The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-01

laughs at you. For some reason OF other
audiences seem to enjoy trouble and
when they can't smile at it they will take
pleasure in weeping. But the best way
TO tickle the risibles is by being always
painfully serious. II one sees man go
ing down the street with a broad grin
on his face the watcher will probably
make up his mind that the fellow has gone
insane and pass on. But let some unfor-
tunate pedestrian slip on the ice and sit
down hard or some still more unfortunate
little boy step in q basket of eggs and the
spectator will laugh so hard that he loses
his appetite. There is not a particle of
gaiety in the part / have in The Wrong
Mr. Wright and that is probably the rea-
son that my press agent calls the farce "a
bowling success Such is the perversity
OF human nature Do you eyer-mm-
Rhatll IL be-
Few people who saw Louis Mann on the
stage OF the National last week, when he
was dealing his cracked English about
would imagine that the comedian is really
remarkably fne-looking young fellow.
The reporter who had come for the pur-
pose of obtaining an interview felt slightly
uncertain of the identity of the gentleman
before him when first Mr.. Mann put in an
appearance. This doubt was soon set at
rest, however. and the talk proceeded. The
newspaper man asked if it was true that
the pOrtrayer OF Hans. in The Girl From
Paris" had aspirations for serious work.
Yes said Mr.. Mann. quietly, Il do not
only aspire to more serious work, but l am
preparing to accomplish my aspirations.
have secured competent managers and in
tend to go on the road next season in
repertoire OF standard and modern dramas.
Just now / am casting about for a play to
feature. / have one on which / have al
ready paid a bonus, but il does not suit
either myself or my wife. Miss Lipman,
and so we are both anxious TO read others.
On the day that ] am satisfied with a We
hicle submitted to me | will pay the au-
thor $1,000 cash in addition to the royal
ties and percentages usual in these cases.
That looks as though my aspirations were
serious, doesn't it?
las 4 matter of fact until two or three
years ago ! had done nothing outside of the
legitimate. My success in musical comedy
was ar accident though l ascribe it large
ly to the very 'straightness' of the meth
DDS used. Both my wife and myself were
under contract with Charles Frohman when
we were temporarily engaged by Edward
Rice for The Girl from Paris. We built
up the parts considerably before we knew
that either Of us would be enabled TO Ie-
main with this organization. But finally
Mr.. Rice secured our release and we con-
tinued in musical comedy Last year |
had not intended TO postpone my starring
tour another month. but The Telephone
Girl was written for Miss Lipman and my
self. so that we finally decided to delay
our venture. But next season will see us
both out on the road with our own or
ganization.
Our repertoire viii probably be a va
ried one. / am not 50 vain as TO imagine
that ! can win success in heroic or iuye-
nile parts, but ! am going to branch out
into heavier character work. l shall Tot
attempt to do Romeo or Claude Melno;te.
but l think that / can give satisfaction as
Richelieu, Shylock Richard III or in any
other role Of the sort Having established
the fact that we are not one-part players,
Miss Lipman and myself Will proceed TO
knock away the limits of our field. We
will do musical comedy in the afternoon
and heavy tragedy at night-'The Girl from
Paris on Tuesday evening and The Mer-
chant OF Venice AT the Wednesday matt
nee. Meanwhile We are in search OF
leading vehicle. II you find anyone who
thinks be can write play please send him
to US
After the last act OF '.Zaza" had been fin
ished on Friday night the stage at the
Lafayette looked as though the first had
Just begun. Everywhere there vas the
haste and hustle that David Beasco had so
faithfully reproduced in his scene within a
scene The back portion OF the great plat
pieces Of the settings that had been used
during the evening. Tables, chairs. sofas
lamps and bric-a-brac were mixed with
the froEt wall Of concert hall. three can
vas bill boards, a section OF ceiling and
other necessities OF theatrical architecture.
LII. Belasco stood talking with a number Of
friends near the footlights. and members Of
the cast hurried here and there. At the
right Of the stage had been built an i'm
prOmptu dressing-ToOm. in which were &C
complished the intcr-act changes OF cos
tune necdfuI to Zaza. and here Times
man found Mrs. Leslie Carter.
The actress first strikes one az being
intensely nervous and temperamental. As
she conyerses her mate activity asserts
itself-she is never quiet for a moment
First she gssriculates with her hands then
she shrugs her shoulders and mods her
APPRECIATION or assent, finally she ar
ranges and disaTanges details OF her
dress. While listening 10 the Conyersa-
zion az others she betrays all Impotence
that seems TO betoken lack OF interest
Jess than eagerness to express the ideas
that come with what is being said to her.
These mannerisms. even more than her
slight peculiarities OF speech, mark Mrs
Carter as being unusual woman.
1 fear that ! have just finished making
an exhibition of myself" she remarked
after being introduced TO her visitor
Mr. Dave brought the representative Of
one OF your contemporaries hack to
me and he reached the wings just as
finished my fourth act and left the stage
! was sim crying and must hardly have
looking imposing-really. ] can't hep
sobblng and laughing and suffering my
way through a part. Every emotion and
every sensation that is felt by the woman
am portraying feel myself. This is not
merely because the role is new. On the
last night OF The Heart of Maryland in
London my pleasures and pains wers as
keenIy those OF Maryland Calvert as they
had been on the evening of the plays