Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-02-25
WHO'LL SUCCEED BOOTH?
OPINIONS EXPRESSED By EMINENT THEA
TIRE MANAGERS ON THE SUBJEOT.
Alexander Sal7ini, Louis James and Richard
Mansfslds Pruspscs-Ihs Fieklsness Of
Publis Fa7ur-Wallsr Whiissides as a
Dark Horse.

| caprice OF puOlc favor anu tue uChie
| fortune OF the stage render exceeding
ly difficult 10 answer. Upon the drama
! tic horizon many stars are rising, but
which Of them will active the place or
| first magnitude is problem that only
the future can solve. In the meantime,
there Is no lack OF prophecy on the
subject, or at least, speculation. Per-
| haps no question is fraught with great
| er interest for the American theatre
goers, and intelligent opinions thereon
are in order. A number Of such opln-
| ions have been obtained, and while
they do not raise the question beyond
the realm of strong probability, are
none the less worthy OF attention, be-
cause of the estmable source from
which they emanate.
A. NJ. Palmer, of Pslmer's Theatre,
! New York, was the first man in this
country TO recognize the talent OF Alex
ander Salvni to the extent Of offering
him an engagent. IL was in 1882 after
travelling through the country with
Signor Rossi, that be became filed with
! an ambition to win fame on the English
speaking stage. He applied 10 Mr..
Palmer for an engagement, and at the
managers request be recited Hamiet's
! soiloQuy. Though his Englih was
masked in q richly moduiated Italian
accent. the young actor had thoroughly
mastered the lines and their meaning,
aud spoke them in a manner TO con-
vince the manager that the son OF the
illustrious Tomaso Salvini had Inherit
ed a generous share OF mis- fathers
genius. The subsequent career OF
young Salvini has confirmed Mr. Pal
mer in that opinion.
ITO point out the successor OF the
great Ed win Booth" said Mr.. Palmer
the other day, lis a task which one
approaches naturally with considerable
misgiving. So many uncentrolab!e
circumstances combine 10 make an
actor famous or 10 make him the centre
OF public favor, that the best one can
do in the matter OF such prophecy is
! to deal In probabilities, based upon the
/ axiom that merit commands success. II
you ask me who, in nv opinion is likely
| to achieve the distinction which Mr..
| Booth enjoyed, that OF being the lead
/ ing American tragedan, l will unhesi-
tatingly answer, Alexander Salvini. He
! has in him through both heredity and
| training, the stuff that makes great
| tragedians. II is true that his success
/ thus far has been won In the field OF
| romantic drama rather than in that OF
tragedy. This fact is not due 10 any
failure, that he has made in tragic
roles, but TO other reasons. With
! Edwin Booth still before the public il
required more temerity than Salvinl
possessed to present himself as a candi-
date for public approval in Shakes
perian drama. He chose instead the
! field OF romantic drama, and being ad-
mrably adapted TO the roles he assumed
| he met with success. That success,
| believe, would be augmented hun
| dred fold should he enter the field for
which his talents, natural and acquired.
so eminently fit him. That field is
tragedy. He is full OF fire and strength,
and never was An actor more literally
endowed in the matter of presence for
the great tragic roles. He would fill
the eyes as well as the ear. His voice
is exceedingly flexible. Though sn its
softer cadences il is soothing TO the
point OF caress, IL can be keyed to
the most violent emotions. There was
another good reason for Salvinps not
beginning his career as an actor OF
tragedy. His pronunciation Of English
was at the outset far from perfect
! That defect he is now rid Of. III Edwin
Booth is to have successor, which
many doubt, Alexander Salvini in my
opinion, would be the coming man."
j. NJ. Hill, manager OF the Standard
Theatre, expressed the belief that
Edwin Booth never would have a sue
cessor, in the true sense Of the term,
because the actor that wins place in
the regard OF the American people
sponding TO that occupied by Mr..
Booth, will not be tragedian distin-
guished for his Interpretation OK
| Shakesperean characters. The lead
ing American actor Of the future"
said Mr.. Hill, must be a man Of bound
less versatility. That is the spirit OF
this great country-diversi6 cation Of
Industries. Don't think that ] am talk
ing now from the managers semi.com-
mercial standpoint, for / am not. As a
student OF events theatrical for some
years, believe | make a correct esti-
mate OF the tastes Of the American
people. The American taste for the
drama cannot be satisfied with tragedy
! alone-at least il will not be satisfied
! to accept as its representative actor the
man who entertains them chiefly with
glimpses Of humanity's dark or serious
side. He must be an artist who is able
and does takes his audience through
the whole range Of human emotions.
! Can / think Of any man now on the stage
who is likely 10 meet these require
| ments? Yes, / could name several
with Richard Mansfield probably head
ing the list. He has PLAYED everything
from burlesQue TO tragedy. l don't say
be Is the fsvOrite upon whom the Amer
can people will place the crown Of dis
tinction as the leading actor, but IL is
upon such q man that it will be below
ed. l don't mind saying, however,
that l think his claims for the honor
are very strong, and not unlikely 70
prove successful Though al English
man bY birth, all his professional sue
cess has been achieved on the American
stage, and 4 great portion OF his youth
was spent in the United States. he
considers himself an American actor.
since be has been thoroughly identified
with the drama 10 this country for the
past ten years. During bis recent visit
to England he was criticised as Al
American, and In his endeavOr 70 make
American art successful 10 England be
lost a great many thousands Of dollars.
he attempted to Guido By 40 Ameri-
can prod uction Of . Shakespearan drama
all that has been previously done 10
England. How far be succeeded may
be gathered from the judgment Of those
who saw the production IN London,
where It's perfection was even greater