The herald., 1897-09-05

The death Of Mrs. John Drew, which
happened at Larchmont last Tuesday,
removes from the stage one of the few
notable figures which remained to con-
meet the history and tradition of the
theater Of former generations with the
changed conditions that prevail today.
She belonged to the school in which the
graduate had to pass through the fire of
preparation by the hardest kind of work,
the subjection to the severest taskmas
ters, the playing of many characterA
and the ordeal Of facing audiences which
did not hesitate to express their disap-
proval In manner tha. is seldom or
never attempted nowadays.
In these times, when scenic display
elegant wardrobes and lavish accesso-
res are the chief things considered, and
when a pretty woman or a handsome
man can dispense with elocutionary art
and repose with confidence on the judg-
ment of their dressmaker and tailor, re-
spectively, such a career as that of the
late Mrs. Drew and those who belonged
to her time would seem case of in
credible hardship.
1t is matter of over seventy years
since Mrs. Drew made her first appear
ance on the stage. She was then known
as Little Louisa Lane" and it was in
1924, when as child of six years old she
made her debut as Agib in "Timour the
Tartar" at the Liverpool theater. In
September of 1927 she played the role
Of the Duke of York to the Richard the
Third of Junius Brutus Booth, at the
Walnut Street theater in Philadelphia.
She was one of the few infant prodigies
that hava ever acquired fame in later
years, and ner apluty IN juvenile roles
acters. In 1888 she was a member of
stock company at the old Bowery the
ater in New York, where she had part
in many legitimate pieces and is said to
have laid the foundation for her study
of old comedy parts, in which she after
wards became so famous. Five years later
she returned to the Walnut Street thea
ter and married Henry Hunt, we'll
known vocalist Of that day. At the
Walnut Street house she played leading
parts and there, in 1899, she was Julie
de Mortemar in the first production of
Bulwer Lytton's "Richelieu" in this
country, Edwin Forrest playing the part
of the Cardinal. In 1S4S she became the
wife Of Mossop, the Irish comedian, who
died two years later. She then married
John Drew. seeming to have partiality
for Irish comedians, Drew being account
ed one Of the best Of that school that
has ever been on the stage. She played
the part Of Lydia Languish, with her
husband as Sir Lucius O'Trigger in JEFF
ferson's company. One of her best later
imperson atoms is deemed to be that Of
Mrs. Malaprop in "The Rivals in which
she brought out all the humorous char
acteristics in a manner that surpassed
anything that had been done be-
fore Jefferson notes in his autobiogra-
ply that she introduced some novel busi-
ness in her first scene with Capt ain Abb
solute that struck him as one Of the
finest points that he had ever seen made.
When Mrs. Malaprop hands the letter
for the captain to read, Mrs. Drew made
it appear that by accident she gives him
her own love letter lately received by
her from Sir Lucius O'Trigger, As the
captain reads the first line, which be-
trays the secret, Mrs Drew starts, blush
es and simperingly explains that there
Is a slight mistake Her manner dur
ing this situation" says Jefferson, was
the perfection Of comedy. She asked me
II thought that the Interpolation was
admissible. I replied that I not only
thought 1t admissible, but believed that
Sheridan himself would have introduced
1t II the idea had occurred to him" Mr..
Jefferson goes on to- say that it would
have been curious if he had not acqui-
esced in this business after the liberties
he had himself taken with the comedy
but that is another story.
Mrs. Drew was contemporaneous and
appeared on the stage in leading parts
with the elder Booth, Forrest, Macready,
en-, all Of whom have preceded her to
that bourne from which no traveller re-
turns. Her son, the present John Drew,
is now the chief representative Of the
family which has done so much for the
stage in keeping up the refine ment Of
its influences and in sust staining the
traditions which have helped to keep it
pure and elevated.
4 4 4
For the current week playgoers will
have to rely upon the Burbank and the
Orpheum. At the latter house the spe-
cialty bill promises to be unusually good,
while at the former there will be the
usual melodrama, this time entitled "The
Heart of Chicago"-a name which suf-
f1ciently indicates to the experienced
theater-goer what may be expected. The
Los Angeles theater will be dark until
the following Monday, when the cardiac
portion of the anatomy of southern
state will be exploited under the title
of The Heart OF Maryland" Physio-
logical titles seem to be in fashion Just
-.