The Washington critic., 1888-03-17
STAGE CHILDREN.
Who They Are and What They Are
Like.


Like. ...
1t makes all the difference in the world
from which side of the footiights one
looks at the ''stage pictures and theatri-
cal properties From the wings the armor
is all tin, the silks eall cotton, the gold
and glitter all gilt and tinsel. But there is
one kind Of property"--for they are
classed as such.-that does not lose inter-
est when seen and known from the pro-
fessional side--that is the stage child
II has been q much. debated question
ever since the earliest days of the stage,
whether men or women had the most
histrionio ability. The child actors, how
ever, would seem to indicate that women
are naturally gifted with superior adapta-
bility to the STAGE Boy actors of TO 8
years Of age are much less often seen on
the stage than little girls of the same age.
By child-aetors little ones of not more
than or 8 years are meant.
These stage children, who add by their
simple presence such touching element
to some Of the fearful melodramas, are
much the same Off the stage as they are
before the audience. Their chubby little
faces cannot be made up, and, beyond a
change of wig and the costume, but
little can be done to change their ap-
pearance.
These children do not usually have
speaking parts, and are not carried about
with the company, but the property
man" attached TO the theatre knows of a
number of children whom he calls into
requisition when he wants them.
One of the prettiest and brightest of
these child-actresses is 7-year-old Minnie
Brady, who is an attaehe of Albaugh's
Opera Minnie, in spite of her
tender years, is quite an experienoed
actress. This is her third season on the
stage. She made her debut in long
clothes, and from the first has never suf-
fered a moment from stage fright.
As she grew older Minnie became too
large to take infant parts and be carried
on and of, and fora while her face was
missed when shows requiring infantlle
assistance were here She soon learned
to walk nicely and reliably, however, and
again took her placeon the boards.
Minnie isa pretty little blonde. girl,
with big bright b1ne eyes and q plump
oval face. Her features are pretty, and
she Is bright and quick to learn herr 'busi-
ness" After the rehearsal she usually
has her part well in hand and knows
when to go ON and come of without being
told.
Off the stage she is quiet and good
natured, and sits demurely by and
Watches the pranks OF the members OF
the company out of her big. innocent
eyes. Minnie has played all sorts of
characters, and played with many Of the
stars who have been at the house dur
ing the three seasons she has been ON the
stage. Most of her parts are merely
walking parts,'' that is, she walks on
and then walks off without saying any
thing.
When Maggie Mitchell was here with
Jane Eyre Minnie played the part OF
Little Adele, and played 1t very nicely,
too. She was also the little girl in Min.
ME Palmer's "My Sweetheart and
played the part of SpartGcus's child with
Bob Downing when he was here.
Minnie is as thoroughly at home In
tragedy as in comedy or opera, and every
one who sees her hopes that she may con
tinueto be successful, and pass from the
position Of one'of the properties at So a
week to perhaps a star, with diamonds
and show of her own.