The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-25
NOTES AMONG THE ACTORS.
WHAT SOME OF THEM r. DOING
TO EN7ERTAIN AUDIENCES.

count MP the years since Louise Beaudet made
her debut In this city. She now looks as though
che would not yet be old enough to vote II she
were n man, and 1t is n good idea to take things
On the stage for exactly what they seem. Miss
Beaudet was brought here at first by Daniel
Bsndmann, and she played the heroines in his
productions OF Shakespearean and other traE-
edies. After awhile he retired to ranch life in
the Northwest, and she went into comic
opera. Now she comes back from Europe as a
balladist Of the French vaudeville type,
and is holding the centre and front
of the stage At the Olympia. She is practising
the arts of archness and coquetry in their most
advanced developments, and Is a facile mistress
of them. Oscar Hammerstein has offered a
priZo of $1,000 for the music and words Of \
song which he shall deem entirely suitable for
her use. Many will regard this as merely a de-
vice of exploitation. and yet it may be sincere.
A ballad that should make what theatrical
people term "a phenomenal hit" would be
cheap enough at that price. II might draw two
or three times It's coat in money to the box
office and then bring in as much moro by the
sale of copies.
Yvette Guilbert has returned this week to
"La Fait Toujours Plaisir." one of the liveli-
est of her songs. and one that shows the lighter
side Of her talents to advantage. But the song.
like most Of her pieces OF this sort Is highly
tepfeucubiulo. Sue u bisO pinkink uoW I'M
I'll Clair dc Lune." which In some respects Is
the most remarkable evidence OF her powers ever
given here. Its field lies between the tragedy
of LA Gu" aud tho gayety or satire OF
her lighter pieces. The most striking quality
about 1t probably is the success with which by
the mere coloring of her voice che can produce
the atmosphere OF the time and the scene which
the verses Of the song describe. 1t 10 night and
moonlight in a forest. and the story is that Of q
t-- NJ
the scene, the air of imminence and portent.
and the lowering pathos of the sentiment are
S SoitssihssiSy e e sape she s ,n tnG b ,9ee iss ~ w vhe sepk and
it Is one OF the most complete manifestations OF
nihcent than the emotion With W hich she charges
all the refrains. These follow every line and
each accentuates the meaning of the words
entirely by the way In which Yvette changes the
emotion OF every one of them. lndividualizing
the mother. the courtesan, and the youih-the
three figures In Jean Richepin's poem-the re:
frain emphasizes and secures the IMPRESSION Of
the words. In these verses and In Par un
the less genuine because 1t is restricted to such
q small sphere as the limits of q song.
tention by her acting at the Murray Hill the
other night. is commendable not only from her
esfi9S IN b the i, scenes mogs %nis N r SSIab s her 10 10 d siie .ne
Old Horace McVicKar used to say that q good
ii.,eneT was likely to be a good actor, and Miss
and sentiments of the other characters when
ehs was listening to their conversation. Miss
~ Noii q akiVVooV NoNcs oIu
doe. not roll her "r's" until nsiIik they rattle Ike
any of the similarly unpleasant traits of young
American actresses. She is not nearly so pretty.
TO be her sister. She is as tall as Amelia Sum
mervtlle and almost as long wasted.
The progress OF True to Life" is Importantly
aided by counterfeit p~resentmente of the char
acters. In the second act the wronGfully con.
rictsd father returns from his twenty-four
years In prison. He comes TO his daughters
house because he has been told that he will find
there the philanthropist who aids deserving
convicts to begin life again. He sees the man
aud starts to leave the room. On a chest Of
drawers he discovers q photograph of himself.
and in this way his identity is revealed to
his daughter. After his philanthropic friend
has gone. he comes back to the house and asks
her who the original of the picture is. This in
cident introduces one of the strongest scenes In
the play. The girl when she hears his story
determines to claim him as her father, and
oily the thought that her sons prospects may
bs hurt by the knowledge that his grandfather
decide finally on a recognition Of him. when the
voice OF her child Is heard In an ad-
lion iH'n'a 10 her lsp" and the fa'hsr and a. daush,er are
rot then united. That comes in the next act.
and again a likeness helps it alSng, The girls
Harlem River at High. Bridge-and drops a
and husband. when he comes to the house for
the purpose Of seeing, the girl and her son,
former Wife is in the nsig6borhood. Many OF
the situations in True to Life" are dependent
on just such theatrical devices. hut they
touch the audience because they deal with
the sentiment OF fundamental human emotions
of the play have been So much commended that
ono 10 quite privileged to wonder at the comedy.
10 one act "A youth in a Yale sweater rows with
IA Girl mn and down the Harlem River. and she.
decorated with Princeton colors, describes the
athletic victories of the college during Il past
year, dwelling with particular miDuteness on
ton defeated Yale. 1t was very childish
was Electrically inclined and had succeeded on
the vaudeville stage. That gave the author
theatre. AMI nine-tenths OF what these two
young people said was talk OF that Kind; 1t
quent audiences than 1t WAS TO the people who
laughed At II on Monday night. Actors when
puGlic knows little Of tie jargon Of Their bust
ness. and cares less. They will drag it in.
Christmas matinGes are to be given at all the
theatres to-day. and no doubt the holiday audi
ences will be large afternoon and evening.
Mr.. Willard revived The Middleman" at
Wallack's last night, 1t Is in this drama that
he depicts with graphic strength the privations
and final victory OF : wronged inventor.
Demur Ia made by several writers OF letters to
The SUN to the assertion that the mirror panto-
mime, as shown in "Superba," is a theft OF the
same device Of fun in My Friend from India"
They point out that it was done in the eItrava-
CANA long before the production of the farce.
and that more than one dancer has simulated a
reflection of herself in q looking glass by means
of duplicate person who initiates her move
ments. 1t would seem that any body's claim TO
originality In this thing can hardly be estab-
lished, and that. any way. the Hunlons DID not
take 1t from Du Marchter.
Charity did not cover the sin Of play piracy II
the eyes of the owner OF In Old Kentucky
and when he founu that amateurs were about
10 perform 1t under the title OF !" a Mountain
Heroine" In Boston he put "A stop to them;
II was o surprise to some people when Mayor
Strong licensed the boy Huberman to perform
after MIR. Gerry had objected. The power to
restrict Juvenile employment on the stage does
NOT rest with the society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Children. but with the Mayor, Who'll Is
nv law compelled to hear the society," advice,
hut need not obey It. This is the first instance,
however. In which one OF Mr.. Serrys usually
wise decisions has been Overruled.
Arthur Wallack, the only son OF the late Les;
ter Wallack, tosshOw a bent for the stage, acted
only on several obscure occasions. and then gave
IN ali thought of Il dramatic career. The grand
Jp.i,a, ~ the last of the acting WallaCkS,