The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-11
A VERY MERRY YOUNG MAN.
Err. DE HOLF HOPPER TALKS ENTER
TAININGLP FOR THE SUY'S READERS.

aud Improves Pnrt-Some Funny ENpc
riences-Tho Peculiarly OF Audience,
In somo tIie--A Tribute TO Base Raj
and Local PrIde-1Ii- Encounter with ~
Tmpire-Tho New Operas Prospects.
This is rather n crucical test TO com,
tumbling on top OF first night shnke.up
Having your ideas drawn out with questions
Is rather suggestive OF forceps and tho den.
lists chair. though infinitely pleasanter." said
MIR Do Wolf Hopper rs he came hurrying into
the otilco OF tho Broadway Theatre after n Ions
md tedious rehearsal.
The name OF the morry comedian suggests to
the votaries OF light opera a most grotesluo
personality, with absurd and abnormal physi.
cal development somewhat noislly demonslril-
tive bufToonery and never failing with provok-
Ing mannerisms Quito In contrast with this
conception is the tall, brond -shouldcred young
man. with tho snewy grace OF an athlete : n
fine, clear-cut, animated face; dirk blue eyes
as full Of enthusiasm and delight over exist
cnce as boys at his first circus. but indicative
oil an integrity OF character and purpose which
command respect; u modern Mark Tapley.
bound to be Jolly, who says he has bully
good timo In tho world any way" with ready
flow OF words arranged in most inimically
droll phrasnG without an atom of ;he tradi-
tional actors egotism. with little home up
town, and mother wife, and q bouncing boy
tokoep things lively. and without superstition
TO swear by. though he does own to II certain
fondness for having the boy wish him good
luck voluntarily on occasions. 1t seems that
Immediately previous to Hoppers first appear
ance in the The Lady, or the Tiger the lttle
fellow, then but eighteen months old, called
out Good by. papa; 900! luck" rs no had
doubtless heard his mothor say in farewell,
and this the actor regards as ono of the
NJ nv, pf his
woman would say of his personality that
she liked his face because it inspires conil-
dence. and OF his manner that in spite OF tho
continuous ebullition OF good nature and lol
lily there Is certain fine courtesy that
makes him under all circumstances gentle
nun in the highest sense OF tho term
You want to begin at tho beginning and
know how l chose the stage for profession?
Well, things go by contraries in this world
My paternal ancestors wore conservative
Quakers: my maternal proGenitors ritualists
OF tho most pronounced type-ergo. l take to
the stage. They thought 1t WIS n special lin
tied straight to Hades. knew was born for
It, and to have n theatre rs a kid. and all that
sort Of thing. My rather and relatives were
lawyers; my godfather, Mr.. Joseph l.. Choate
was lawyer; | must be a lawyer. of course.
Well, studied Just six months under compul-
sion. hated It cordially. and then played in n
little amateur drama. Conscience at tho
Fourteenth Street Theatre and got my
brain completely turned. | thought from
what my friends said I was Sec
ond Booth. started in after glory.
That was ten years ago. and I find myself
to-day gagging comiOue. Shows how things
go. began as a STAR backed by my own
wealth and anothers experience. The expert
ence cost me my wealth. and | naturally drift
ed into n salaried place. | posed matinee
masher. with n blond wig and dropping
moustache. Thought was a bowling success.
but one day my mother came to see mo play.
and dealt me most crushing blow by remark
ing in her quiet WAY after it was over: WE'LL
VIII. don't know but you had better 20 back
1T was Annie Louise Cary who first sug-
Resed to me that | had u voice. aud Miss
Georgia Cayvau told me the same | studied
under Luigi Nicola, and owe it entirely to his
training that have been enabled to sing con-
tinuousy. with only six weeks vacation in
seven years There was line when essayed
but AWAITS Of t be mnaby 81
tundo's salaried value / abandoned tho ideal
vocal flights for less formi dable but more
profitable EagRinE arlas and hero l am. or
course do little straight singing once in a
while. but as rule the voice is sacrificed to
o theory that no real actor can study acting to |
advantage. Tor You are apt to acquire the man
own originality. and do not believe that the |
art Of producing Il real laugh or IA real tear is |
one that can be learned OF course there
Is certain mechanism, Il few details |
OF technique, that ono may lie taught, |
and for those am indebted 10 Mr. +. !. Mac
Kay. What little success have had owe TO |
a combination OF circumstances and TO my |
own enthusiasm; You see, have. a huge time |
". love my work. and delight in it 80 much |
that my audiences laugh with me, not at me.
except on first nights. when have that want
natural TOO. save for the lesson had in t%irl |
= a. nj
II see pretty step anywhere that | do not |
know, collar the, dancer and make him teach
again. because a vol known manager. backed
by money and intelligence. concluded bad
What's that? Does it satisfy my ambition?
Well ye5 Hn r. No.. SGMe;ime7 when ! 70 to
flled with, ambitious ongInRs and ] thnk:
oh. dear, have got to 20 back to- might and |
sing that same old tonc4 trash and emit NE
trivial and worthless st indeed. But, sSain'
something 80. so sweet happens thnt | BECOME |
sides gags and girls in tights. trouble about |
scenery, and things, 1t was in Boston a while
see me- play You Know ia was the man,
aGer OF theatre there. He died about |
had grieved for him ever since oV The way Womsn
Will. and couldn't forget her sorrow. After tho |
performance she cana and thanked me- for |
making her forget her trouble enough TO lauEh |
once more. Eds brother TOOK her home. and !
rushed back to thanh me, too. for making his |
great friend Of mine, and It touched la". II |
just occurred to me that the man who kills !
De%tfm0nG so glorousy couldn't do that, and |
perhaps It's quito Us sweet aud Wholesome u |
thing 10 make people forget their Woes and |
laugh as anything man can do.
" There's guard on the elevated road here
who declares cured him of rheumatism when
the doctors failed. lie had had some. kind Of
catch In his shoulder for long slime and
laughed until he shook himself out OF il. |
DON'T know anything about that bur do know
ih9t there Is Just as much art and Legitimacy
II buresgue lorsepay as they call IT.. rs in
straight comedy is great school for tho
eLinedian' Tor you don't get any definite real
tnn ru%Saeri ana II increases your fund OF ipven-
You 70 so many ways Of getting lnugh. A
humber oil popular men have graduated from
this dsd school, Harry B9ckott, Crane, Robson,
lose my physical agility may climb in
i"r glory In something, serious and learn
70 depend on the author more on gags
i .;; but my work, interests me,
cumming, and y got ono that is not way un
nave an intense desire TO mako II 90 and
there ib the stimulus and spur ali the TIM.
ny present res ambition i. to make Castles in
the Az great big success. Tho music is
beautiful melodic. breezy. and whistly There