Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-05-24
METHODS OF PAST AND PRESENT
All to the Advantage of the
Audience Now.
A Pleasant Interview with MIR. James II.
MeviciSer of Chicago, Actor and Mana
ger--The Road TO Reputation--oldA and
New Methods and Old and New Plays.


in Ne south for the benefit Of his health,
AID after visiting several Northern cities
lie will return TO his home in Chicago to
resume the active management OF his
famous theatre, McY lcker's, Of which he
has been manager for nearly 40 years. IL
was destroyed in the great Chicago fire,
but was rebuilt on the same site, and
several years ago it was partly destroyed
again.
A manager of the old school is Mr.
McVicker, and his name has been a
familiar one in the dramatic history of
the country to many generations of
actors and theatre-gOers. He is in his
73d year, and his long and active life
has covered many changes in theatrical
methods. His first work was as printer
in newspaper work, When young man
he went on the stage, making modest
beginning in the role of a servant in
comedy, part with no speaking lines
and nothing particular TO do but 70
come on and go off, the latter duty, as
he says, being the one that most exer-
cised him. He rapidly rose in his pro-
fcssion and went through the varied
work that every actor had to do in
those days, playing all the well-known
comedy roles from Falstatf down."
and also occasional tragedy roles. His
name became most widely known when
he made several successful starring tours
in this country and London in Yankee
comedy.
firing Of his busy career on the road
and wishing to enjoy domestic life, he
decided to enter the managerial field, or,
as he says, "to begin to pay salaries TO
other people and go withoutany myself"
He opened McVicker's Theatre, in
Chicago, and has since been associated
with nearly every prominent actor who
has played in this country. While on
the stage he acted with Macready, the
elder Booth, Edwin Forrest, Vanden-
hoff, John r. Scott and nearly all of the
old actors of note. His daughter, Miss
Mary McVicker, was the second wife Of
Edwin Booth.
REIGN OF THE DRAMA.
Mr.. McVicker is a genial, cheerful old
gentleman, whose heart is evidently
young, notwithstanding his 70 years and
his white hairs. He is inclined to look
on the bright side of things and he
refuses TO join in the general groan"
over the decline of the drama. "rhere
never was a time" he said yesterday,
''when the public was SO well supplied
with dramatic entertainment, If the
public only knew it. There is some-
thing for every taste. There is an entire
change Of production every week at the
theatres, and a sufficient number OF
theatres in every city of fair size to
make the most remarkable variety of
performances in single week. In the
old days the average city had but one
theatre OF any pretension, ard there the
productions were given the year round
by the same actors and actresses. Their
parts were hurriedly and oftentimes
imperfectly gotten up, and the plays
were given with inferior stage setting
and costuming. Nowadays the best
actors and actresses, with their own
companies, surrounded with elaborate
scenic effects, make the rounds of the
theatres-and even the small towns
have their theatres, with constantly
changing attractions. The public, there
lore, has little to complain Of.
ROAD TO REPUTATION.
"of course, there is another side in
this bright picture. That is the actors
side. The individual stands little chance
Of bringing himself forward, and he
certainly has less opportunity for de.
velopment than he had in the old stock
system. Then he not only had excellent
schooling in dramatic work, but he be-
came known to the theatre-going people
OF the city and gradually rose into
prominence and reputation, If ne had
merit. lie could lead home life, too,
and form social and domestic ties, SO
that he was really an individual and not
mo FRlN ~ ~ 3
"a case in point was your own Balti.
more actor, John L. Owens. His gifts
would, eventually, in the modern sys.
TEN, have brought him forward; but
how much more difficult would it be fol
him now than in the old days, when lie
got good schooling at the old Museum
and at tae same time laid the founda.
tons for his national reputation by
making his name household WORD
among the theatre-goers in Baltimore,
Besides the stars, who are well known
there are numerous young men anC
women now on the stage who have fint
dramatic gifts, but they are making littlt
Roadway In establishing wide reputa
ton. An actress will visit Baltimore
for example, with good non-star com
pany, and her excellent work will viii
warm commentator. She will probabl,
not return for year. and then she is ii
new part, new play, and a ney
gown, and, though her audiences fin,
something familiar in her face or nam
they usually cannot place her as to thei
nrst acquaintance with her, and SO sh
Is very little further on in gaining fol
lowing than she was the year before.
"a GREAT OCCULT FORCE"
"The public has the best of il and tb
actor the worst Of it in these dayI
Nevertheless, have great faith in mer
making itself known in the end, prc
yided the actor be true 10 himsel
Little disappointments with some hay
power TO turn them aside from thel
high ideals and causes them to try an
meet the popular demand, even il /
doing SO they sacrifice their own res
advancement in art. believe there
great occult force, if only we coul
recognize 1t, in every age that guide
the great movements and brings til
desired results from them, even if the
seem to us only harmful In readIn
The history OF the past we often recoa
nlze the tendency OF this force, an
probably future ages will see plainl
the great central motive in the moyt
ments of to-day, while we, in the heai
Of the movement, cannot devinc i
The occult force which has created III
great change in the dramatic method
even within our own experience
probably the same which is shown i
The general condition of the countri
ending toward organization and ava
rom indiyidualism. But this sam
occult force, as | cal it, will, l am COZ