Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-09-15
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
C0ULDoCK's DEBUT AT THE sADLFR's
WELLS THEATER.
Fifty-four Years an Actor Jcfferson's
Revival of Old Plays Just as
Cad to See an Actor.


are more widely known than the veteran
{. w. Couldock. His long connection
with that now well-known play, Hazel
kirke," wherein he enacted the role of the
iron-willed miller, made his name familiar
to theater-goers in all parts of the country
and brought him once more conspicuousiy
before friends who had admired him in his
transforming" days; for the " "Gov'nor,"
as he is known to his intimates, toured the
United States when play-going was
vastly different thing from what it is now,
and surrounded by vastly different condi-
tions. Actors, and particularly those new
in the profession, grumble at the fatigue
encountered in travelling by rail. In 1910
much OF the travelling was done in wagons,
aud some very notable actors pursued their
peregrinations in that way. But the drama
thrilled all the same, and was probably
more revered as an art by members of the
profession than it is now. To hear Mr..
Couldock chat over those DAYS is vastly
entertaining. He is a delightful raconteur.
"Things are not at all what they used
to be-" said the veteran the other day.
"The hardships Of theatrical life have de-
creased wonderfully. | am sorry TO saw
that study among young actors has de-
creased, also. Years ago, in the era of
stock companies, beginners had ample op-
portunity to show their mettle. Now the
opportunity is to a great extent lacking,
and young man or young woman will go
on for three seasons at a stretch playing
the same part night after night You
cannot develop actors that way. A great
trouble, too, is that nowadays young men
and young women, instead of being con-
tent to begin at the bottom of the ladder,
want to begin at the top"
"9ou were born in England, were you
not?" | asked.
Yes" he replied, ain Long Acre, Lon
don. The month was April, and the year
was 1915. That makes me trife over "A
years old"
"And you have no thought az yet of
giving up the stage"
"Why should give it up?" he asked in
his bluff, CHEEKY way. Il have lots of life
and work in me, and managers are always
after me-"
"When did you make your first appear
ance?"
"a little more than ffty-four years ago.
1t occurred at Sadler's Wells Theater,
London, in 1885. Quite way back, eh ?'
"1ou remember your first part, OF
course"
81 ought to remember it," he answered
dryly at was a somewhat important
character twas Othello, by one William
b1l Hh1f ALL
dertaking for young fellow Don't you
think so-for a debut, too? Well, | was
pretty full of ambition, and my friends,
among whom were many theatrical people,
infused more of it into me. l studied
great deal, both in my own room and in
the theaters. | carefully noted the meth
ods of the best actors, and tried hard to
profit by what | witnessed When my
chance came | was permitted to choose
what part pleased, and selected Othello.
What | suffered from nervousness only
those who have gone through the terrible
ordeal Of first performance can imagine"
GLOW did it turn out ?'
"All right" he returned Encourage
ment poured in from all quarters, and
everybody advised me to go ahead. !
shall never forget how proud and happy |
felt when, at the close of that never-to-be-
forgotten night, number of my friends
presented me with purse of ESQ., as an
evidence of their good will and their con-
tiGence in my ability. The really hard
work succeeded my debut. In those days
there were no long runs, and the bill was
changed frequently. Many and many a
night / walked the floor of my room
pounding new part into my head FL
nally left Sadler's Wells and drifted into
other companies, fetching up later on at
the Theater Royal, Liverpool. There |
played leading business for season, and
left To accept the same line Of work at the
Birmingham Theater. At the termina-
tion OF my engagement at the latter house
| sailed for America"
"When was that p
an lS49; though | lay no claim to
being Forty-niner. came over with
Charlotte Cushman. She had been play.
ing in London. went to call on her one
day, and the result of our meeting was
that she engaged me rs her leading sup
port for tour of the United States"
what was your opinion of Cushmau ~
] asked
"Ttere could be only one opinion in re-
gard to her." az old actor replied with de-
| cision. "She was a wonderful woman and
a wonderful actress. She had will of
! iron, and a determination which over
leaped all obstacles. What she did not
know about stage effects was not worth
| knowing. Her rehearsals were the most
exhaustive and most instructive that ]
ever attended. She was a woman of tire
less energy and activity, and when it came
time for work there was no nonsense about
her. opened with her in America at the
! old Broadway Theater, in the Stranger.
When Cushman returned to England
remained here and joined the stock COM
pany of the Philadelphia Walnut Street
Theater, playing there for nearly FIVE
years"
"Did you know any of the old actors
who were famous in your early days?" |
asked
"Yes indeed" ne answered proudly. 81
have played with Macready, Charles Keau,
Ellen Tree, John Vandenhoff and others. u
"Who did you consider the greatest OF
the old tragedians?'
"Macready," was the prompt reply. "He
was an ideal tragediap, though he natur-
ally shone to greater advantage in some
parts than in others. l have never seen an
actor equal the performance of Claude in
the Lady of Lyons which Macready used
to give in his younger days. In appear
ance, voice and action he was a perfect
prince, and Henlen Faucit's Pauline, in
the same play, was delightful companion
picture"
"Do you ever expect torevisit England ?''
Hardly. Some years ago l used to
promise myself that pleasure, bnt somehow
did not keep the promise. / fear that /
shall never go back"
How many times have you played in
Hazel KirkeY"
Without exaggeration," the actor said,
with smile, have acted the miller in
that play nearly two thousand times, which
does not include the number of perform
ances given by me of the same part in
The Willow Copse.'"
De Wolf Hopper travelled for some time
in one of the Madison Square Theater
companies, playing Pitticus Green in 'Ha-
! eel Kirke" As a result he is brimful Of
"reminiscences concerning the "Gov'nor."
Once the company had been booked to
play in a small, and until that time un-
heard-of, Southern town. The night was
/ al Il