New-York tribune., 1886-05-09
TIE LEADING WOMAN.
HER CHARACTERISTICS AS ILLUSTRATED
IN OUR THEATRES.

cabuary as the leading woman fall all the most I'm
portant herone OF the drama. 'rhe exception to
this rule is where the actual heroine only more or
/ less sentimental young girl and The really strong
acting is doue by whose interests or feelings
opposed those Of the Juvenile people who nonop-
olze the love interest. AS an example. the cast OF
&" diplomacy - at Wallack's may be cited, when Miss
Rose Coehlan played the part of the Countess zieka
But a general thing American leading women cling
with great persistency to the youthful heroes and In
pursuance OF this policy refuse many strong parts They
that II they appear persons who are ola or
admittedly midde-aee, they lose something OF their
charm when they juvenile roles IL Is ihe
ariest task for a manager to get his leading woman to
y ay the mother OF marriageable daughter, athoue
many best parts the modern drama, especially
the French fIom which draw largely are OF this
nature And yet actress who refuses Is probably
about the age Of the character she declines
In France, where the fostering care OF the Govern
ment the works OF a long and unbroken line of brilliant
and often great dramatisis, and the constant and
thoughtful consideration given to the stage by all
classes have caused artistic standing to be thor
ougAy recosnized actresses are far more sensible.
They desire the best rather those which tney
can play best and little If the age be eighteen or
eighty. Art Is With them higher conside alton tlan
the exhibition Of a Iretty face a charming figure
great Pasca and Favart won no incon
sid able portion OF their fame in characters which
American leading woman would have refused as being
too old FOR ner" In the zenith OF her faDe at tue
Francais sarah Bernhardt enacted old crone In
Paroi's Rome vancu." II is that in nsequence
of that example Miss Fanny Davenport induced to
y part hut that of the rare exceptions
where the influence OF a particularly enerprsng AMI
able manager the natural objections Of tue
actress
celebrated Irish dranatist once spoke OF charming
| Ncw-Y leading woman as suffering with sudden
access OF juvenility" Her CONF aint is general and
almost er aemc No part girlsh for the
| leading woman. To-day at least two oace-fivore
hanging ike grim death 70 star Juvenis
parts while their daughters who have had many years
OF experience are playing leaing roles In other
companies. Any who witnessed the performance OF
Moths at Waack's st have been Impressed By the
absnrdty OF the vain efforts OF the buxom and certainly
not extremely young leading woman to represent the
almost child heroine Vera Tue leading woman cings
fast vanishing characteristics and looks OF youth
with desperate determination equal To that of NlnOn de
rE Enclos A suggestion that the time has come OF Is
rapidly coming when she snOuld gracefully glide Into
old women Is regarded as a mortal insult Many are
the stories told OF who having had the same
leading for years have kept them on rather shan
face consequences OF limiting that their useful
diminishing II Is wonderful 10 hear at what
tender ages ladies say they began to play mpor
tan parts You my DEAR" one OF them will say
people do sc exasgerate about and those
lorrid newspaper men always raxing up soma old
play bill advertisement. Now because I've been
twenty years Oh stage they think I'm old Why. my
| ather put me on only in short dresses or
course was pushed forward aud nov every one Is say
| ing tnat must be swfuuy old "
Now there often is some in similar statements
because public apt 10 eIaeserate the length OF
time they have their favorites story told OF
Bostons idol William being stopped somn years
the street ey an Old gentleman "uo sl'tou on
shaking hands with him
Excuse liberty Mr.. Warren, but couldn't resist
the temptation to speak to you have admired you 80
long l used TO scream at you when was mere boy.
/ did indeed, sir.
~Hum." grunted the comedian who is the most
accessible person world and Is rather tired OF the
forced attention OF strangers. and pray s now ola
may you be- .,...,... ~. w....on
And ain just SlAty-nVe IOod morning. s' e"iu
the Irate actor, as he strobe on 49,,
Leading may Dc roughly divide into Two Alhus
mems loadng women aud wOmeu's leading "oHrn.
