Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1892-01-13


was 10 produce on the next night
what on earth shall I dor" he asked.
'Piay the part yourself, as Hoyt does In
such an emergency-or get Newgag."
"Whose Newgagw
He's a friend Of mine out Of "A position.
met him today very much frayed."
Bring him to me-
Newgag was overwhelmed when / told
him Of the opportunity.
~ never acted in straight comedy" he
said Il can't doit. might rs well try 10
play Juliet"
HE wants you only 20 speak the lines,
that'sall You're a quick study, you know.
Come on"
had almost to drag the man to the
manager. He allowed himself, in IA semi
stupehed condition, TO beengaged. He took
the part, sat up all night in his boarding
house room and learned it, went to rehear-
sal almost letter perfect IN the morning,
and neryously prepared to face the ordeal
of the evening.
At 6 o'clock he wished to so TO the man
ager and give up the part.
81 can never do it, he walled to me- Il
haven't had Eime to form a conception Of it
and get up byplay. You see, it's an eccen-
! trio character part-a man from the country
shows up strongly at the last. CAN'T
"Ohl don't act it, You're only engaged
| In the emergency you know. Simply 20
| on and say your lines and come off,
That's all | can do he said with du-
bious shake of the head. If only I'd had
time to study itp'
American plays have taken foothold and
this premier of a new one, by an author of
| two previous successes, drew typical
first night audience" Newgag, having
abandoned all idea of making a hit or Of
acting the part any further than the mere
| delivery OF the speeches went, was no longer
/ inOrdinately nervous. When he first en-
| tered he was a trifle frightened and his I'M
7 avoidable lack Of prepared stage business
made him awkward and embarrassed for
time The awkwardness remained, but
the embarrassment eventually passed
away. He spoke IN his natural voice and
retained his actual manner. When the ac-
tion required him 70 laugh, be did SO, ex-
hibiting 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 me?" he asked the
stage manager.
The papers agreed next day that one Of
the hits Of the performance was made by
Newgag "in an odd part which he had con
ceived in a strikingly original way and i'm
| personated with wonderful finish and sub
i tie drOllery."
"what does it meant" be gAsped.
enlightened him;
"My boy, you simply played yourself.
Did it never occur to you that in your own
person you're unconsciously one Of the
drollest men you ever sawg"
but didn't act"
you didn't And take my advice
dontm
And he doesn't Upon the reputation OF
his success IN that comedy he arranged
with another manager to appear in play
written especially for him. He is a pros.
porous star now. Whatever his play OF
part, he 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 toe
long In any one place; hence he is warmly
welcomed wherever and whenever he re-
turns. He is classed among leading actors
and the ordinary person does not stoI
sufficiently long to observe that he Is nc
actor at all.
"This isn't exactly art" he said TO me
the other night, with a tinge Of self rebuke
''but it's successp'
And the history Of Newgag is the history
Of many.-R. N. Stephens in Philadelphia
| Press