Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-04-03

a new American comedy that the ,oapoc,o,
was to produce on the next night
What on earth shall dog1 be osl,od
Play the part yourself, as Hoyt does n
9' .eTt an e19se,f l get Newgag."
Whose Ntwgagf"
hes a friend Of mine out Of a position.
ileU MN today very much frayed."
Bring him to me"
.NeWgag was overwhelmed when | told
him Of the opportunity
never acted in straight comedy - he
sad i can't doit. might as well try "a
lie wants you only to speak the lines.
that'sall. You're aquick study, you know,
Come on!"
l had almost to drag the man to the
manager. He allowed himself, in a semi.
stupehed condition, to be engaged. He tool,
the part, sat up all night in his boarding
mousse room and learned it, went to rebear,
sal almost letter perfect in the morning
ana neryousiy prepared to face the ordeal
Of the evening
Ate o'clock he wished to 20 TO the man.
ager and give up the part.
/ can never do it, " he walled to me. "T
haven't had time TO form a conception of it
and get up byplay. You see, it's an eccen-
trlc character part-a man from the country
whom everybody takes for a fool. but who
shows up stronghold the last. can't,-
On! don't act it, You're only engaged
IN the emergency, you know. Simply 90
on and say your Lines and come OFF. "
that's all | can do, D" he said with a du-
blous shake Of the head. IF only ia had
time to study itW
American plays have taken foothold and
TINS premier Of a new one, by an author Of
Two previous successes, drew "typicaI
hrst night audience" Newgag, having
abandoned all idea Of making a hit or of
acttng the part any further than the mere
delivery Of the speeches went. was no longer
iRordinateiy nervous When he first en-
tered he was a trifle frightened and his un-
aVolaabie lack OF prepared stage business
made HIM awkward and embarrassed for
q time The awkWardHess remained, but
the embarrassment eventually passed
away lie spoke in his natural voice and
retained his actual manner. When the ac-
ton required him to laugh, be did so. ex-
mbltlng his Characteristic perfunctory
smile.
He received a special call before the cur
tain after the third act He had no Thought
that it was meant for him until the STAGE
manager pushed him out from the wings
He came back looking distressed
Are they guying me2" he asked the
stage manager.
The papers agreed next day that one of
the hits Of the performance was made Inv
Newgag I'm an odd part which he had con
ceived IN a strikingiy original way and i'm
personated with wonderful finish and sub
tie drollery"
What does it mean?" he gasped.
Enlightened him:
My boy you simply played yourself.
DID 1t never occur TO you that in your own
person you're unconsciously one Of the
drollest men you ever saw"
But didn't act"
you didn't. And take my advice
don't"
And he doesn't. Upon the reputation of
his success in that comedy he arranged
with another manager to appear in a play
written especially for him. He is pros
porous star now. Whatever his play or
part, ne always presents the same person /
atty on the stage, and he has made that
personality dear TO many theater goers
He does not appear too frequently or too
long In any one place; hence ne is warmly
wherever and whenever he re !
turns. He is Classed among leading actors;
and the ordinary person does not stop
sufficiently long 10 observe that he is no
actor at all
This isn't exactly art, " he said to me
the other night, with tinge Of self rebuke, |
'but it's successw
And the history of Newgag is the history |
Of many.-R. n. Stephens in Philadelphia |
Press.