The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-04
CHARLOTTE CUSHAIAN.
How She Came to Take the Part OF
Meg MerriIies.
Detroit Free Press.

Detroit Free Press.
Soon after Charlotte Cushman returned
from her long residence in Rome. some time
In the COS. she gave a friend ID. Z. Ho-l
warth by name) an interesting history OF
her first performance of Meg Merrilies.
Her assumption of the part happened
while she was walking lady at the Park
Theater, New York. during the season of
1S3s-S, and was a result of pure accident.
John Braham. the great London tenor. was
filling an engagement at the time, and a
series of light English operas had been
put on. Guy Mannering," which was orig
inaliy produced as a musical drama, was
one of these. The greater part of it was
spoken. but melodies and set pieces were
interspersed, which called into requisition
the art of the vocalist. The character OF
Henry Bertram was assumed by Braham.
while Miss Cushman was cast for the
humble part OF the young Gypsy girl. Ma
RE. As the business OF the play was then
arranged it fell to the lot of Marie 10 sing
the cradle-Song IN the scene where Meg re-
calls herself to Bertram's recollection bv
means of the ballad with which she used
to soothe him to sleep in his childhood.
Acting on the supposition that her voice
was broken by age and unequal TO the task.
II was her custom TO summon the young
Gypsy TO revive the song for her.
one DAY after rehearsal the leading lady
of the theater suddenly fell i'll. In the d-
lemma the manage begged Miss Cushman
TO go on and read the part of Meg Mer-
rifles that evening. She obligingly consent
ed, but with no intention of reading the
part. She took the lines to her room and
had them at her tongues end by nightfalI.
ny n - AAdL
character" said Miss Cushman. 1T was
always my habit to attend studiousIv to
my own business, and give no heed to the
performances Of others. When stars were
on the stage 1 watched them closely TO
learn Whatever was possible. Thus il came
ABOUT thdt L had little idea how Meg WAS
dressed or played, and never having re-
hearSed the part, | was entirely ignorant
OF the business: While / was coming my
INES and walking back and forth behind
the scenes. waiting for the curtain to rise
on the play. the manager came 10 me again
in great distress.
~ have forgotten to provide a singer in
tne part or the young Gypsy he exclaimed.
What shall j do?'
i don't know. 1 am sure replied +. But
after thinking a moment / added: 'Perhaps
When L come 10 the place | can manage to
introduce the song myself
In much trepidation / listened at the
wings. trying TO catch some inspiration
from the progress of the play. when / over
heard the closing words in the dialogue be-
tween Hatterdick and the ~GypSy-iust pre-
ceding the appearance of Meg on the scene
when one says of her oh. she dotes.' TO
which the other replies, But she rules the
tribe. These sentences gave me a sudden
clew to the situation of the decrepi. h,t
still powerful queen. and a full conception
OF the character flashed upon me.
Il Immediately sprang before the foot
lights in the attitude I have ever since
taken. The pose was so novel and striking
that the audience manifested "A good deal
of emotion, and when Braham turned and
discovered me he gave an unaffected start
of establishment. This assured me some
E VII Ct l. IlIt Dart ~
II. in all important particulars. the inter-
probation and action which ] have always
retained 4 saw that Mr.. Braham was puz-
zled throughout the evening. and that 7
was continually surprising him; but wheth-
er pleasantly or not | could not tell. As
we had not rehearsal together I had to
rust wholly TO my intuitions. and natural
ly occasioned him considerable perplexitv.
when came to the cradle song, which
L managed to bring in successfully. Bert
ram fairly glared at me in amazement. Nv
nerves were sorely tried. but l poured ont
the song, and as / gradually drew near
and bent dow over Bertram. slowly drop-
ping my hand on his head. I saw the big
tears rolling down his cheeks. Then I knew
i had made a hit and felt encouraged 10 90
through the piece.
After the play, and I had gone To my
room, quivering with excitement. the call
boy raped at my door. saying Mr.. Rraham
wished to speak to me.
Il rose in alright. feeling sure he must
mean 10 reprove me Cor my inadeduate a.
ing. As L went to the door / framed in
words the excuse that. as i had NOT heen
given the advantage of a rehearsal n
could not be expected that I should satisfy
the demands OF the part But Mr. Rraham
met me with extended hand. saving. Miss
Cusnman, L have come to thank Won for a
genuine qualification. If you had plaved
Meg Merrilies in London as YOU have PLAYED
II mere tonight. your fortune would have
Had Charlotte Cushman lived until July
70, 1886; she would AVE been eighty years
Old. she died in Boston, Feb. Is. 1875. aged
nearly sixty years.