Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-01-06
"HAZRL KIR1KE."

'We have added more than three hun
dred performances to our record since we
were in Savannah year ago." said Mr.. |
VIM. w. Randall, the general agent of
the Madison Square Theatre, to a NEWS
reporter yesterday. Mr. Randall arrived
yesterday from the North in advance of
the original Madison Square Theatre
Company, which appears here on Monday
and Tuesday OF next week in 'sHazel
klrke." Our success this season has
been even greater than last--in fact at no
time has our outlook seemed brighter.
Everywhere we have been it has been The
same st0ry-crowded houses-delighted
audiences.
The management ofthe Madison Square
Theatre have consequently decided TO
commune this play several years longer.
possibly as long as Mr.. COuldOck survives.
The rise and progress of this play is some
thing curious. 1t is one Of the anomalies
in the dramatic art history. IL opened
the Madison Square Theatre, but il was
not originally Intended for that auspicious
event. Steele Mackaye was at work on s
special play for the opening, but be was
/. not ready with it. Hazel Kirke was in
, his portfolio. DR.. Mallory, the censor of
the theatre. read it, approx ed of it against
the advice even of Mackaye himself.
The good doctor regarded this play as
one quite tit to represent the moral
tone of what be intended to make
the new theatre, but in digging the
big hole for the double stage they en-
cOuntered mass of rock which delayed
the opening three months, so the play was
! put out upon the road in order to keep the
the actors, whose salaries had begun, en-
plOyed, 1t was called the Iron Will
1t was played first in Providence. then
Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington,
and i believe Mr.. FrOham tried to get into
the Globe Theatre. Stetson said yes, he
would take it if he was guaranteed $1,000
| and Cne-hali the gross. This was one
reason why Boston has never been in
fiiCted with the Iron WILL And what
a cast it was, too: Couldock, EIlsler,
Whiffin and wife, DOminick Murray,
Cahill, Cecile Rush, and others; but it
did not draw cent of profit. 1t was loss
night after night, and the fact
was proved then, as experience
proves now, that no matter how strong
your cast, the public will not 90 to a play
unless they are previously promised to be
Interested in the drama that is to be pre-
sented. This can only be done by making
successful run. Finally the Madison
Square Theatre was opened with Hazel
kirke." A great deal of work was done
for 1t by the management. 1t was well
acted and mounted, and the play was adj
vertised as thoroughly as the science of
advertising permitted. Ia spite of this,
however, 1t was not expected to run more
than six weeks.
''The week Of the first performances re-
hearsas were called for an intended glo-
rOuS revival of Masks aud Faces
Rose COghlan was leading lady of the
theatre during the first year, and four or
live other prominent actors had also been
engaged side the then acting company. /
| But the success of Hazel Kirke' /
l
ed their appearance. and Miss COghlan /
drew her $4,000 that year without doing "a |
nights work for the theatre. In fact, she |
was so provoked with the success of /
Hazel Kirke' that she at one time /
thought to bring suit against the manage /
ment for not allowing her 10 play, since /
her contract called for work and not for /
idleness. However, Hazel Kirke' con-
tinued. Other plays were on hand. /
Other authors were bought off |
FIR an entile year. After two |
years Mr.. COuldOck, who headed the /
company, and the original cast was sent |
out on the road, and the play was con-
tnued at the Madison Square Theatre |
with Dommck Murray and Steele Mack
aye alternating as 'DunStan Kirke' and I
Miss George CayVan as Hazel Kirke.' |
This second section continued nearly 200 |
nights mOie. This is the first period of |
the Hazel kirke' phenomena. The sec
of this enduring and extraordinary play. |
1t is now four years since it was first
presented. Its success still continues.
"AllsS EllSltr continued for several years !
at one OF the best salaries that any young /
lady could wish for, and with the man
agement to back her, who seemed willing
to permit her to have any comforts or al /
lOWances that the little lady's whlms |
might suggest. But that Was not suf-
icient. Feeling that the success of the
play had depended entirely upon her her
husband, Mir. Weston, declared that they
would not continue unless they should
share In the profits. But before this, the
little lady, or rather her hus-
band, insisted upon certain chan
yes in the cast, threatening
to leave unless they were complied with.
This was done just before the Boston ell
gagement of last season, which the
management looked forward to with 50
much interest as well as anxiety, for
Boston is one of the Madison Square
Theatres strOngholds. However, Miss
Eiisler's demands were not only not listen
ed to, but her alternative was suddenly ac-
cepted I" her surprise, and she fUund her
sell in the sudden position OF being idle,
and Hazel KIrke' was running along to
large and admiring audiences, even with
out the then popular little Effie. Miss
Carrie Wyatt, pleasing little actress,
succeeded Miss Ellsler for few weeks
with the COudock company, and Miss
Wyatt was followed by Carrie Turner
who afterwards gave place to little BijOu
Heron.
''MIss Heron was not altogether success
full. Ii you will remember she made her
first appearance in the part right here in
Savannah. This season we have still an
other Hazel In the person of Maude
Osborne, who will appear here. She is
decidedly the handsOmesJ woman that has
sod. . In
one OF the best. She has everything in
her faVOr-youth, beauty, talent and am
bitiOn. She is the best that has appeared
since Efie Ellsler's time, and many pre-
fer her to that little woman. She dresses
the part to perfection. "a point that will
interest the ladies of the South who are
so interested in these matters.
1.-The original Lord Travers' in the first
production of Hazel KTke' was a real /
English Lord, Lord Maguay. He was
secured in England to play the part. He /
played one night, and was paid $1,000 to I
cancel his contract. He was succeeded /
by Ben RingOld, of the Union Square The
atre. Mr. RingOld was succeeded at the
Madison Square Theatre by Eben Plymp- /
ton. Plympton in turn gave way to Gus
LeYick. Gus Leyick was again sue
ceeded by George Clarke, who alternated /
between the parts of 'Travers' and that |
of Rodney Mackaye himself took sew |
eral WnackS not only AT Cne part ]
of Travers, but at 'Dunstan' and Barney /
and Rodney in turn. Later on Henry /
Miller, the husband of b. jon Heron, played /
the part on the road, so did Edwin Arden, I
who was followed by Henry Lee. Mr. Lee |
remained but a short time. He did not |
yet on we'll it seems with the manage /
ment, or the management with him. He |
wes followed by Charles Wells, an eX-
cellent young actor. Last season Mr.. j. |
G.. Grahame was negotiated with. Mr.. |
Grahame was Mrs. Langtry's leading man, |
but was not allowed to play here last year.
MIR. Grahame, a genuine Englishman,
plays the young Lord to the life. But |
there has been but one 'Dunstan,' and
that has been the reliable Could !
Ock, and for whom the manage
ment say they will keep Hazel Kirke'
going as long as the old gentleman desires
it. Dir. COuldOck is satisfied with the part.
He wants to play no other. He is afraid
that any part in a new play would prove
not as good as 'Durstan. lie wants TO
keep at the sturdy, vigorous old men parts /
rather than any mild character, for fear
that the public might think that his power
was going from him, but the old gentle
man is vigorous ard as hardy and as