Wichita daily eagle., 1885-04-19
IRVING AT WORK.
THE READING LESSONS AS GIVEN At
REHEARSAlS.
What an Actor Does to Insure Success
Practical Instructions in Elocutjon,
Gesture and Action-Strict At
tention to Details
New York Herald !

In the middle of tie half lighted stage
stood tan figure, clad in gray and black.
Wavy, black locks fell back from a clean
cut and grave profile. 4 pair Of dark
eyes. set deeply under heavy, overhangins
eyebrows, watched the u.urmuring orches-
ira II was Henry Irving. In ons hand
he carried a cane with q gold band around
it. and the other was thrust launtiiy in his
side pocket Ladies and gentlemen walked
about IN the wings, and 4 few were grouped
On the stage watching the second
scene OF The Lyons Mall Carpenters
could lie seen hammering, pulling, and
lifting all sorts of odi looking things In
the air swung gondola, and resting in the
stern of il was a trunk labeled Quebec"
As portion OF Lord Woiseley's
Canadian contingent had deserted and sold
their boat Against the rear wall rested
the black bridge over which the broken
hearted Shylock returned to his desolate
home. and besides it was fragment Of the
moonlit garden where the fair Portia tantal-
lied Signor Bassanio and made him wish
that he hadn't a simple roadside inn
stood on the left of the stage with open
windows and a camille burning upon q table
within
-Oh, Mr.. Ball. said Irving to the leader
OF the orchestra, -you should not give us
that nero tremulous effect. Let one OF the
violins play the air softly, but distinctly.
Thank you, that is much better.
Just then Joliquet, the innkeeper's 10y,
tripped on, delivering his lines he came
in a strong, clear voice
soft, soft" said Mr. Irving. Use a
lighter tone. You look young, my boy, but
your voice bellies you
The young actor smiled AMI repeated the
lines in boyish way. that brought n smile to
the face Of his chief. There was no sign Of
irritation or resentment on Joliquet's face,
but an expression Of gratitude for the timely
hint 1t is one of the peculiaritie OF Mr.
Irving management that the actors do not
seem to regard his Instructions as TN in
fringement Of their rights or an aspersion
upon their professional reputation. Joiiquet
ran Into the cOttage, and when h. was Of
fered q five francs piece for 4 bottle Of
wine ne jumped two steps Of the stairs at
time in his ioy
You're not glad enough, was the quiet
criticism Of Mr.. Irving. Jump three steps
And Joliquet came flying down from the III
door with a radiant face, clearing tie three
steps and landing on the stage with an ar
tistic hang.
Now, walk on Your tees and screw up
your face when l wiring your ear contin-
ued the great manager, as he twisted the
actors ear in a mattsrof-fact way, and
looked calmly down 10 see THAI the proper
ex ression of pain was visible.
You look honest" recited Joliquet.
You loo-o-o-k honest corrected Mr.
Irving Remember that you have had
your doubts about it, and you haven't yet
made ~ your mind. Pat special emphasis
on look
Here pair OF horses pranced on the stage
with a stage coach behind them 1t WAS the
Lyons mail As the guari leaped from his
seat, and started TO drink imas mary brandy
from bottle, Mr.. Irving picked UP pistol
and fired at him The guard shuidered, and
then, as he was being stabbed b. another
ruifian. fell upon the stage and proceeded t.
die Mr.. Irving smiled.
That won't do, he said when fire
you must act that the aul will know
that my bullet ha, hit y0u Throw Your
arms above your heal .,pi mJv,. the fingers
clutchinsly "a IL ~. -, death IA -ony
tlus-
The managers arms reached wildly up
ward, and ali expression uf Intense agony
came INTO his counteaanco as hs turned
around aud telI upOI Ui's Knee.
The guard thanked his chief for the illus
tration, and Went through with tho convuls-
i've movement TO the satisfaction Of nan seli
AMI every one e!s,.
The rehearsal proc.eeie sinoJthly fol.
awhile to the point where Joliguet de
nounccs LeSur'jl-;S "a ,uurI- Ier II the
guard.
You must all utter nn expression of sur
prise here and help it ~ sudden gestures
said Mr.. Irving to his company. The last
time was accused of being murderer you
looked so indifferent ari uninterestei cha,
one would think it a commonplace thing +
man of good reputation 20 be recognize
as an assassin Now give the expressioi.
with unity AMI force All very good; Ihank
you"
In the last ac; Julia put her arms aro,,ri
Mr.. lrvings neck in the parting s'eu-
Lay your head on my breast anl lsan IN
me- helples-ly as u frig htenei cailt might
and as the dainty head iroppei on his shout
der and the graceful form OF Julia sank
back into one arm Of HJr. Irving be looked
perfectly unconcerued AMI indicated with
the other hand and arm how tine other act
ors should move. Later ON, when Janette
locked the door to keep Dube-c from leav-
Ing his room, ar. Irving interfece.
Turn around, pleas 50 that ths audience
can see your hands and the lock, he said
There is nothing in your spesch t. Indicate
that You are turning the key, but tue peo-
pie will believe that you are If the see it
done.
Finally the crowd OF citizens ru-heI in.
and as the men roared with rage and wielled
their clubs ferociously it was remarkable T.
see how the eyes OF the manager took in at
once the whole picture and every inconsist-
ent detail His silky terrier jumped about
the stage and barked in terror les; his mas
ter might be attacked. As the final tableau
was struck and the company left the stage
Mr.. Irving bowed courteously, ami went ou;
arm in arm with Mr. Bran Stoker