The times., 1899-07-02

The majority of playwrights are either
graduates of the newspaper profession or
actors who have been unsuccessful and
determined to revenge themselves upon
the world by showing what cannot be done
in the way OF dramatic composition. So
rarely is there found man who has de-
voted his life to the study of the stage
and stagecraft for its own sake. that the
case discovered is little short of remarka-
bic. Yet Washington possesses such in
the person of Frederick L. GrunewaId, who
has written and is writing some of the
most clever and original plays ever read
or produced. He is not inclined to en-
blazon his deeds where they may be ad-
mired by the multitude. in this also being
notable exception. In short, he is
modest, scholarly, retiring gentleman, who
studies the stage persstently, reads CO.
piousiy and thinks incessantly The pos
SCISSOR OF a physique resembling that of
Hall Caine. he differs from the Manx man
in that his hair is not cut with the aid of
an inverted crock, and that his conceit is
not SO overpowering-in fact, almost in
visible. One would not take Mr. Grune-
wald for either an actor or an author AT
first sight, but after five minutes CONVEX
sation you would accept hinf as both with
out further question
Times reviewer called upon him at his
home the other evening and passed most
pleasant hour, portion of whose delights
may be transferred through the medium
of cold type to the reader One point in
| his career Mr.. Grunewald is quite proud
of. but the event had better be told in his
own words
1T was about eighteen years ago that
l was engaged TO direct the performance
of an amateur dramatic club in Chicago
and you know what a trial that would be
20 a professional actor They called them
selves the Thalian Club, after Thalius, the
god of comedy. Well, II was pretty fair
organization and We first undertook the
production of the old fve-act comedy
Fashion, by Anna Cora Mowatt Ritchie,
an old-time society piece, which you re-
member had quite vogue for a while
!, myself, played the part of the count and
the cast opposite to me was a beautiful
girl just budding into womanhood. Her
name wGs Mile Leonard. but under the
name of Lillian Russell she would now be
known the world over. Her role was that
OF Seraphine Tiffany, a belle, and she
showed the greatest intelligence and adapt
ability In reading her lines and picking up
business. This was her first appearance
upon the stage and even then 1 prophesied
great future for her. which has been
happily fulfilled. / haven't seen her per-
sonally since that time, but hardly think
she will forget her first appearance in
Fashion,"
Were there any amusing incidents con-
nected with the rehearsals or perform
anee! Did Lillian sing at that time?"
were the two questions propounded by
| The Times man as Mr.. Grunewald lit a
cigar and offered another TO his inter-
viewer.
No" was the answer "of course every
amateur performance is more or less
amusing. They can't help but be- / en- 10y
them, though, for II shows what we might
all have been and what We all came from.
Millie Leonard had not then discovered
that she had voice. but everyone knew
she had charm and beauty. You will re-
call that she married Harry Braham, of
the Duff Opera Company, and that he de-