantage to her success, Her
engagement in this city was co-inCident with
Salvini's. She was to have been permitted
to appear only when he did not, and to
make what she could of the time the great
tragedian threw away, The reason of her
refusal to play under the conditions that
were offered were fully discussed at the
time. Miss Dickinson retired to private
life at Elizabeth, New Jersey, there TO
study, perhaps as few women could, the
roles in which she was determined to act.
Miss Dickinson is acknowledged by all to
be one of the very hardest workers in her
new profession. Her idea of the true
Shakspearean characters i'll which she will
at first appear-iamlet and Macbeth--is
very different from the representations in
vogue. Miss Dckinson's Hamlet will be as
original as Fechter's and as widely different
from Booths conception Of the part "a the
formers was. She will not play her own
peces-either the Grown of IhOrns" or
Notwithstanding her first engagement
in this country. Miss Dickinson as dra-
matist is quite well known 4 fault that
was urged against the few plays she has
given to the stage was that the aggressive
ideas and the strong individuality of the
author which had made the woman famous
and pre-eminent as lecturer came out in
her heroes and heroincs.
One of the foremost managers in the
country, A. NJ. Palmer, of the Union Square
theatre, New York said, however: I" She
is probably the strongest intellectual
worker that ever made study of Shaks
pearean parts with view of portrayinl
them ON the stage"
In addition to Hamlet and Macbeth. she
will appear at the beginning of her winter,
season as Claude Melnotte and the Corsicar
Brothers, Fechter's famous role. Her cos
tunes will be made abroad, and will MOI
differ materially from those usually worn
by stars.
Miss Dickinson's face, with the hal
Combcd down over the brow, is neither
etteminate nor boyish. 1t is perfectly con.
sstent with the character of Hamlet OF
Claude Melnottc. As Macbeth, the feature
will have to be somewhat disguised. lh
leading lady of the company naturally de
ponds much upon Miss DickinSon's wishes
The company will include thirty-two pco
pie, and the costumes, appointments an,
stage furniture will be carried entire from
place to place. A Pullman hotel-car vii
be reserved for the leading members q
Miss Dickinson's support, for the entir
season The French idea that compan
should rehcarSe piece until they are tire
Oft before it is fit for public presentation
IS IN measure, entertained by Miss Dick
inSon. Rehcarsals will begin in one of tn
New York theatres on December IA.
Miss Dckinson's debut as Hamlet will b
made on January 3 She will appear i
New Haven, Hartford, Albany Rochester
Buffalo, Cleveland, Toledo, Detroit, Chic'
go, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Washington an
Philadelphia. In nearly all of these citiC
she will play in the the theatres chosen b
Bernhardt last season. In Boston her con
pany will not appear under Mr. Stetson
management. She will play in the Bosto
theatre and at the Academy of Mus
in Philadelphia, opening on March II
She will appear during her Ell
gagement here as Hamlet, Claude Menott
and Macbeth. LASTLY" said Mr.. Mel
dun, THE importance of the scheme is NJ
only that woman is to appear in ma
characters, but that the woman is Ann
Dickinson She especially wishes and earl
estly expects that the printing used by I'll
company will be of the most modest an
quiet kind. Miss Dickinson strongly Of
iectS, concluded Mr.. Mendum, ito beil
crushed and she believes only in new
paper advertisement. On the 9th of NJ,
she will sail for England to fulfill an engag
ment under our management, at the Cry
tai Palace, beginning June 9th, and cont
ung for six weeks. Philadelphia Pre-: