The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-25
THIRTY YEARS STAGE LIFE
A Veterans Recollections OF Plays and
Players Long ago.
Gossip About the Booths, Barrett and Keene
Birth of the ety-Remi1iscsnees
of Uncle Toms Cabin.

Last evening found II. D. BeissenheTz. leader
OF the English's Opera-house orchestra, at home,
and on invitation a Journal reporter Joined him
and his wife, formerly Anne Hathaway, well
known actress, in cup of tea. Actors ana actress
es are proverbially good takers and it may here
be set down that in that limo the leader of the
orchestra doesn't play second fiddle. Mr. Beis-
senherz is among bhe oldest leaders in the coun-
try, and there probably isn't man in the pro-
fesslon whose agile bow has danced over more
miles of cat-gut. The conversation began with
Uncle Toms Cabin. Il have played the music
for Uncle Toms Cabin for thirty years. season
after season, year after year, with the exception
of season or two at tue Metropolitan. It started
in the winter of 1868. The version then given
was written by c. W. Taylor the present version
is by Mr. Aiken. In Taylor's play 'Mauna'
was the name used for Eliza. Uncle Tom and
Mauna were the great parts; there was no Topsy,
no Eva and no ST. Clair The slave market was
in with good effect, but Maunas CEliza'sJ thrill
ing escape is made without the child, that char
acter also being omitted. It was so played in
Worcester Mass, and was only in three acts.
1t was at that time and in that
theater that Denman Thompson went on as a
boy to play small parts. He learned Sailors
hOrnppe,' ana, as was the fashion then, came
on between psees. W. a. Riley, who was so
popular here asNmanager of the Metropolitan
during the war, made his first appearance at the
Worcester Museum at that time in small parts,
but went ahead very rapidly"
SOMETHING ABOUT THE BOOTHS
There was something in the papers the other
day about Junius Brutus Booth, who has just
died, that know to be unjust" said Mrs. Bets
senherz. "Iu was that he " as not much of an
actor. That is untrue He was a good actor,
exeelling in both comedy aud tragedy. He was
a beautiful dancer, and when young it was his
ambition to play William, in 'Backeyed Susan
1t was likely his versatility kept him from being
great like his brother Edwin, as he never stuck
TO any particular part. He got lad fall once
and broke three ribs that may have had some
thing to do with his infreguent sppearances
later in life. The article was wrong, also
regarding his first appearance which was placed
as late as 1851. / played with him in the old
Federal-street Theater il Boston i'll 1S4S, Ed
win Booth made his first appearance as Her
maya in the "A pOstate' -
"An old fashioned PLAY, never given now" ex-
planned MIR. B.
I'm the 'Apostate at his fathers benefit. at
the old National Theater, in Chatham street.
New York, about 1850. He was eighteen years
old and really did not seem to have any talent
at all for acting. He was very dismal young
man, ana used TO travel with his father, the
elder Booth, to dress him.
And keep him SOBER" added Mr. b.
II haven't seen Edwin Booth since he became
great so that opinion Is an Anticipated one"
said Mr.. Beissenherz. "Yonng Junlus was then
all fire.
GIVING QUID PRO QUO.
"People who attend theaters now don't get as
much for the money as in those old days." said
Mr.. B. 81 was at the National Tneater in New
York in 1854. The curtain rose at 7 and seldom
fell before l o'clock. / have seen audiences held
until 1:30-nearly O'CLOCK. We would have
Macbeh'plsyed, with all its music. tlsen a thirty
minute pautoniHc, say The r use of Sharon