The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-21
LAWRENCE BARRETT.
Sketch Of His Long and Honorable Career
As# ON the Stage.

Sketch of His Long and Honorable Career
on the Stage.
Barrett's first appearance az player was
az M;arad in the French Spy. This was at
Detroitin 1863. After d years experience
in minor parts. he spent short season in
Pittsburg. He then acted in st. Louis,
Chicago and elsewhere, until the latter part
of 1886, when he was engaged at the
Chambers Street theatre, New York, where
he appeared as Sir Thomas Clifford, in The
Hunchback. He was engaged by Mr.. Bur-
ton early in 1857, and acted under his man
agement for nearly two years, supporting
Charlotte Cushman, Edwin Booth, ana
esns1 p aadyy nr In s @ be
museum, and later at the Howard athen-
aeum of that city, where he played with
Miss CuShman, Barry sullivan and and E.
L. Davenport. On the outbreak of the
civil war Mr.. Barrett was made captain
in the Fifty-eiRhth Massachusetts infantry
and served with distinction. Afterward he
returned to the state and acted at Phila-
delphia, at Washington, and then at the
Winter Garden in New York, where he was
engaged by Mr.. Booth to play Othello to
his Iago. The elder Wallack considered
his lmpersonation of this charac-
ter Sa haa the mos most striking It! performances
Mr. Barrett then became associated in the
management of the Varieties theatre in
New Orleans, playing leading parts. and
for the first time acting as Richelieu, Ham
let and Shylock. About this time he met
Edwin Forrest, and was led to make care
full study of the history and literature of
the stage, a circumstance which afterward
was of great value to him. 1t was in 1864
that he purchased Rosedale from Lester
Wallack. and after acting the leading char
acter in it at New Orleans, made his first
tour as star actor. In 1867 he played
with great success at Maguire's opera house
in San Francisco, where hs remained as
1870, when he again appeared in New York.
Late IN the same year he played with Mr..
Booth in opposite characters at Booths
theater. In 1S71-2 he managed the New
Varieties theater in New Orleans, and in
December, 1872. he played Cassius to
he made successful tours through the United
States. visiting the leading cities. The sea-
son 1875 began with Il magnificent revival
of julius Cesar at Booths theater, where
he again appeared rs Cassius and later as
King Lear. He took the part of
Daniel Druce, and was the first
that name in the United States. Later he
produced Yorick's Love at the Park thea
ter, New York. He brought out Boxers
Francesca di Rimini at the Chestnut Street
theater i'll Philadelphia in 1882. He acted
the Hunchback. Lanciotto, with great in
telligence and rare power. In the autumn
of 1883 this play ran nine weeks at the
Star theater, New York, where it was pre-
sented on very complete scale and at
traoted much enthusiasm. In 1867, 1881,
1888 and 1884 MIR. Barrett visited England,
and during his last visit appeared
in many of the prominent roles.
which were favorably received. His work
of the last few years in conjunction with
Mr.. Booth is an epoch in the history of the
American stage.
Mr.. Barrett was the greatest and most
manager Of recent years. and
to his vast learning, hard work and devo-
tion to the higher objects Of the stage is
due the modern revival of accuracy and
care in the staging of plays and the COM
pliance with historical requirements, as to
oostuming and minor details.