New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-08-05
CHANCE HITS or ACTORS.
SOME ODDITIES OF SUCCESS

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In these days when the personality OF actors and
actresses has come to be considered of almost greater
Import ance than their ability It is not difficult to
understand how great successes may be attained by
those who least expect them. Formerly when stock
companies were maintained in every city of any impo
tance the members of the company were selected for
their all-round' ability In their special lines OF
business An Of the better class might be relied
upon be generally acceptable in part for which he
might be cast Now that plays are sent all over the
country with the original companies, managers select
their people not because Of their average ability or
long experience, but because some pecuiarifies OF
appearance and manner emncnty At them for special
parts Under these circumstances It easy to see how
citing has come in the majority OF 10 be rather
exhibition Of personality than Of art With actors so
selected IS only natural that here and there instances
should where the representation should appear
perfect. 1t has been truly said that every man
can play one part well, that part being necessarily
one that suits his nature, his appearance and his
pecuiaritles OF voice, manner and action He has
only to be himself upon the stage, and any actor OF
experience can be easy and natural under such con-
dtons. The accidental meeting with such fortunately
fitting parts has made the success OF half the stars
who are now prominently before the public. They
are cast for parts that suit them, and having made
hits which often surprising TO them TO their
friends, they buy tho plays in which they have been
successful Or II that is not possible have other pieces
written, in which similar characters are made tho
pivot OF the action Very frequently these attempts at
reproduction fail entirely An actor who has good
| comedy part in serious play may make a hit not
alone because Of his individual performance, but on
account of the contrast to his efforts afforded by his
associates lie Is Therefore likely 10 DC as
powers co. Of his work singular Instance OF ms
w hs Ky ! he pps the 5 FhRp i
PRp and Sy has Been 9sP TP
continuous shouts of laughter. Surely, Mr. Polk
thought, II can get a play built roand somewha,
out IN " The Gentleman from Nevada but the play
did not draw What was simply an effective relief did
| not make strong centre OF interest
One drawback TO reliance upon chance success
Or ono due personality is that 1t is scarcely ever
repeated. The late John T. Raymond had been trying
to DO for many years before he happened 10 strike
Colonel Sellers. OIt Of this part he made
fortune which is to be regretted he did not know how
| &c keep hut when " The GIi1cd geT worn or,
he able again to make any large profits.
Tie tried plays innumerabe, but though some afforded
| him fair return for his labor, he never again
able to achieve remarkable hit. Miss Kate Claxton
had the good luck to be the first Louise in the Two
Orphans at the Union Square Theatre. The part
IS sympathetic, being such Of interest," that
In the language Of actors, /" 1t plays ITSELF Miss
Claxon wise and fortunate enough 10 secure this
play for starring purposes and although she had TO
pay a heavy royalty, she laid By many thousand
dollars. In her case, too, the accidental success mas
never been repeated on anything like similar SCALE
season after season she has tried new plays, ana
| though she this spring found that appears TO
and in any event will be far less than that of the
Two Orphans when poor Murdoch wrote psvy
mond He did not think it in his way, and Mrs:
Raymond advised the author to send IL TO Frank
Mayo Every theatre goer knows the result. For az
| least ten years Mayo played Davy Crockett and
accumulated snug competency BGt he grew ss , an
expensive venture I'm Shakcspearcan plays and failed
Then he tried to force Noreck' and though he was
In addition a version OF the "Tbrce Guard.men'
The public had learnt to Identify him with pavy and,
excellent actor though he Is did not care for him 50
much In any other part.
Prior to the production of Pnaforc y at the STAN
dard Theatre, there probably not more unior'u'
nate actor In this country than Tom whihen Nearly
everything he had been associated with failed. ie'
he a clever actor good singer and vlolnist anu
fair writer He cast for Sir Joseph for'er' anu
bis instant Is matter OF history No
peculiar neat, precise and rather pompous me'hoa'
were exactly the things needed In the part oh VI.
strength Of the success he male first comedian az
the Madison Square Theatre, and for severa' year
drew a salary OF $3.50 week, and his wife was s''o
taken into the company. Early In the same season
that Oliver Doud Byron became u star he apphca ior
position In a Baltimore stock company al saar. VI
$40 u week. ana Was not accepted Not very vns
afterward he came TO that theatre as star ana took
sensational drama Across the Continent, anu 80
for his share in one week 5000. IL was In Bamo,e
too that young stock actor. NJ. b. Curtis VIM MA
playing at FORTS on small salary induce" This
manager 20 try his piece, SAINT OF fVsen,
proved one OF the mast remarkable ana apPsaomss.
nacoountablc OF modern hits. True lis career r MIA
short lived but Curtis made a large sum anu MS VIZ"
took care that he did not spend H. A.. u.o.d.
| When tho Dantes. brought our AZ inc Paved
way Theatre, now Dalys Lonls Anr M harm SANDY
the Parson Rankin as the heru S" ma
Then hartley Campbell wrote MY tar' s,'ccess IN
tbn parson The outcome Is that Today ne Is ONO "
| mi m