The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-08
WOMEN WHO ARE STAGE STRUCK
A Few Of the Queer Applications =
theatrical Manager Receives.

A Few Of the Queer Applications
theatrical Manager Receives.
The letter file Of the.manager of metropol-
itan thsater or Of well-known company ON
the road contains many queer contributions
to the unpublished history Of the stage. No
where else can be found so many illustrations
of the futility OF the attempt TO fit a square
peg in round hole. II want TO go on the
stage" is the keynote OF more than half the
letters received by one prominent manager
in the last three years. The manager said TO
The Sun reporter:
Many of these letters I keep simply as
curiosities. They come, as you see, from all
sorts and classes of people. A majority OF the
would-be players have absolutely no concep-
tion of the art of acting, and a large percent
age will be found to be fitted only for the
shop, the kitchen or the ribbon counter. Once
in very, very long while come across
rough diamond, which, IL not polished with
too much care, will turn out to be valuable
acquisition to some one of my road compan-
les. But look over this letter fleiyourself and
see what ga managers mail contains in the
shape Of appeals from what I may call the
unterrified.' "
Here is sample. It's writer is a shop girl
in Pittsburg:
81 hope you will Overlook this Boldness of
mine but oh you will Judge wright away a.
say IL Is Some one stage struck that is just
what IL Is and we want your advise there is
two of us the other is married lady but is
young. She married man against her pa
rents will g. for spite. Now she sees the mis-
take she made she comes OF good Family
she has Brothers here in Pittsburg they are
wealthy men she will tell you But not this
time for Feare you may not get this letter
the stage is the place for Her every one say
that she can sing dance or do Enything she is
lovely alto singer and grand in TIGHTS IL
we heare from you we will send our pictures. F"
This Smoky City aspirant did not, like
many of her more ambitious sisters, ::expect
to be shunted at once into stellar roles, for
she concluded sagely
'Of course we would haf to commence Like
eny one else suppose"
What managerial heart would not be
touched by an appeal such as.the following ?
The writer lives in bustling town on the
lower Ohio. She writes:
L"Could you give me place as an actress or
learn me to be one, am nearly Is years DID,
/ would like to be an actress when am
grown up. Please try me, II you can will be
ever so much Obliged TO you. Anything at
all that could learn ON the stage would
like to be ballad dancer or a star, in fact
anything"
From a Wi sconsin town which, as Fan
amusement center, Is only on those maps
conned by piratical show people; where 1.-THE
'opera house" is over the city market,l and
seats on show nights compand FALL the way
from 10 to % cents comes tho following de-
termined attempt to break into a stage
career:
'sir-I, as a stranger. write you this letter
TO ask your good advice upon subject which
/ feel competant (sic) you are able to discuss
My father owns an opera house in this city,
consequently I have met many show people
by which have been told that / am very
much adapted to the stage. possess talent
in singing and dancing. and especially in lead
ing parts. 1 have a sister IA years Of age q
being l6) "a fine singer and dancer. who has
had considerable experience on the stage. She
and do singing aud dancing specialties single
and double and have done them in Home
Talent Plays / have also played leads in our
Home Talents. l have never been on the
stage and never had any desire to go on (that
is, never travelled with any company, unless
| could see some future benefit to be gained
by becoming actress. could have joined
" .
but thought it more profitable to remain at
school until finished; and now as have
graduated, and my parents being poor, CON
slider it my duty to depend upon myself for
my living, and would like to pursue a bust
ness which am naturally talented for and
is also beneficial as well.
81 have been told by some professional stage
people that with few years experience /
would be numbered as one of the best actress.
es on the stage But not knowing how to be.
gin and without financial means IL certainly
is difficult to start. / do not want to go ON
the stage unless can my way through
without being deprived Of the necessities of
life while gaining experience. Another
hindrance is that haven't the slightest idea
OF how to start in order TO rise. l fear should
center ignorantly some low theater it would
always be an obstacle.
"Your kindest and best advice as TO how
you think it advisable for me to start ON the
stage, and in fact regarding the whole mat
ter, would greatly obige. Yours, Sc..
f'-'.' g."
Comedian william III. Crane while playing
an engagement in q Western city, received an
unfortunate letter from the daughter of n
farmer in an adjoining town. The applicant
specified no especial qualifications for the
stage, but said tersely:
II know I'm beautiful. should like to act
on the stage with you for I'm fond of the
good drinks and the gay life"
She was not engaged.