Wichita eagle., 1890-03-08

another theatre, but the management failing
to see anything striking in it, an adverse
Judgment was passed and the comedy rejected.
It was next offered to Laura Keene, who also
thought but little Of the play, which remained
neglected upon her desk for some time; but it
so CHANGED that the business manager of the
theatre, Mr.. John Lutz, gave me the play to
read While it possessed but little literary
merit, there was Il fresh, breezy atmosphere
about the characters and the story that at
tracted me very much. l saw, too, the chance
OF making strong character Of the leading
part, and so | was quite selfish enough to re-,
commend the play for production.
The reading took place in the green room
at which the ladies and gentlemen Of the
company were assembled, and many furtive
glances were cast at Mr.. Couldocl, and N.Y.
self as the strength of Abel Murcott and Asa
Trenchard were revealed. Poor Sothern sat
In the corner, looking quite disconsolate,
fearing that there was nothing in the play
that would suit him; and as the dismal lines
OF Dundreary were read he glanced over at
me with forlorn expression, as much as to
say, L am cast for that dreadful part little
dreaming that the character OF the imbecile
lord would turn out to be the stepping stone
of his fortune The success of the play
proved the turning point in the career of
three persons-Laura keene, Sothern and
myself.
''The dramatic situation that struck me as
the most important one in this play was the
love scene IN the opening of the last acs. 1t
was altogether fresh, original and perfectly
natural, and | notice that in this important
phase of dramatic composition authors are
conspicuously weak
ut was the opportunity of developing this
attitude of early love, particularly love at
first sight, that attracted me to the Cousin
Simple and trifing as it looks, Mr. Tom
Taylor never drew a finer dramatic picture.
The relation between the two characters was
perfectly original. a shrewd, keen Yankee
boy of % fails in love at first sight with a
simple, loving English dairymaid of lS She
innocentiy sits on the bench, close beside him;
he is fascinated and draws closer to her; she
raises her eyes in innocent wonder at this,
and he glides gently TO the farthest end of the
bench. He never tells her OF his love, nor
does she in the faintest manner suggest her
affection for him; and though they persist
entity talk of orher things, you see plainly
how deeply they are in love- He relates the
story of his uncle'S death in America. and
a cigar. With apparent carelessness he takes
ont paper, Q will made i'll his favor bv the
old man, which document disinherits the girl;
with this he lights his cigar, thereby destroy
ing his rights and resigning them to her.
As have before said, Sothern was much
detected at being compelled to play the part.
He said he could do nothing with it, and GER
tainly for the first two weeks it was dull
effort, and produced but little effect So in
despair he began to introduce oxtravagant /
business into his character, skipping about !
the stage, stammering aud sneezing, and. in |
short, doing all he could TO attract and dis |
tract the attention of the audience To The /
surprise of every one, himself included, these |
antics, intended by him 10 injure the char !
acter, were received by the audience with de-
light He was a shrewd man as well as an /
effective actor, and he saw at a glance that
accident had revealed TO him golden oppor-
funlty. He took advantage OF it. and with /
cautious steps increased his speed, feeling the /
ground well under him as be proceeded. Be-
fore the first month was over he stood side bv
'ide with any other character in the play;
and at the end of the run he was, in NV
opinion, considerably in advance of Us ALL