The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-01-05
A TALK WITH MAYO.
Characters of @Nordeek . and
-Dayy Crockett"
MAYo's FIRST TRIP WEST.
In 1868 the Veteran Found Drama in the
WiIds UnprefftabIe-His Visit
To Seattle

Mr.. Frank Mayo, who played an engage
ment Ia Davy Crockett and 'NoFdeck
in this city during the past week. is famil-
iar figure 10 American playgoers. Although
this Is his first visit TO Seattle. Mr.. Mayo is
no stranger to the people here. 80 many
having seen him in the East in bis old and
familiar play Of sCrocket." In appearance
Dir. Mayo is q sturdily- built man OF fine
physique His hair and mustache are
nearly white, and his vigorous manner and
active life are in striking contrast to his
advancing years. Mr.. Mayo is about 81
years OF age. and for nearly forty years
has been on the stage. During his dra-
matte career &c has been in nearly every
state and territory IN the Union. Early in
Mr.. Mayos experience he travelled through
the North ard West, playing Shake
spearian drama. He vas IN
Oregon and Washinnton in 1865. He
travelled 10 Portland by steamer and played
in some Of the more important towns in
Oregon. From Portland Mr.. Mayo went
10 The Dalies by boat, and after giving two
performances there decided TO 20 to Walla
WalIa. The trip was made by stage. there
being no railroad in the state at that time.
But travelling was difficult and expensive.
and few months experience in the viii
0erness sufficed to satisfy him with the
Northwestern country for many wears.
He returned 20 San Francisco. and from
there went East Mr.. Mayo's success
at portraying Shakespeare's plays was not
marked and he finally gave it up His
play Of s.Dayy Crockett" was brought out
in 1874. In this play he achieved marked
success. lt, in fact, brought him both
fame and fortune. Mr.. Mayo is as
thoroughly identified with "Davy Crockett
as Joseph Jefferson is with rip Van
Wrinkle. or as 4. A. Sothern was with
"Dundreary."
1t is popularity OF the American thea
tre-going public, as Mr.. Mayo remarked
during his visit here, that If an actor once
makes success of q play and becomes
identified with it, that Ii is the most diff
cult thing in the world to lay it aside for
The production of another. Such was the
case with Jefferson. in RIP Van
Wrinkle. For years he tried to lay
it aside, and finally when Bob Acres
was produced, his genius and perfect art
bringing the exquisite comedy into public
favor, it was a great success; but be was
obliged to retain Grip in his repertoire
purely from his Identification with it.
Ii seems to be so with Mayo's
Crockett 1t was his first great
success. IL made him. But ''Davy
Crockett is not a great play
The rugged, noble, self-sacriicing character
of the backwo0dsman, through which runs
so prominently those elements OF a nature
ever appealing TO the sympathies more so
than TO the intellect. is the one
which secures the enthusiastic support
Of the masses. 1t is American
iife-in romance, and its strength lies in
the actors art which has wrought TO q SUI
periority that which in itself would not
rise much above mediocfity. or in other
words, "Davy Crockett owes its great pop
ularity 10 Mr.. Mayo's artistic conception
OF the character.
In the two plays Of Mr.. Mayo's, '.Davy
Crockett" and "Nordeck, there is. as be
says, although accidental, similarity In
the characters OF the central figures.
There is the same element of
manliness and the same unswerv-
ing loyalty TO that which is deemed
q sense OF duty and Justice. "Nordeck,s
said Mr.. Mayo. would do what 'Crocket'
would were he in his place. and the same
motives which actuated him would inapel
a character such as Crockett TO move along
in the same answering course.
Noroeck. ne coHtihueut was suggested
to me by Werner's Nenita." In writing
the play did not follow closely the trend
OF the story. The central figures
were taken from it, and the
play follows the story regarding
time and place But ''Nordecks now is
not the "Nordeck" il was in 1854. 1t has
been pruned down, so to speak, and is
the result of great deal of hard work
wrote something like thirty manuscripts
before il assumed It's present form. tits
pleasing play, and really appeals more 10 the
heart than TO the intellect It seems 10
meet with the same favor wherever il Ii
seen. | think '.Nordeckr will have long
run, but al the same time must carry
'sDavy Crockett along with ME, for the
peoTle demand IL