National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-03-10
GENEVIEVE WARD
AND HER PLAY, "FoRGET-ME-NoT."
Sketch OF the Well.KnoWn Actress = HeE Early
Struggles In the Dramatic Business in Eng
land and Ameriea-Her Musieal Ed-
ucatioa Other Points.


of readers of this entsrprising journal bethought
him that brief interview with Miss Genevieve
Ward would prove attractive reading, hied him to
Wilards, and giving his Official pssteboard TO the
gentiemanly and urbane clerk, who can answer
| dozen questions in as many seconds and as many
languages without turning q hair, he was soon
shown into the presence of the fair actress. by
whom he was greeted most cordially. Plunging
at once an 1Redias res, he asked in regard to the
progress of the suit about the play of Forget Me-
Not, about which so much has been SAID ana
written within the past few months.
"Well," said Miss Ward, al am most confident
Of the ultimate result for am so thoroughly con-
yinced Of the justice of my claim. know that
my contract ante-dates theirs, and the clause
which gives me the right to produce it elsewhere
certainly must include America. l did not buy
the play, but purchased the right to produce 1t IN
English for five years BY guaranteeing to pay the
sum OF s3 for every performance in London anu
e for every performance elsewhere, and when
these payments aggregated ESQ was 10 pay no
more until the expiration of the five years. con-
suited the Hon. Judah P. Benjamin, who, you
know, stands extremely high at the London bar
and have also employed the best legal talent here
so am willing to trust my interests in their hands,
Has not the success of !" Forget Me-NOt been
due entirely TO your eHortS?' Queried the news
seeker
II have certainly very greatly changed the play
1t Is one that was written several years ago BY
Herman Merriyale, very brilliant but erratic
author, and was printed by him and sent to man
ayers in England and in this country; but none OF
them would hayeit INFRINGING itout was sort OF
deTnicr resort had the Lyceum Theatre on my
hands. 'Zillah, which L had produced, had
proved failure, and after four performances
was compelled to withdraw it and substitute
'Lucretia Boygia,' and 1 felt that 1 must have
play. Aerrivale read me his play, and accepted
it, conditioned upon the liberty to make certain
alterations. At that time 1 told him was ar
ranging for an American tour, and he knew in
tended to take the play to this country. We pro-
duced it after but seven rehearsals ana it became
an immediate success"
You spoke OF some alterations. Have you
changed the piece much?'
The fair SephGnie laughed as she replied, "Iou
should see the original printed copy. Why, there
was an immense amount of the dialogue that
was compelled to eliminate because it was abso-
lutely low. You know 1 told you Mr.. Merrivale
was erratic He has been insane, and was for two
years confined i'll an asylum. Well, his insanity
was shown i'll some respects in this play, for i'm
mcdiately following some of the most brilliant
sentences were passages that were nnfit for utter
ance. These, of course, had TO be eXpunged. Then
cut out entirely the part of Rose which was of no
earthly use, and it was this that caused the first
difference between Mr. Merrivale and myself, be-
cause he desired his sster-in-law to play that
part, and refused on account of her utter unfit
ness. have also changed situations, introduced
new business, and, in fact, completely remodeled
it."
Turning from the theme of " Forget Ne Not
THE REPUBLICAN, man began to interrogate Miss
Ward upon her personal history, and, with the
memory of excellent dinners given by the genial
Sam of the same surname, he asked if she WAS the
daughter OF that royal epicure as had been stated?
"Oh, no." replied she; but Mr.. sam Ward paid
me a very high compliment-so saw the otherday.
When he was asked if he were my father, replied,
with sigh No; wish l was l believe, how
ever, we are related; but my family came from
Massachusetts,"
How long have you been upon the stage Miss
Ward?"
81 think it was in 1873 that commenced my
dramatic career. L had studied hard under Miss
Fanny Morant, and, finding could not secure
good opening in this country Il went to England,
and made my first appearance es lady Macbeth
during the great ShalspeareaIi revival at Manches
ter. 1 was successful and the press, both there
and subsequently in London, 'yeIe kind enough
to praise me very highly. fSsurred 10 America
in 1871 and played for two years under the man
agement of Messrs. Jarrett & Palmer, confining
and Jane Shore.
But before 1873 you were before the public,
though not as Miss Ward, ii iremeInbcr rightly"
said the interviewer "Were you not upon the
operatic stage?'
"Yes, received the best musical education, and
1 achieved no little reputation in Opcratc roles
under my married name of Madame Guarabella;
but injured my voice in Cuba and felt that
could not continue in that profession successfully.
so 1 resolved to stop. Ny attempting the dramatic
art was at the suggestion of Adelaide Phillips, who
was q warm personal friend"
''Iou have had 10 cause to regret thatsiep, have
you:"
"No, indeed. I love my art, and 1 have tried
10 advance its Interests; and though have re-
sided more abroad than i'll my own country want
You TO understand that am thoroughly American
III all my feelings. IhaYe thought since have
been in Washington essst tnis glorious Capital
should be the great literary centre OF this conti-
nent; that everything should be done TO bring to
this city the brightest inteects in the land There
is the need of school for actors similar TO the one
in Paris There should be school of art in which
those most celebrated or painting aud sculpture
should supervise the efforts of those destined 10
one day take their places. These should be
located here in this city, where should also be
found the finest institutions Of learning of every
department as well as art. I am confident that
the future greatness Of Washington lies in this
direction"
Being satisfied that lie had already secured more
items ofinformation than he had anticipated and
being fully convinced that Miss Ward was as
brilliant in conversation she is attractive on the
stage the reporter thanked the lady for her eour-
tesy, and bade her adieu.