The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-10-09
WILL wADsw0RTH on THE STAGE.
How He Appeared to His Friends Be-
tween the Acts.

tween the ACTS
you're ratified, old man, of course
you're ratified" said Clement Bainbridge
to Topeka's viii Wadsworth just before
Will went on last night in the second act
OF bama sN ELL that's all right. Be
ratified if you want to-" he continued
kindly. "But don't forget to speak up
good and loud and you'll be all right"
was his parting instruction as he went of
to play the organ which is heard at the
beginning of the second act.
inbridge is awfully kind" said
Wadsworth as the accomplished actor
hurried away. "He takes so much pains
with you" he continued as he nervousIy
hitched up his tie and pulled out his
cuffs.
1--WE played this part only twice, and
I never did play a juvenile before. 1
went on Saturday matinee and evening
at Wichita last week, and that's all the
practice Eve had. Do you blame me
for being nervous in coming before To-
peka people?
u don't go on with the company,
you know. l won't join them until the
first of NOvem Der. Bainbrijge wanted
me to play in Topeka for business rea-
sons and that's why I'm playing tonight.
Why, I've been used to playing char
acter parts, and you can imagine what it
seems like to get out there and chase
about like a boy Of nineteen. In The
Kings JESTER with Otis Skinner last
season l played the part of a man Go
years old. l was padded all over and
had a girth measure of 40 inches.
"Oh, you sooT. learn to make up. There
was the greatest joke on Skinner, though,
the first time l was ever made up. He
said he would do it and show me how
and theL l could do it afterwards 1t was
the first night of the season and he was
ratified and nervous, of course He
smeared my face all over with red and I
looked like an Indian and not little bit
Ike an old man.
"When looked in the glass I nearly
tainted, but Skinner said, Its all right;
90 ahead did. The next morning the
Times Herald came out and said I had
the makeup of western lum herman.
Skinner never offered to make me up
after that"
How do you like to play in modern
dress?" asked the reporter.
"A great deal better than in Shakes
peaEean costumes. l feel a great deal
more at home than in going out there in
pair of tights and having a sword dang
ling around my heels. Then it isn't near
" SO expensive. An actor has to dress
his part and it takes considerable
money to fit yourself up with
costumes for repertoire in the legitimate.
y pair of silk pants alone costs 50,
81 ike acting pretty well. was tired
Of it last spring, I tell you, but when fall
came I wanted TO go out again just as
badly as l did last fall I wouldn't have
gone though if hadn't got anything to
do but the legitimate I'm sick and
tired of that Besides I'm not built for
it."
Miss Bowes was not the only one who
received flowers last evening. A basket
was sent up over the footiights for Mr.
Wadsworth and several lunches of roses,
one from Mr. and Mrs. Bowes lay in his
dressing room.
Aren't they clever" said Clement
BainbrTdge referring to Miss Bowes and
Wadsworfh. "Of course there excited
tonight playing before their home crowd.
/ tell you it's irresistible When l play
ed in my old home after fifteen years
active experience on the stage, l was so
ratified l could scarcely speak a line. All
I've got to say to Topeka people is to
keep their eyes on Miss Bowes' he con-
cluded as he rushed on for the tinaI
scene of Alabama"