The forler apt y be wlat the s"eII cds toure
1sc,iy ne n not ALWAYS stricy nanIsons faces they
comedy, aud wnon they love OF ~ axe oFe
creatures Of impulse - they dress handsomely bu.
olen daringy aud perhaps just suspicion OF
OF rennonent IN tner speech anu nAnnois, ls0
wOiuens e.IIng women arc frail, delicate, reun1u.
They the LegHts OF situation nor souuu %
the bottom depths OF passion; but they are Nay >,
the language OF their admirers on 50 s"er1.
Their gowns are poems Oh soitest narDonie' rs .
look a. Oreina is intended for the wives OF us
The leading woman Is apt TO De fussy and ctidl ~ .o
theatre ene. OF course. nas dresser, usaaAy hel
maid. WHO be- almost nurse also. When the
sdg %oHn SS n az rn The maid has
mold. and she Is also the depository OF "fsp' a
parasol or umbrella, little bag hoIding o~uei pun, NJ
scent bottle vuaiSrette handkerGne,; Aa aa
mind TO attend 10 these little rnes anu pr
Al has to 20 ia search OF hsr suado" hoi
c0Ddesceson IN delgnng 10 appear at renoAi a 30 ~
always to relied letter announcing that she Is
really III 10 come and sometimes inciosing oou n
after hr has been ssitins about a quarter
OF an nour. Wnen does arrive II Is generaiiy .se
full OF complaints. she roay Is not NoI4, -
work is Killing ner; why rehearsas be called later
actually hasn't had tins 10 get any DreaAi@ss Tu'n
remarks she pours out to more OF ie's
10 ding up wsth the articles before deta,i.a
All time the stage manager Is ir paten'iy o,7
her. and Is solo arsg stns him Or. orIe s
AT last she gets ON for her hrst sccae' an' Tben
any than she did at Tue previous II he .rsA- y
tho manaser WAKES wroth anu Tue & nna today
wrOtaer" told you you'd better excuse me 70
ana give me chance ID stldy, sue pe'uan'' "a
claims 49,, >, o,,-,. ,ha manager
1hey don't have To stand for hours u NC n'''u "
Nil your dresses be done in time sympatheticaly
aIr 20 ana so promises theIn." replies the unsus-
An. thars good" says the comedian The play can
Then Ihrre il a little more talk and the Leading
remembers her omitted breakfast. senas nea %
sen ger for some and sue ougnt 10 I,ao up
summOned from tue delights VI 'e" ia"
toast . ....,. and her
Tie stage Is usually TOD cold at rehearsal; anu ner
dressing room Il always, according 10 her accounN
furnace well. She Is rarely ready 10 oesn % Va
tine, and when he call boy announces me o' ~ ld
will send message asking ths curtain Dc nrIu
minute she Is worn out during tne pos that
With acting aud frequent chsnges oi dresses ~
-l you ste scarcely stand pat
party will nDG her gay a Lark and n1t aos"'u'o''
opposed to little dance - 49,. .ha
The leading woman Is "A severe critic OF urnthStia 81
fuds fault with their cousiruciiJn sem -
grammar, and Is generally desirogs OF manns Nv
lions III text OF part What doc: ,in" ~ .n ~,
about how a woman talks T. was iaVorts ina,,st
one nj ON an eveniful day an uncrushable drAnsus,
replied, know too well how mnon one Won, an -. Siu
IHen she retired Into her shell and dia hef oo' ~ ~
his play. r.,-
As "a rule the leading Il LIBERAL ani oiteh seu
the company and some OF tne stan AMI N l"i - ~
ertainng in her home. which Is genersJ eos
little with pronounced IeaniDes towari te
style OF drcOr alton II she has fainIy sic u a 80
thou gh icous mother. Her h0nsohOd houls az
likely to be very reaulAr snd her children ale late ~
rising retiring II Is sn gle she Is ven 70 Pee
and possibly inclined dabble Htite IN NumA.'
alrnda .nrn-lA lreakIa.ls. |