The times., 1898-12-18

gre is afforded the actor until they have
gone through what we did on last Mon
day. After finishing our eneag cement in
Toronto We started FOR Washington, .eav-.
Ing the Canadian city late Sunday. The
snow storm began shortly after and was
20 heavy that progress became very slow.
We were ten hours late when We got irto
Pennsylvania and there the tracks ware
more blocked than they had been further
North. Our train continued, however.
and We telegraphed the manager in
Washington regarding the condition in
which We found ourselves Accordingly,
when we entered this city slightly before
o'clock we found scene trucks and beg
gage wagons waiting for us. Trunks and
settings were loaded at once and started
Tor the theater, whittier we repaired with
out having had time TO eat or warm our
selves.
AT twenty-five minutes after o'clock
everything had reached the Columbia
and was being unloaded. Most of us did
not wait for the baggage 10 be put in cur
dressing-rooms but took what we need
while 1t was in the wings. At o'clock
sharp the stage manager rang " the
curtain and we began the performa- ce-
just an hour from the time of our arri-
val. No one Of us had had bite to eat
that day. All were weary and half or
en-, while the ladies of the company W re
on the verge of Mysteries. But each did
his or her individual best and managed
to win favorable opinions from you wise
acres. But don't speak to me If You want
someone to tell you that an actors life
is bed of roses"
For once Otis Skinner waxed facetious.
Said he: Whenever ! see a reviewer
roasting an actor-especially If / am that
actor-I am reminded of the sign In the
Colorado church: Please don't shoot the
organist He is doing the best he can.
That expresses the belief and opinion of
most players. think. OF course, make
distinction between a roast and a criti-
cism- The former does no one good
least of all the critic-and the latter does
no one harm-least of all the subject of
the criticism. In my early work espe-
cially, ] was taught many things about
stage business and the reading of lines
by the careful remarks of reputabe e re-
viewers. l am not too tod to learn yet,
and welcome suggestions from anyone to
this day."
stage wait was the most notable eff
feet of The Times mans interview with
Maude White during the second act of
"A Stranger in a Strange Land, unless
very favorable impression of the comely
actress should overshadow this The little
talk was repeatedly interrupted by the
hasty departures of the lady and her
equally frequent returns. The gist of this
piecemeal conversation IS herein contain
ed: II fairly despise the role of an in
senue," said Miss White There is rare
ly good line given her, and she pro-
1uces neither a humorous nor an emo
bonal effect on her audience. Ingenues
are all the same-all tedious, silly crea-
lures in love with someone to whom they
want TO be harnessed, or not in love with
someone else their parents want them to
marry. Can you tell me of such a role
that does not have one of these charac-
teristics? l like a part with fire in it.
You may remember that / was Rosa in
Mansfields London production of "A Pa
r.sian Romance That was something
like ii. In this farce several of my scenes
with the numerous Indians are positively
identical. No wonder you think ii te-
dious. Yet You should remember that the
role and not the actress is responsible for
this sameness."
What difference is there between the
acting of child and that of woman?r
was the rather strange querie propound-
ed to Elsie Leslie in the tiny green room
Of the National after a matinee perform
Rnce yesterday. The testimony of NJ SIS
Leslie is somewhat akin to that OF an
expert since she was the original Lord
Fauntleroy and inspired the dramt.z "a
lion of The Prince and the Pauper," in
which she appeared with success. Since
the last appearance of Miss Leslie in the
'Prince-Pauper" combination, she has
devoted herself TO study both in America
and Europe her engagement with the
Jeffersons making her premier work in
woman's role. In response to the in
nuiry, Miss Leslie said: II notice 10 dir
ference in my efforts. When was Lord
Fauntleroy l did as he would have done
and aimed to be natural as q boy. TIE
same was the case with the Prince, for
which l studied the role and all similar
literature closely. Now, l Simply act as
a silly, sentimental girl would do"
Mrs. Leslie, a kind-faced matron. who
always accompanies her daughter en-
tour, here entered and was introduced
She took pains to cover her pride in her
child's achievements, but bore testimony
TO the effect that Lord Fauntleroy was
the result of the brain force of the little
girl, and not that of an illiterate stage
manager. 1t is little interesting to re-
call that Miss Leslie made her initial ap-
pearance as Meenie to the Rip of the
ELDER Jefferson twelve years or more ago.