Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-09-27
ploN,s GREAT work.

earth no more faithful friend nor one |
who will do more toward preserving his |
memory than 'Gus" Reynolds, the Irish |
comedian, who was his stage manager |
for several seasons.
1T first met BoRcicault," said Mr.
Reynolds to a reporter for the Chicago |
Times, Sin 1871, when 1 went to London
from Dublin to look after the funeral of
my brother John, who had been his
leading comedian and for whom the
dead playwright cherished the warmest
friendship. In all the provincial tours
of Boucicault's successful London pro-
auctions my brother played the, parts
| created by the author, such as Doody in
How She Loves Him. and Johnny
Reilly in The Long Strike At the
time John was attacked by the illness
that terminated in his death he was
| supporting Boucicault at the Drury
Lane Theater. When arrived in Lon
don-I was not a member of the dramatic
| profession then-Boucicault sent for me
| to come and see him at his home, where
he informed me that it was his wish to
be permitted to defray all the expenses.
| of my brothers funeral and the removal
of the remains to Dublin. His sympathy
for me was so gentle, and his own sor-
row at Johns early taking of so evil
dent, that loved and esteemed him
from that moment.
| shortly thereafter entered the
| business and followed the line of work
at which my brother had been so suc-
cessful. Fortune brought me to Amer
lea in 1882. Things had mot prospered
with me as 1 expected and did not
think that this country, as a paradise
for actors, was as bright as 1t had been
painted. l met Boucicault in New York
March 8. He was rehearsing his COM
pany in Vice Versa at Wallack's
Theater and staying at the Victoria
Hotel. called on him at the hotel.
"'Well, Reynolds, what brought you
here% he brusquely asked.
~ was carelessly desperate or des-
perately careless. 1 stared vacantly
into space and said: "A ship His
small, penetrating eyes flashed upon me
for a moment, and HIM was his only
expression. In that instant he had
taken in the whole situation and all
ready his brain was at work.
Reynolds said he, have you ever
played So-and-so and So-and-so?'-prin-
cipal comedy characters in his we'll
known pieces.
"'Yes, SIR answered.
"'Then,' said he, with another mean
ing glance of those keen eyes, you have
appeared in stolen versions of my
works
} "'But was paid for it.
; "'Well, we'll, don't blame you. Come
and see me here tomorrow at ten
o'clock. Stay, take this and he thrust
into my hand twenty-dollar bill, and
before could realize it he was gone.
| RntWQan Hxyn hof ND
) eight O'Clock the next morning he wrote
; q part into Vice Versa that suited my
particular line of ability to perfection,
but which was wholly unnecessary to
the piece. When 1 met him at ten
= o'clock he read 1t to me: There, Rey-
nolds, said he, is the key; now unlock
it, When I walked on the stage for re-
hearsal the members of the company
were thunderstruck. But Boucicault
vouchsafed no explanation but put me
through my part until every thing ran
. to his liking. We played at Hartford
t and Springfield prior to the opening at
the Star Theater in New York. On the
second night of the engagement at
' the Star the old gentleman invested me
with the stage management. While in
that position was given abundant op-
portunities to study the mans charac-
d ter, which was the object of the deepest
e interest to me.
: "Boucicault would brook no interpola-
v tions. He would not allow an actor, no
a matter how ripe his Judgment might be,
u to take the slightest liberty with his
language. If an actor attempted to in
:. troduce an original idea or line into his
IL part the Old man would take him aside
# and ask in a tone of half reproach and
1t half censure: is not Boucicault good
enough for you? On a similar occasion
% he would say: When you were sleeping
"a in bed was thinking this matter out
and allow me to say, sir, with all re-
spect, that left no room for improve
D. ment at your hands However, If one
1t of his company happened to hit upon an
RS idea that was q palpsble improvement
;e he would adopt it and extend all due
IL thanks and credit to the originator.
"In his relations to the stage there is
l.. no one to take Boucicault's place. As g
;! playwright he has been widely accused
~ OF plagiarism. Well, he wrote some
he three hundred plays containing three
er thousand characters. Surprising tha'
h he merely adapted seventy-fve percent
N Of these, would it not still remain tina
a. he was . wonderful man? He was al
- indefatigable worker. No matter how
- arduous his work on the stage the nigh
before, six o'clock in the morning neve
found him in bed when his health wa
j. any thing like good. He never allowed
to thought to perish unheard. Even IL
g. his busiest moments every idea tina
flashed through his brain was instantl.
transferred to paper.
HE could do q multiplicity of thing
at once, and do them all we'll. hav
We seen him stand on the stage and direc
ut the shading Of piece Of scenery in tn
Sc hands of the artist, to all seeming al
- sorbed in that alone, then turn sudden
ly to the orchesta rehearsing below wit
the exclamation: 'StopI that flute 1
playing false Nothing escaped hi
quick ear or his quicker eye. His rt