Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-08
ACTRESSES AT REST.
How the Queens Of the Footlights
Pass Their Summer Vacations.
THE OPENING OF THE SEASON
Two Cases Of Stage Fright-The Horseback
Drama Between the seasons--TheatrIcal
People Enjoying Country Lifs-Ths Actress
ut the Summer Hotel.


NEW 1ORk. august Z, 1871.
TNHE NEW THEATRICAL SEASON Is CON-
Il sidered to have opened here this week
because three Of the closed theaters we're re-
opened with new plays, while other produc-
lions will follow numerousiy and rapidly
throughout August. Cases of stage fright were
the odd things in two Of the fresh ventures.
tombstone Bennett and Barney Pagan were the
persons attacked. Each had undertaken for
the first time a long and important comic
role, and old actors will tell you that the
faculty Of merriment is the first to be
paralyzed by terror on the stage. Miss Ben
nett was to have duplicated the success OF
famous London comedienue in imported
farce, and her preparation for the ordeal had
included a visit to London. where she studied
the original performance, and thorough coach
ing by an expert here, SO she was made ready
for the occasion by the most elaborate train
ing. Moreover, she had been a particularly
droll and assertive creature. Nevertheless,
on the first night she scared out of her wits,
aud 30 poor was her achievement that fully re-
alizing il herself, she sent in her resignation
before going to bed. Stage fright had conf
pletely incapacitated her. But she pulled her
self together for the second night and has been
doing well ever since.
STAGE FRIGHT IN FARCE COMEDY.
Barney Pagan had been assigned to fore
most place IN a new and pretentious farce
comedy. His prior achievements had been in
minstreisy, but for well nigh year he had
been working himself into fitness for the fun
making in a white faced character. Notwith-
standing that ne had practiced the part during
n week of performances ont of town he was as
sailed by stage fright upon facing New York
audience, and his failure. resulting therefrom,
was complete that an apology was made for
hln-fatlUye a had haiu ,aI in
stead of his real malady. He, too, has recov-
evered during the week. and SO in his
case, no more than in Miss Benefits. is any
damage done by this publication Of their
temporary failures But scenery isn't subject
to stage fright, and for that reason the
chief feature i'll the third new play of the
week was trustworthy on the first night. This
was that old. old friend of the playwright, re-
yolving scene, which poor old Boueicault wasn't
the first nor the last to employ when he put it
into The Shaughran." In this fresh illustra-
ton of its power to astonish and mystify an
audience it showed the interior and then the
exterior of Libby prison. illustrating the es-
cape of prisoners and helping greatly to the
success Of the drama.
RIVAL ACTRESSES.
Helen Barry is the greatest actress in Amer
ica-physically. She il above six fee. in height
and can't be much under 200 pounds in weight
Rose Coghlan is neither 30 tall nor so heavy. but
she looks more muscular, and it would be hard
to give straight tip as to a wrestling match
between them. They are antagonists, though
not in an athletic way as yet, but who knows?
They are very fierce against each other. Each
appropriated without payment to the author
the same German farce and had it altered for
American use, with view to figuring
in it as dashing woman in an army
officers trousers and other clothes. Miss Barry
made the venture last spring, and was yariously
regarded with disgust and admiration, accord
ing as one viewed a big woman in such plight.
Rose Coghlan is getting ready for the same i'm
propriety, and she will commit part of the
offense on horseback. 1t is in connection with
the horse that comes the singular thing as to
which this paragraph is revelatory. Miss
Coghlan is practicing equestrianism over on
Staten Island. The newspapers contained, a
few mornings ago. circumssantiai accounts Of
her having been thrown from the saddle and
considerably hurt.
WAS IT An Ap.?
Now the city editors on our daily journals
are extremely cynical and sceptical as to
actresses adventures Of any sort ard are not
inclined to print them without clear evidence
Miss CoShlans advertising agent promptly sent
the news around and reporters were assigned
to an investigation. which revealed bruises on
the actress and other apparent proofs of the
genuineness Of the accident. such as the testi-
mony Of country doctor and several other
persons. Nevertheless a private detective has
been hard at work all the week down there on
Staten Island endeavoring to expose the cpl
sode as fabrication. 1t is urged that the
black and blue on Miss Coghlan's exterior may
have been painted and that her witnesses are
good liars. That seems improbable
but Miss Barry's hackers declare that it is so
and that Miss Coghlan has worked the most
successful free advertising device ever in
vented. Who cares!
BETWEEN SEASONS.
What do the Dlayera do botuaar oo. ...,.-
and another? Some of them keep at work.
Often such summer engagement is really
vacation. Out of a winter company a summer
company organizes itself and goes to out-of-
the-way towns, where its members can live in
and own the one hotel and be the lions OF the
place at small expense, covered by the receipts
A merry-gO-lucky crowd they make. wearing
fields and lanes, making the old veranda ring
with laughter, turning the head Of the good
host and now and then setting his
daughter into craze for the stage.
Wise and lucky are they who thus
while away their summer. Players of more
note may not do this, however, yet upon them
presses the need of coin, and some of them
'do" a season In New York, If fortunate, or get
parts in special productions. Theater rent is
cheaper in summer than in the regular season;
salaries are lower and managers are therefore
prone to put on new pieces for trial. But it is
no fun. The audience is cooled with iced air
and electrical fan mills. But what for the poor
actor folk! Hot is no name for the heat be-
hind the scenes in summer. The dressing
rooms are mere boxes usually and almost with
out ventilation. Clothes stick fast when they
should come off for quick change and facial
makeup runs off in streaks. There is sure to
be a Siberia scene, too, something like it.
The property snow is refreshing to the spec
tators, but it carries only discomfort to the fur
laden players. Even the actress who shiyers
in the snow scene in 1.-The Two Orphans'' has
to perspire in August Rough comedy is warm
work. too. and the leading lady who crouchos
over the cracking fire doesn't find its ''cheery
blaze as grateful to me chilled limbs as she
pretends Give a sympathetic Thoughts TO those
who dance away the hot evenings in summer
in great comi' opera season. Even the fair
and smooth prima donna gets warm like the
rest of u.s. and think OF the violent comedian
with his TAT make up.
TO SOME QUIET LITTLE HOME.
or course, some OF the theater folk slip
away for ut least months rest to some quiet
little home" Maybe it Is q wee cottage that
they hire for three or four week, and which
they call a home and array in Jap-lantern
fashion. Maybe it il really q home. Maybe, oh
happy player il is bit Of an old country
house, lied from years before because of its
prosaic dullness. and now sought for peaceful
M. md tha 10