The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-24
Green Room Talk.

speaking of that actress performance
in Hamlet" 'and let me tell you
something. she played them much bet
than many of the so-called tragedians
i have seen in the same characters
since. Jean Clara Walters is the most
versatile artist / have ever met or that
has ever been under my management.
She had no particular line of business;
she was simply great in whatever she
essayed. / have seen her play Lady
Macbeth and Lady TeaZle, Medea and
Judy Trot n no one ever eXcellc1
her in the latter character. the only
one who could compare with her being
Augusta Dargon, the greatest actress
the American stage produced since the
death of Charlotte Cushman.
Il want to tell you of a story which
brings me back to some year ago. |
was managing the Newmarket theater
in Portland, Ore. | had a most re-
markable company at that particular
time under my direction. uch a COM
pany would to-day command advanced
prices. for such an aggregation of tai
ent has been very seldom seen together
I'm any one theater in the whole coun-
try. II was, I remember, the beginning
Of my season. and many who had 20
come from the East and California had
not been able to make close connection
for the opening week. which, by the
way, was ante-dated by two weeks IN
account of "A venture of mine with the
celebrated English actress, Mrs. Scott
Siddons. Previous to the opening Of
my season | had some of the
already on hand, among whom was
Mrs. lea Clara Walters. She was a
host I'm herself and came under en-
gagement to me as a stock star. I had
engaged Mrs. Scott Siddons for a course
of readings in Portland, Seattle and
Victoria. Her success was simply i'm
mense. While | paid her an enormous
figure and all expenses connected
with her appearance 1 cleaned up a
pront of something like 81, 900 "A week.
captain Scott, the husband of Mrs. Sid
dons. together with Mr.. Mcmahon. one
of the Mcmahon Brothers now promi-
nent managers in Australia, and myself
oug that Mrs. Siddons being such
a great success i'm readings ought to
De a cyclone of success in a dramatic
performance supported by an exceed
lngly strong company. We came 10
mutually satisfactory terms. and on the
return engagement of Mrs. Scott sid
dons TO Portland. which was for two
weeks more, | went bafore the curtain
and hat I had made a new
engagement with Mrs. Scott Siddons.
INV hhdA III consequence OF winch /
would antedate the opening Of my reg
season by ten days and open on
the Following Wednesday with Shakes
peare's Romeo and Juliet" which
would be run for the four nights and
saturday matinee; that on the Monday
evening 1 would present for the first
time in Portland Sheridan Knowles
great play of THE ~Hunchback," with
Mrs. Scott Siddons as Julia and Miss
1Ann InnFn AAn1fARa ~. III. nth
of the two parts is worthy the best
efforts of the best actresses. | have
many a time seen a good Helen kill
n bad Julia. 1t was so i'm this case.
1t happened that the u man | had
engaged for juvenile leads could not
possibly be in Portland for the OPEN
ing. My leading man, John Lindsay,
an excellent mar for heavy leads. would
murder Romeo by his ponderosity.
What to do l did not know. Jean Clara
Walters! happy thought. / called ON
the lady, who herself was to be placed
before the public Immediately after
Mrs. Siddons as a stellar attraction,
and l unfolded my tale of woe. Bless
her dear soul. without any fuss or
bother. she said: Mac, I'll help you
out my way l can, but | have nothing
TO wear for Romeo, and l must, you
know. have at least two costumes. I'll
49, sNa ~ NtAA 49, - ~
and pick out the material for the cos
TUNES and III make them myself"
There was not a costumer near
er than San Francisco, and
there was no railroad in those days.
We got the costumes. The opening night
came. Mrs. Scott Siddons as Juliet and
Miss Jean Clara Walters as Romeo.
The result of the performance was that
Mrs. Scott Siddons was mot seen I'm
o hot YAaRFARRaa noe Hha IannanA Of lam
Clara Walters was the best perform
ance Of the part that Portland ever
saw. I know IL did not see IL before
and IL has never been played there since
by anybody that came up to Lawrence
and ! say that the Romeo of
Jean Clara Walters was better han
Barrett's. Walters Romeo was emo
tional; Barrett's was pedantic.
Mrs. Siddons had willingly consented
Walters should play the part of
She thought she would shine
out more brilliantly with. as she sup
posed. an Indifferent Romeo played by
A woman. How much of a mistake Mrs.
Siddons made she found out the first
Of the performance. There were
a number of curtain calls. and Of course
Siddons took them selfshly, but
The audience would not be satisfied. and
the cry Of Walters. Walters, Walters
made the house ring.
Miss Jean Clara Walters is a woman
II queenly appearance. When h walks
on the stage. the audience know, and
more, they feel h is there. /
an now speaking of her as a t-ragedienne
pr any part in which dignity is essen
tial. h was tall I'm comparison with
Mrs. Scott Siddons. who was rather I'M
Next morning after the performance
I was sent for by Mrs. Siddons. Now,
Mrs. Siddons was a most charming
ady. and n Of the most delightful
-eadeIs l have ever heard, but l must