The times., 1898-12-18
TINY TALKS.

Wilton Lackaye had not yet arisen on
Wednesday morning when a Times man
called and the prospective interviewer
had waited some minutes when he final
ly put in an appearance I--th the actor
and his wife Immediately sought the
breakfast table. their guest accompany
ing them with the intention of procuring
at least a small slice of conversation for
publication. When the fruit was served
the critic asked about Charles O'MaI-
! ley and Mr.. Laekaye's hopes in that di-
reetion. My engagement with Mr.. JEFF
ferson terminates very shortly now."
said the star. -and shall then lose no
time in putting the piece in rehearsal.
Arthur Maitland, who was my stage man.
| ager when I gave the play Its first pro-
duction on any stage in this city, has al
ready resigned from the combination
| with which he was appearing and Will
| begin assisting me very shortly. Charles
| O'AIailey' will go on the road some time
| in February and will be continued until
/ the end of the season Shortly after its
| revival we have time at a Broadway
| house and there receive our iong-expeet-
ed opportunity for bringing the drama
! into notice
Mr.. sayre and myself have been max
| ing some rather important changes in the
vehicle, and with good effect. We have
/ shortened it by nearly fifty minutes AMI
/ have removed some of the excellent ma
/ terial with which it abounds in the idea
of getting away from a certain rOushness
the work was said to contain. Some of
| the dialogue has been cut down. too. and
several bits of business added that should
| have a notable effect on the rapidity OF
| action. None of those who have seen or
| read Charles OMalley' seem 10 have-any
doubt of its success. My trust is bound
less. and 1 shall be more than surprised
if the play does not make good. -
| Speaking on the subject of interviews
| a little later. Mr.. Lackaye remarked: Il
| had rather funny experience in that
line when l was in Washington with DE-
Belgraff' \ friend OF mine. who works
| on u local paper, came to me with a re-
| quest for brief talk. and | answered him
| in the affirmative. He never got around
however, and had given up hope of ever
| drifting into print through him when L
! picked up an issue of his sheet and no.
| ticed column and half interview with
me. OF course 1 had not said word of
1 Ii. but the article was bright and / did
not complain On the following day. how
| ever the paper came out editorially and
condemned me without stint for opinions
L had never expressed. Nothing more was
ever said about the matter, but If any per-
son has suffered for an uncommitted mis-
demeanor that person am l." And then
a waiter brought the finger bowls.
|
TITS all very well to talk about prud-
cry in the music halls remarked Lotto
ellison last week. but audiences will not
have 1t. A woman who tries to sing Sab
bath school hymns to a house full of the
sort of people one sees from the variety
stage has the coolest reception she ever
too much filth in the smaller vaudeville
theaters. and managers of the better sort
will have none of il now But the selec-
tons one sings must have touch of sug-
gestion and n hint at chic to make the
patrons of the great Continuous imagine
that they are wildly wicked-an ambition
rather prevalent just now. There Is some
thing about the very atmosphere of a
speciality bill that seems to hint at those
things which are risque and piquant, and
:. one cannot get away from the fact At
least. trying the desired method is dam
gerous to a serio-comic who desires To
retain popular favor. and as most of them
cannot afford to lose that you may sci
down all talk of cleaning the variety
stage as being sheer nonsense
Said George w. Leslie. of "A Stranger
in n Strange Land" in speaking with &
. Times man the other day: People nevei
will know what constant round of pleas