The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-24
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Odette Tyler, the charming .ingenue
who is playing the title role in Charles
Frohman's presentation of Anthony
Hopes great play, "Phroso," this season,
is the pretty daughter of a very old
Southern family. She comes from long
line of military ancestors. Her father
is Gen. w. w. kirkland, Of Confederate
army fame. When she was but fifteen
years of age, refusing all offers of let
tiers of Introduction, she left school one
day bound for New York, determined to
courage of youth and ignorance, abetted
by determination, she landed with none
of the hopes of success dampened. Early
one morning, evading the questioners at
the door, she slipped into the office of
Daniel Frohman, while that veteran
manager was busy going through his
mornings mail.
I've come to be an actress" she said,
looking up into Mr.. Frohman's face,
and if you will only take me, know
! am sure-I can act"
Wen, I'm blessed if that isn't a piece
of impudence," exclaimed Mr.. Frohman
with a laugh. But her audacity pleased
him just the same, and after little talk
he gave her part in d play then IN
process of getting ready for rehearsal,
told her to learn it and come back In a
week. She did as she was told, and so
promising were her actions at the re-
hearsal that Mr.. Fronman was CON-
WINGED that what she said about acting
was true. The girl could act and the
sequel of the story is that she has been
with the Frohmans ever since.
In private life Miss Tyler Is not Miss
Tyler at ALL Two years ago she married
Rein David Shepherd, or Shepherds
town, Va, "a wealthy bachelor and pro-
prietor of Wild Goose plantation, forty
miles from Washington, and one or the
show places of the state. On her mar
riage she retired from the stage, wrote
book and declared that she would never
face the fOotliShts again. But she did.
The fascination was too strong, and one
day her husband, who, in his college days,
was also euamored of stage life made
her the happiest of women by declaring
that if she so desired she could go back
to the stage for a while and that he
would go with her. Today he plays LORD
Wheatiey in ''Phroso," and on the hotel
register they are known as Mr.. and Mrs.
r. D. MacLean, Mr.. Shepherds stage
name. To her familiars Miss Tyler is
and ever will be Bessie. AS Bessie Kirk
land she mad as many friends socially
as she has as Odette Tyler profession
ally.
Miss Tyler is the happy possessor OF a
superabundance of good looks and per
aonal magnetism. Her hair has a decided
inclination toward the fashionable I'll
tian," her eyes are big and brown, her
nose-weu it has just a saucy upward
inclination, and her chin is round and
sports dimple. It IS a combination Of
features which some fellow has called
s's5rious handicap to the other girl
She also has in optic mannerism which
may for wan. of a better name be called
a blink" Tt is something like a
frightened, girlish, timid contraction OF
the eyelids, and a downward side glance
with a sudden reOpening of the eyes that
produces a startling effect.
Tc- G / o b e reporter Miss Tyler said:
"One often hears about artists, when
playing highly emotional roles, entering
so completely into the spirit of the work
that after the curtain has gone down it
takes them some little time to overcome,
their emotions and forget that they are
acting. Now you may be amused, but 1
assure you that 1t Is a fact, that in my
light comedy work I have much the same
experience, only I am thankful to say
that my emotions are not of narrowing
description. Entire nous, 1 will tell you
little secret. 1 have a splendid oppor-
tunity in 'Phroso.' My husband plays
Lord Wheatlcy, you know, and Mr..
Hopes heroine, by her fun-making pro-
clivities makes it q little uncomfortable
for the Englishman To all appearances
it is 'Phroso making 1t lively for Lord
Wheatley, but l confess that l frequently
take genuine enjoyment in making use of
the sdramausts words for personal pur-
poses I think all wives like TO. tease
their husbands, don't srou?
The part of 'Phroso' is that of petu-
liant, willful. indulgent girl which, if ii is
not handled just 50, would give the
audience the impression that she should
be whipped and put to bed. AS it is, her
mission is to amUse and TO interest. The
role has a deeply sympathetic side, light
heroic work, ! believe they call it, so
that pathos and comedy show themselves
alternately in hec character in most rapid
succession 1t is a part that l am very
FOND of ard the critics tell me that /
have had a good measure of success in
It,"
Miss TYLER and "PhrcsO" will begin a
weeks engagement 1T the Metropolitan
this evening, under the management OF
Charles Frohman. The entire EmpiI e
theater scenic production IS promised for
>cidedly unusual character may be expect
ed from scenic point of view. It has
been said by one critic: you've read the
book; see how much better the play is.
The stage story begins on the island,
which IS found in an uproar by its new
purchaser, Lord Wheatley, over the sale
to foreigner of the home Of Phroso s
forbears. They prepare to resist with
. violence the taking possession by tie
Englishman and his friends. and at the
very outset It IS found that difficulties
of an embarrassing character threaten
them on all sides. By a happy chance
Phroso is captured In boys attire by the
English purchaser, and while she trets
and fumes and rebels st what she calls
AZ insult 10 her dignity, and her position
. she soon makes it apparent that Wheat
lev has not lost his heart 10 her in vain
True love stories never did run smoo h
and Phroso's is no exception. Difficult
ties of seemingly an insurmOuntable type
threaten on all sides. Constantine, Phro
SOS cousin, despite the fact that he has
a wife in hiding, declares his intention
of marrying PhrOsC and ruling when h: