The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-27
CHARLES CoGHLAN's CAREER.
Stage Successes of the Actor Who
Was Prominent Before Irving.

Actor Charles Coghan was born and edu-
Gated in Paris and made his first appear
ance on the stage in part in French. He
shortly afterward became connected with
the company playing at the Prince of
Wales Theater in London, and rapidly ad-
vanced until he became the most prominent
actor on the London stage at that time, be-
fore Henry Irving was yet the lion of the
stage that he afterwards became.
When H. l.. Bateman. the American man
ager, went to London and secured the
Prince of Wales Theater for the purpose Of
advancing the stage fortunes of his daugh-
ter, Isabella Bateman, he endeavored to Sc
cure Mr.. Coghlan for leading man, but con-
tracts previously made with Mr.. Bancroft,
the manager of the Prince of Wales The
alef, prevented the contamination of this
project. Five years later Batenan again
endeaVored to secure the services of Mr..
Coghlan, but Bancroft managed to retain
him, Henry Irving in the meantime having
been secured as leading man. Thus it was
that Irving secured his start from an Amer
lean manager.
Mr.. Coghlan first came to this country in
1876, under the management of Augustin
Daily, making his American debut at the
as Alfred Evelyn in Bulwers Money He
remained under Mr.. Days management UNI
til the conclusion of that season, playing
leading parts in all the productions and re-
vfValS at the Fifth-avenue Theater In
Days adaptation from the French, known
as Life, Coghlan played Schuyler Sam
pies He was the Orlando to Fanny DaVen-
ports Rosalind: he repeated the characteri-
cation of Charles Surface in which he had
found so much favor in England, the
notable cast including Miss Davenport as
Lady Teazle Mrs. Gilbert as Mrs. Candour
the late George Drew as Maria, j. FL.
Harkins as Joseph Surface. John Brougham
as Sir oliver Surface, Charles Fisher as Sir
Peter. James Lewis as Sir Benjamin Back
bite, William Davidge as Moses and Frank
Hardenbergh as Crabtree. In THE Lady of
Lyons he appeared Claude to Miss
Davenport's Pauline, and also to Adelaide
Nelson's: in London Assurance" as
Charles Courtley. and in THE Hunchback''
as Sir Thomas Clifford 10 Adelaide Neilson's
Julia. Miss Davenport's Helen and f. L.
Davenport's Master Walter.
Since then Mr.. Coghan has alternated be-
tween England and America In 1873 he
toured with the Union-square Company as
Jean Renaud in "A Celebrated Case" He
was Mrs. Langtry's leading man on her first
American tour, and made an unusual sue
cess soon afterwards in Separation at the
Union-souare Theater. playing the leading
character at III consecutive performances
He supported his sister Rose on several Of
her starring tours. and in addition to the
distinction as Henri Beauclerc in "Diplo-
macy" Jack Fortinbras in AS in a Look
ing Glass the Colonel in The Colonel"
and in "A Woman of No Importance"
Two years ago Mr.. Coghlan created the
part of Alec In Mrs. Ffske's production OF
Tess OF the D'UrberyilIes'' at the Fifth
avenue Theater in which he made the hit
of his career up to that time. This is the
vile. Last season he presented his greatest
effort as an author, he having previously
written several very successful plays, and
what Is claimed to be the most superb ex-
Box" which he adapted himself from the
elder Dumas 'Kean. on Genie ct Des0rdren