The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-23

the experiment, for Heege has attained
prominence i'm the theatrical world which
he could never have hoped TO reach IL he
had stuck TO his old line of work. Heege's
career is an interesting one. His rise to
fame was not a thing of day or week or
year He had the usual struggles with
fortune, which can perhaps be best told In
his own words. Ho says:
Il was born in Cleveland, Oct. B, 1861,
attended the public schools of that city,
was graduated from the high school in
1850 and entered upon my professional ca
rcer the following year. Although had
had strong inclination toward theatricals
from childhood-my father having been an
actor on the German stage-the first op-
portunlties to give evidence of any talent
came during my four years course at the
high school.
Il can say, without egotism, that revo-
lutionzed TIE character of the amateur en-
tertainments previously given at the
school Hitherto at these entertainments
they had presented the ordinary school ex-
hibition dialogues and farces When l was
placed in charge, farces We're produced such
as "A Regular Fix, Lend Me Five Shil-
linqs. Robertson's Students Frolic, etc.
"The result was such that the superin-
tenden6 of tho Cleveland public schools, our
then principal, Professor Williams-now
holding the scat of geology at Corncll--and
others whose interest in my welfare was
indisputablo advised me TO adopt the stage
| as profession
Taking the advice of the veteran actor
| j. B. Gurrnn, / secured an engagement
| with the Felix A. and Eva Vincent COM
| bination, thcn touring the middle western
states in repcrtory, and during the season
| of 1881 and 1923 played the leading
business, appearing in a rcpertory of some
| 30 standard plays and in any number OF
old English farcos.
~ played such parts as Pygmalion,
Pierre and the Chevalier in the Two Or
phans,' NJ sartorys In 'Frou- -Frou,' Dc
Ia Tour in Miss Mutton Armand In
Camille Talbot Champneys in Our
| Boys, tom Cobb, Robert Macaire,
etc. Felix Vincent was not only an actor
OF rare artistic merit, but also an able
stage director, while hya Vincent was one
| of the most talented actresses l have ever
seen--certainly the most versatile.
! "To their training owe the foundation
| of whatever possess in the way of artistic
comedy methods and quiet dramatic force.
"For the season Of 1884 / was mem
| ber of Frederick Warde's company, playing
| utlllty parts III TeperlOry ol ieRltiiha,e
| plays For the next two years l managed
my own company in Bad Boy play, a
version OF my own-two years practically
wasted, as acting was made subservient to
| management.
During the season of 1867 I played
leading business with the western come
| dian John Dillon, for whom l wrote
Wanted, The Earth, in which he Is still
starring. The following season i played
leading business with Nellie Walters, an
other western star and for whom i wrote
| 'Criss Cross, in which she starred for two
years and which has been played by Matte
Vickers Under the title of "A Circus
| Queen.
| "On Dec. %, 1883, my first Swedish din
lect play, 'Ole Olson, was produced. In
this toured personally for two seasons
then leased It, and on Dec. "a, 1890, pro
duced 'Yon Yonson' for the first time
This play lasted INC for five years, when
wrote and produced "A Yenuine Yentle
man, which am still using"