The evening world., 1888-09-18
IAN OPEN LETTER" OF HIS OWN. F..
De Wolf Hopper Replies to Alan Dnle's
Frank and Pnternni Epistic.

"
DEAR Mn. ALAN DALE; As you kindly
said that your feelings would prompt You to
say "Ah, there, De Wolf" let me state
that the same kindly impulse would tempt
me to say Dear friend Alan, not that l
know you personally, but having enjoyed
your many bright epistles for some time
past. l feel that | know YOU almost well
enough to take that liberty.
Let me first thank you for our kindly in
terest in my future welfare. and, believe me-,
my future is quite rs essential to my content
a. il can possibly he to you. My nature not
being entirely superficial, l have given II
thought TO the "sere and yellow leaf, v and
have seriously considered the subject yon
treat of. and l thjnk pc ssibly the opinions of
a man whose business it is to excite
the disabilities of a kindly public is en-
tiled to some consideration Believe
me, dear Alan. that strongly marked
personality by no means become wearisome.
sake of argument, let me ask you to name one
successful comedian to-day whose personal
ity is not 30 strongly marked and so delight
full ns to always make him welcome to bis
could name you fifty men who eminently
we'll illustrate the above, and rs methods are
a result of personality and temperament, they
must of necessity alwavs be about the same.
And now. my dear Dale, wha: encourage
mept indeed have We for versatility when
such a letter as yours follows what / consid-
cred two such different performances as Pau
sanius in The Lady or the TIGER" and
Lambertuccio in "Boccacciop" While there
are many suggestions Of the lanky and
lengthy Hopper IN Lambertuccio. l think l
can safely challenge you to point out one in
Pausanius. Not one line, not one suggestion
Of "~butfoonery" did introduce in
bic author. sydney R~osenfeld,. and
that Prince of "Overseers," Col. John A.
McCaull will bear evidence to. But there
was q part, my dear Dale, SO strong in situa-
ton, so full of character and dramatic inter
est that any i%ntroductions of Hopper would
have been an insult to the author and to the
audience. But how many such do you find
in light opera? Where you receive one like
this you get a hundred that lack inherent in
terest and depend largely upon you W in
ventiven ess and individuality. No, | think
can safely say that my methods we're not en-
tirely the same in the rendition of the two
aforementioned parts.
a refined audience laugh? Doesn't it require
some art to be ab!et to accomplish that cheer:
full result? Do you think we always feel
funny on the stagep That laugh is the result
neous outbreak. Fun will always be wei,
come md lasting. and any fun is Legitimate VI
that amuses without demoralizing.
And now, my dear Alan. | must take you
seriously to task. You charge me with being
grossly unprofessi1 nal and d%iscourteous to
that personally and professionally charming
little lady Marion Manola, and cite. as an
instance, in cold and direct accusation. that
"seltishly drew attention to myself by in,
terrupting her with. oh, shut up!" ]
neuer did ii, Alan Dale. The ejaculation
belongs to Mr.. Bell. is duly incorporated in
the text and has been since the first rehearsal
and has been given every performance. with
the cordial acGuiescence of Miss Manola anG
of our stage directress, Nine. Cottrelly.
Let me suggest in conclusion, Mr.. Altar
Dale. that l sincerely trust your entire Letter
has no more foundation than the phrase JUS
quoted. I hope not. Very truly yours.
81 DE WOLF HOPPER.