Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-02-24
SADIE MARTINOT

self right, for if had risen from the very
lowly surroundings which have been at
tributed to me | should feel like taking
more credit for my humble achievements
in the dramatic world than | now feel is
my just due.
l have been asked for my opinion as to
the best possible training for Il woman who
wishes to become nearly as possible
perfect actress. This can be disposed of in
few words, PLAY as wide Il range of parts
as you can" This is not II mere theory
with me. l have practiced it faithfully
and intend to adhere to this policy until l
give up the stage or it gives me up.
When | was H. | was in a convent school,
but had longing for the stage. My par
ents, after attempting to dissuade me from
my purpose to become an actress, finally
gave their consent, and l sailed forth in
search of an engagement. First l went to
see A. NJ. Palmer, who then had the Union
Square theater, New York. He gave me
the stersOtyped managerial promise, and
left, determined to aim little lower. Josh
Hart, who had the old Eagle, now the
Standard theater, gave me more encourage
ment and finally an engagement at the CO.
lossal salary of s. week an extra lady"
| was satisfied, for | had at least made a
start.
On the second Saturday night after my
debut Maude Branscombc, our star, was
taken i'll, and as her clothes happened to
fit me l was permitted to do her part. This
was on Sept. Z, 1876. My work must have
pleased the management somewhat, for
thereafter l was permitted to play small
parts, although my weekly salary remained
stationary at IS with a persistency that
was aggravating especially as l was obliged
to furnish my own costumes.
Aimee was one of the stars at the Eagle
that season, and l was in comic opera with
her nine weeks, ana although | had only
unimportant roles l considered myself very
fortunate. The charming Frenchwonan
heard that ] had been giving the members
of the company limitations of her, and was
summoned to her presence and ordered to
do them all for her benefit. Then, instead
of the reproof which expected, l received
words of encouragement for what she was
good enough to call my cleverness.
l next played Cupid with Ada Richmond
in the burlesque Chow Chow" l then
gave my limitations of Aimee in public.
AS her Pretty as a Picture" was then the
rage, that imitation was received with con-
siderable favor. After an interval spent at
several of the Boston theaters l became
a member of the Boston Museum stock
company as walking lady. There l had the
most valuable experience of my profession
al career for l worked by slow stages
through all the grades up TO the position of
leading lady. l played wide range of
parts there, embracing almost every phase
of theatricals.
| remember now with much amusement
that when "Pinafore" was running l APP
peared at different times as Josephine, But
tercup, Hebe and Ralph Rackstraw. The
plays put on at the Museum while was
there included modern comedy, old come
dy, farce, melodrama, Shakespeare, bur
lesQue and comic opera, besides affording
me the opportunity to support many of the
prominent stars who visited the theater.
Among these were Dion Boucicault, Law
renee Barrett, Fanny Davenport, Charles
Coghlan, Frank Mayo and Sol Smith Rus
sell.
After four seasons at the Boston Museum
l went to England with Dion Boucicault
to play his heroines. He was taken i'll
there, however, and | secured an engage
ment at the Comedy theater, London, where
l appeared as Katrina in the first produc
ton anywhere of Planquette's RIP Van
Wrinkle" the late Fred Leslie being Rip.
Boucicault in the meantime had returned
to America joined him, and we opened the
Star theater-then the Germania-in Vice
Versa, of which "Gloriana" is an offshoot.
Then we gave Boucicault's repertory on
tour.
was next engaged for John Stetson's
Confusion" company, in which as cur
tain raiser we gave distinguished For
eigners." Henry Z. Dixey initiated Irving
and Terry. My next appearance was in
the leading role of "Queena" at the Union
Square theater, New York. This was the
first time that had experienced the de
lightful sensation of reading enthusiastic
praise of my work in all the New York
papers, and my friends informed me that
had made really great hit. Naturally !
believed them. 1t is SO easy to convince
ones self that what one wishes is true. At
any rate, that was the means of getting mt
contract with the Lyceum theuter, which
was then building. 1t was not completed
until within seven weeks of the close of the
season, and must admit that my salary.
which was paid regularly, was very easily
earned.
1 next branched out into comic opera
Rudolph Aronson had obtained control of
the New York Casino, and he engaged me
as the prima donna. | sang "Nanon" fol
more than 100 nights, and then, my health
having been completely broken down from
the strain of uninterrupted work for
long time, went to Europe where l spent
three years in travel and study. While |
was living in Vienna, Aronson came over
and got me to sign contract for three
years at the New York Casino to open in |
"Nadjy." On account of differences with |
the stage director after refsearsals had be-
gun l threw up my part.
was then the star ut Amberg's German |
theater in New York. We gave 1.-The Mas |
cot" in German. l refused an offer from |
Coquelin for tour of South America and |
decided to accept 7. Henry French's offer |
to play Mrs. Horton in DR. Bill"
/ had long cherished the idea that the |
character of Nine. de Pompadour afforded |
opportunities for the construction of a play |
peculiarly suited to me, and l accordingly |
drarnatist to write it upon |
incidents which supplied. was starred |
in the titular role of "Pompadour" until 1t |
was withdrawn, owing to the fact that 1t |
appeared to be too delicate to suit the |
tastes Of the masses
- the bsginninE Of the following ssasop