The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-11-16
FRIDAY November 1e, 1859.
TALK ABOUT STARS.
Those That scintillase for Applause
and Dollars ana Cents.
secret OF Irying's Success Much
EEaaBanded Ellen TerTy---T The
Money Question Mary Ander-
son-.The Rival Operas.

ing's acting is a subject of interest outside OF
newspaper criticisms We ought to be TOO
strong a people to be guided only by some
scribe who may have some private reasons
for taking this or that view If Mr.. Irving
can bring US any good example, we want IT,
1t is of less consequence whether ne is merely
making money in the country. Our stage,
like the stage in England, has deteriorated by
putting q money figure upon it. The money
standard is in many respects true standard,
vet it is not the whole standard.
l have been to see Irving several times
here. My view is at the present moment that
his chief utility to US is in the liberaEty with
which he treats the authors of his pieces
When he presents Shakespeare he does not at
tempt to be the whole play. He does not
slaughter all the beautiful surroundings of
Shakespeare'spi to present himself. Actors
are egotists Irving seems to be conscious OF
his inferiorities, and he therefore has deyeh
oped from poor laborer in the provincial
field to one of the greatest managers in the
world A manager is better than an actor.
Said to my friend, who is a great man on
the stage: "What do you consider to be the
real power of Irvinglo
she is splendid stage manager. It is his
makes him present his pieces so splendidly.
When he produces one Of Shakespeares
pieces your mind is occupied with the num-
Der of people on the stage, with the pic
turesqueness of the scenes, and all that.
Surely that is in his favor-that be gives
the audience the benefit of the display
eyes, il is; but l am only answering o
question as TO his ability to sustain himself
without these surroundings He is probably
the best stage manager among the English
speaking races"
What do you think about Ellen TerryT
''She is a really bright woman. Away
from Irving she is brilliant woman. She
has mixed with men enough to get their
strength and intrepidity Irving is perfect
stick on her. When he goes up in the eleva
tor with her at the hotel he kisses his hand
to her as they ascend and she gets out at her
floor"
'fIs she Irish or EnglishF'
English, think The London people say
that she has four living husbands She is
unquestionably bright spark in Irving's
repertoire. She is a woman in the neighbor-
hood of 40. She has something of that
quality that was found in Nell Gwynne and
the actresses of the time of Charles III
Where does Irving get his artistic sensei"
''He gets a good deal of it from Alma Ia
dema, who is an artist in London, with a
great knowledge of scenery and effects. Iun
derstand that Irving pays him e., 900 year
to make his borders and scenes. He often
appears in company with Tadema."
How much money is Irving making in
this country1'
''From my information he receives from
wallack's Star theatre rs per cent of the
gross receipts for himself and the company
he has brought over"
SIS he making money!
eyes, he is making more money than he
could possibly make in England, but not as
much as we apprehend The receipts are very
variable He may receive for his share s., 200
to 81 400 night. He probably gets 81 900 a
night clear. He could not begin TO do that in
London. It is not believed that be will ven
ture to play Hamlet in New York. His
Hamlet is melodramatic part, and would
subject him to that serious criticism which
be is constantly evading by his scenic shrewd-
ness and tricks
''How is Mary Anderson doing in IrviRg's
London theatrep
''She is making herself reputation on the
other side, but does not begin to make the
money she could make here. Mr.. Abbey re
marked recently that she opened TO Els for
her share. He also said to person whom
know that a120 was thI, host she had doue for
herself That means in American money
1915 to $500 night. Mary Anderson can dc
much better than that in this country 1t is
true that she can afford to lay off a season in
America, and that the good opinion she is re-
~ L., ~ -
Said to the same gentleman: What dc
you think Of Abbey's general speculations in
this countr q
HE is going to lose great deal of money in
his Metropolitan opera house. But he has
irving on the one hand and the Grand opera
house, formerly Pixies and Fisk's theatre on
the other. He viii probably make $50, 900 in
Pixies opera house, and $50, 600 out of Irving.
He therefore says that he will be able to lose
100000 on his opera season"
us he doing as well as MaplesonT
'No, The old opera house ii New Yorl
has passed through so many seasons that it
managers and directors know all about tn
business. 1t is supported by such men a
Belmont, who are willing to pay good biz
forfeit every year to have good season o.
opera. On the other hand, Abbey is running
the new opera house ct enormous expense
I am told that he pays $4,000 for the season
70 Morris Grau, merely to supervise TIL
opeTatic performances. Abbey knows moth
ing at all about opera. But he is a grea
Spectator. His idea is to SO annoy Maplesoi
and reduce his profits that MapleSon will no
come back to this country next year, ant
that, therefore, he will be the sole controlle
of opera in this country"
Said 1: " Is that not rather small passion
for manager p
Yes, it is not very noble But Able,
takes the American view of things. He ex
poets to discourage Mapleson from comm
back here. and to get the run of all opera
and to be very rich. Up to the present tim
he has got the hot end of the poker. Maple
son. with Patti, Josephine Yorke and other
is drawing full houses, while the new oper
house, prematurely opened, does not satisf
people.
LEVY MUST NOT COME,