Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-12-05
TEN MINUTES WITH THos E. SHEA
The Popular Young Actor Was Formerly
 a Base Ball Player.


 Base Ball Player.
 The rain was coming down in torrents and the condition of things seemed to point to a poor attendance at the pre- sentation of "Dr Jekyl and Mir Hyde" last night when a representative of the DEMOCRAT was ushered back of the footlights and into the presence of the brilliant young actor, who for the past week has delighted the large audiences which greeted him at the opera house. Mir Shea was ''making up to represent the dual characters of Dr Jekyl and Mir Hyde, but he grasped the reporters hand warmly and made him feel at home at once by his kindly greeting. There are few actors who require less preparatioo as regards facial expression | than MT Shea. His face is a magnet | and with those piercing dark eyes that seem to look through one, he presents a perfect type of the facial actor. MT Shea is 29 years of age and was born in Cambridge, Mass. From early boy hood l he conceived desire to practice elocu- tion and has figured on many occasions with local talent at his home, always as a leader. in amateur theatricals. He Is of the opinion that every man must be his own tutor, for if he has not the necessary faculties for expressing the passions and painting character, all the lessons in the world cannot give them to him. As a consequence, five years ago, without any professional ln- struction, he began his histrionic career by entering the Floy Crowell company. | He was seen here that season in the City hall, playing juvenile parts. The | following season his ambition to dc company. of which Charles E.. Grilley and Edward Shannon of this city were | members. Toward the end of the sea- son he was playing the lead. The fol lowing season he purchased hail interest in the company with Justlr Adams, and the company played under the name of Adams & Cook. His ambi tious desires to reach the top round oi the ladder induced him, the following season, to embark in the field o repertoire on his own name, with k. w Varney as manager. For two seasons he has met with pronounced success. The present season he assumed th' management himself and the success which year after year has followed him is this season dOubly assured. Th closing of this season will find hin playing in all the leading cities through out the country. MT Shea takes grea , delight in the fact that all the member
 of the amateur dramatic club in Cam I "IleIt IbS llISL I1AclNC Allo ShIA 0AAS
 to the actors field, are now in the pro
 fession. Two of his present compan
 were his first associates, MT Green an Miss Frost.
 Before beginning his dramatic caree
 Mir Shea was a ball player and made good record. An injury to his foe caused him to retire from that field an what the national game has lost tn : drama has gained. He loves to talk Q his company, every member of which
 idcluding himself, is a teetotaler. H believes also in allowing every characte to receive his just applause if it come } and does not limit the number of CT , cores received. He feels highly elate at the reception he has been given b
 the people of Waterbury to whom h ? come as almost stranger.
 Q Next season he opens in the Howar 2 atheneum, Boston, in his new play "The Red Light" written by Edwar
 Rose, stage manager of the Boston Mt n scum Go, and d former member of M ] Shea's troupe.